THE ALBERTS — The Grinch and his dog, Max, jostle for position with illuminated choir boys, gingerbread men and a Nativity scene in the yard of Jim and Nancy Albert in Penn Township. “We just to like to send a little Christmas spirit to the community to try to brighten up everyone's day,” said Jim Albert. “I started doing this when I was younger at home and continued to do the lights after I was married and got our place.” He said it takes him eight days to get the entire display up.

The Bartos even have a Christmas sock featuring their decorating hero, “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” character Clark Griswold. Chelsey Barto said she gave the sock to her husband last year after the light switch fiasco.

THE BARTOS — Chelsey and Jacob Barto of Center Township have taken mad-Christmas-light-hanger Clark Griswold from the movie “National Lampoon's Christmas” as the inspiration for their Christmas decorations. Chelsey said, “We always said we were going to aim to be the next Griswolds. While we're not quite there yet, we try to add more every year slowly building up to eventually maybe even outdoing the Griswolds. My husband is even so much of a Clark that last year while testing all our lights prior to hanging, he plugged them into the outlet by the door forgetting to turn on the switch that powers it and was angry that would not work! It's in his blood!” The Barto family even has a Christmas stocking featuring their decorating hero.

THE HOWARDS— Brooke Howard of Penn Township calls this light display “our winter wonderland.” She said: “We seem to add another strand or two every year, and we love the lights on the tree.” The all-white light scheme has been consistent for a decade, she said, despite a push for colored lights by her husband, Jeff, and their two daughters.

Christmas lights at the home of Korene and Justin Murdie in Saxonburg. 205 Janice Lane.

THE KLOTZES — This is the house of Brian and Joni Klotz of Renfrew, at left. Joni said her husband loves to decorate for Christmas. “His philosophy is the bigger, the better,” she said. “Every year we add something new to our display.” Joni said that, every year, people slow down to drive past the house to see the display. The banner, above, is for Tonya Klotz, Brian and Joni's daughter. They added the banner to their Christmas display when she left for Navy boot camp in November.

This banner is for Tonya Klotz, the daughter of Brian and Joni Klotz of Renfrew. They added the banner to their Christmas display when she left for Navy boot camp in November.