It's the holiday season, which means lights are everywhere: On your neighbor's house, decorating the local bar, and on buildings of downtown Phoenix. During the buildup to Christmas, Jackalope Ranch will be running the numbers on some of the best and brightest light displays around the Valley.
The Glendale residence of Jim and Linda Largo is a joyful ballet of color, movement, and music as thousands upon thousands of lights twinkle and shine while songs like Mannheim Steamroller's "Sleigh Ride" and The Jackson 5's "Up on the Rooftop" fill the air every night.
Their glitzy annual holiday spectacle is almost Las Vegas-like in magnitude, as numerous tall displays adorn the roof (including a 30-foot Christmas tree, illuminated toy soldiers, and a "Season's Greetings" sign) and a pair of gigantic palm trees are wrapped in lights at the edge of the property.
As stunning as the exterior of their home looks, the real highlight of the Largo's display is located in their living room: A 10-foot-long table containing a meticulously decorated old-timey miniature village and snow-covered Christmas carnival that's circled by a model train.
Strands and lights: More than 4,500 feet of LED rope lights decorate the trees, house, and yard, which works out to approximately 140,000 individual lights.
Inflatables: One, a hot-air balloon piloted by Kris Kringle.
Other decorations: In addition to the lights on their house and the miniature scene in their living room, the Largos feature a menagerie of Christmas creatures populating their front yard. A jolly jumble of polar bears, reindeer, kangaroos, ducks, and even a hippopotamus are arranged around a small reflecting pool and fountain that visitors can toss their change into and make a wish. Illuminated Disney characters (featuring Winnie the Pooh sitting atop a basketball hoop that's been transformed into a giant candy cane), Victorian carolers, and a nativity scene round things out.
Estimated electric bill: The Largos spend around $600 on electricity, owing to the fact that they use so many LED lights.
Why do they decorate? Jim, a general contractor, says its become a holiday tradition of his for the past 19 years. "It's kind of been a big hobby of mine, seeing what I can come up with every year," he says.
Jim and Linda Largo's holiday light display is located at 5309 West Barbara Avenue in Glendale. Hours are from 6-10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday; and 6-11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday through January 1.
