TV Brings Great Christmas Light Fight to Illinois

By Ron Kremer

If you're inclined to drive a bit to see truly over-the-top Christmas lights, you might want to head to far-west suburban Elburn.

The Larsen Family of Elburn has been selected to participate in The Great Christmas Light Fight, a new made-for-TV competition series in which 20 families from across America will decorate their homes to the extreme for Christmas, a total of $250,000 in prize money resting in the balance, according to ABC-TV.

The Larsens—like all the contestants—were allowed 21 days to put up their display this year, their eighth celebrating Christmas in lights in Elburn. They have more than 1 million lights in their display this holiday season and have added a new parking lot to help accommodate visitors.

Just before Thanksgiving, Tinley Park Patch featured a Tinley Park house that is also competing in The Great Christmas Light Fight. The Elburn home and the Tinley Park home are the only two in Illinois competing in ABC's contest.

The show will air on Mondays in December, beginning Monday, Dec. 9, and through Monday, Dec. 23, on ABC-TV. Michael Moloney and Sabrina Soto—both from Extreme Makeover: Home Edition—will serve as judges for the series, with $50,000 passed out in each of five episodes.

Four families will compete in each episode. 

Larsen Christmas Light Show

Hours: 5 to 10:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 5 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Friday-Sunday. Show runs through Dec. 24.
Address: 42W891 Beith Road, Elburn, Ill., 60119.
Admission: $7 donation is asked to park in a small, new lot; parking on the south side of the street is free (but crowded).
Show is Set to Music: Tune in on 88.5 FM.

Related: View the Tinley Park home featured in the national contest.