Riding around in mid-December looking for houses with way too many lights, plastic Santas and north stars on the chimney is the thing to do for some, and scenes around Fairfax County promise not to disappoint this year.

In Centreville, there’s lights on the roof in case the space shuttle passes by. 

 

And now you don’t even have to ride around aimlessly, although that is all the fun for some. Visit Fairfax has done the legwork and posted their findings on social media for all to see.

In Alexandria, the tour starts on Collingwood Road where there is a home that was the winner of ABC's Great Christmas Light Fight in 2018 and TLC's Invasion of the Christmas Lights in 2009. Apparently in the last few years, it was not decorated because the owner took a spill hanging up lights, but now he has returned with his ladder and extension cords to do it up right.

Up the road in Springfield on Ontario Street, the inflatable characters have taken over, and the small yard is full of snowmen, Santas, Mickey Mouse, Grinch and more. Over in Burke, go to Marshall Pond Road for the Christmas Village, which requires a little walking they say. Here there are seven homes on a pipestem driveway that make up Santas Village.

Vienna has four stops for the light seekers, and these are on Lawyers Road, Beulah Road (not Beulah Street), Oakton Park Court and Drexel Street. They've even got a video in Vienna, and urge seekers to turn to 89.7 FM for a soundtrack too. It "offers a world of enchantment, with surprise guests, a winter wonderland setting, and a magical musical medley," their description says. Pretty high tech too.

There are highlight houses in Centreville, Lorton and Chantilly on the tour.

Visit Fairfax does have a few disclaimers, though. They “lovingly refer to these displays as ‘tacky’ in the most endearing sense of the word — truly these displays are pieces of art and are testaments to the owners' hard work and dedication in an otherwise very busy season! Also, as a reminder – these are private properties, so please respect the owners’ homes and stay out of the light display and yard when visiting and do not block driveways," it says.

Overall, the lights are a positive, said Ali Morris.  “It’s a beautiful way for people to spread joy and love during the holiday season and we’re very happy to help promote that type of holiday spirit,” she said.

Hollywood Holiday

Hollywood had taken on going overboard on the Christmas lights on several occasions. Remember “Christmas with the Kranks”? Or even Ron Howard’s “How the Grinch Stole Christmas.” One resident of Whoville is armed with a Christmas lights gun, shooting the lights up on the rooftop. Sure beats falling off the ladder and getting a ride in the Christmas ambulance.

QC Design School has a list of no-no's for holiday decorating and "Overloading on Lights," is number two on their list. "Too many lights can be overwhelming and distracting. Not to mention it might just blow your electrical bill through the roof," QC said. Instead they recommend that "less is more," and the focus should be one or two small spots around the house. 

But when you’re driving around looking for the best Christmas light displays, you know that more is more. Just maybe not if you live next door.

https://www.fxva.com/blog/post/where-to-find-the-best-tacky-christmas-lights-in-fairfax-county/