Move over Griswolds, the Pfalzgraf and Lucas families are here
Annual Christmas lights displays dazzle
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CAMERON -- They're the kind of Christmas lights displays that make you wonder if astronauts can see them from outer space.
It takes two months of work to install the 107,000 lights to make the Pfalzgraf family's Monroe County home a Christmas wonder each year.
And in Belmont County, Mary Ann Lucas and her husband, Jeff, have been doing a heartwarming joint Christmas lights display with their neighboring daughter, Megan, and son-in-law, Koel Davia, for years.
For Kris Pfalzgraf, all the time, work and money spent doing it is worth it.
He started putting up the dazzling display 15 years ago as a way to make his autistic son, Kansas, happy.
"My son had autism and he always enjoys the lights. I love bringing joy to all the children's faces," he said. "Plus I always enjoy going around looking at lights with my parents. People just don't decorate like they used to. So I try to give them a destination to go and enjoy the lights."
Pfalzgraf said he started installing this year's lights on Sept. 20 and he was finished by Nov. 20.
The display was turned on for the public on Thanksgiving and turns on nightly through Jan. 1. The lights display begins at 5 p.m. and shuts off about 11 p.m. Music accompanies the display between 5 and 10 p.m. to add to spectators' enjoyment.
In addition to the 107,000 lights, the display also requires 310 extension cords and 31 timers. There are also decorations across the property including 36 trees, most of which were donated, nine reindeer, seven barnyard animals and four blowups.
Two lighted messages are in the front yard: "Santa ... I know him" and "We believe."
Pfalzgraf said he does all the decorating himself.
"I've been going all out now for about 15 years. It wasn't always quite as big, as we are constantly adding to our display. I actually received trees as donations from people in the community every year. So far I have four new trees for next year," he said. "The average cost to run the lights a day is $20. I'm expecting my electric bill to be $600 to $650 more than my usual bill for the month of December."
After the holidays have ended and the weather permits, Pfalzgraf takes down all the lights and displays and stores them for use next Christmas.
Pfalzgraf and his wife, Heidi, reside at the Sunfish Creek Road home with their three children, Kansas, 18; Karigan, 21; and Karson, 15.
In the village of Belmont, the Lucas family display at Jefferson and Brown streets includes an array of lights. A special display of yard artwork depicting "Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer" characters are located in front of Mary Ann and Jeff Lucas' home.
"My husband, Jeff, gets all of the credit. Basically, if it holds still, he will wrap it in lights," she said. "We started decorating in 1981 with old lights that were hand-me-downs from both of our grandfathers' decorations. Each year we try to add something new and it's just grown."
Lucas said the cartoon cutouts were made by an artist in the Cleveland area where her son, Andy Lucas, his wife, Luisa, and their daughter, Rosa, live.
"Somehow I came upon his yard art. He has a Facebook page called 'Yartwork by Zack,'" she noted.
Lucas said living by and getting to decorate with her daughter and son-in-law and their children, Hannah and Luke, has made Christmastime even more special for them.
"We are very lucky. It's nice to enjoy the magic of Christmas through the grandkids' eyes," she said.
Lucas estimated there are 25,000 lights in the combined display.
"We switched them to LED for power efficiency and life span. There are also several displays that use rope lighting not included in this number," she said.