ReinDeer Valley Christmas 3302 W. Adobe Dam Road reindeervalleychristmas.com ReinDeer Valley Christmas keeps getting bigger and brighter. Since 2012, this north Phoenix display has expanded with more lights and elements each season. The current setup dazzles with 70,000 LEDs, plenty of Mickey Mouse iconography and nightly music-synced shows. On week- ends, bubbles and artificial snow swirl through the scene. Hours: Nightly, 6 to 10 p.m., until Jan. 1. WEST VALLEY Palacio Residence 7734 N. 41st Ave. As “South Park” surges back into the pop- culture spotlight, one Phoenix superfan doubles down on his longtime devotion. Emilio Palacio’s home becomes a full-scale tribute each holiday season with more than 100 plywood characters spread across the yard, porch and rooftop. Stan, Kyle, Cartman, Scuzzlebutt, A.W.E.S.O.M.-O and dozens more stage a cartoon takeover of the property. Hours: Dusk to 11 p.m., through early January. Phoenix Winter Wonderland 4237 W. State Ave. phoenixwinterwonderland.com David Chuchla’s home is holiday chaos writ large. His must-see display transforms the interior and exterior into a full-on festive blitz. Outside, thousands of lights and hundreds of animated figures fill the yard. Inside, nearly every room bursts with ornaments and collectibles. Even the back- yard pool is part of the spectacle. Hours: Nightly, 6 to 10 p.m. through Dec. 31. Lewis Lights on Palmaire 2901 W. Palmaire Ave. The home of Jason and Crystal Lewis glows with 40,000-plus lights, two dozen inflatables and a lineup of mega trees light- ing up the yard. On Sundays, Santa and Mrs. Claus make appearances to hand out free hot cocoa and candy canes to visitors. Hours: 5:30 to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, and 5:30 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, until Dec. 31. Santa’s Castle 3829 W. Sandra Terrace Bill Riera’s display is pure holiday spectacle. A castle-like facade across the front of his home dominates the cheery scene, which boasts 100,000 synchronized lights, reindeer stables and Santa’s workshop. Artificial snow helps crank up the cheer. ABC’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight” showcases the display on Dec. 11. Hours: 6 to 9:30 p.m. nightly. Meci Residence 6988 W. Firebird Drive, Glendale Howard Meci’s display is a study in Christmas excess. A 25-foot-tall mega tree towers over a fully automated Santa’s Factory, a 15-foot dragon and trampoline- jumping gingerbread people. Elves climb ladders to stuff a 12-foot stocking as fire- works flash, a 10-foot Saint Nick waves and the Grinch crashes the scene. Hours: 6 to 9 p.m. Monday to Thursday, and 6 to 10 p.m. Friday to Sunday. Santa appears from 7 to 9 p.m. on most Fridays and Saturdays until Dec. 20. Lights on Bluefield 7625 W. Bluefield Ave., Glendale Nate Infurna and his family turn their Dutch Tudor home into one of the West Valley’s liveliest holiday extravaganzas. Santa and his reindeer soar above a scene featuring 150,000 lights, 130 blow molds and 170 hand-painted wooden Disney characters, including all 101 Dalmatians. A snow machine, Ferris wheel, carousel and even a rooftop rock concert complete the spectacle. Hours: 6 to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, and 6 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday until Dec. 31. Laveen Christmas House 8211 S. 63rd Ave., Laveen facebook.com/laveenxmashouse It’s impossible to miss Mel and Patti Task- er’s home during the holidays. Their drive- thru display is one of the biggest in Arizona and offers a wonderland of 300,000 mul- ticolored LEDs, a pack of illuminated zoo animals and 500 hand-painted cutouts of comic book and cartoon characters. Hours: 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. until early January. A Molar Christmas 8252 W. Camino De Oro, Peoria facebook.com/amolarchristmas Retired dentist Charles Gatti traded drill time for full-on holiday dazzle with his epic three-house display. It glows with 155,000 LEDs synchronized to music, leaping light arches and a 25-foot mega tree. The Grinch, Buddy the Elf and other holiday characters pop in on select nights. Hours: Nightly, 5:30 to 10:30 p.m., until early January. EAST VALLEY Cox Family Lights 8607 E. Via Del Palacio, Scottsdale instagram.com/coxfamilylights Brolin Cox transforms his family’s Scottsdale property into a nightly holiday spectacle dominated by a 20-foot mega tree. More than 40,000 LED bulbs drench the scene in color during mesmerizing synchronized light shows set to dozens of holiday tunes. Hours: Nightly, 6 to 10 p.m., until Dec. 31. 55th Street Lights 11802 N. 55th St., Scottsdale Four neighboring homes on a Scottsdale cul-de-sac glow as one in a cooperative holiday display packed with 100,000 lights. Each house brings its own theme and personality. A few photo-op displays also invite visitors to stop and snap festive shots. Hours: Nightly through the holidays Winter Wonderland Arizona 8414 E. Valley Vista Drive, Scottsdale winterwonderlandaz.com Chris Birkett’s holiday display began as a window scene in 1987 and now trans- forms his property into an enormous Disney-esque wonderland. An illuminated castle rises on the roof as a sea of lights blanket the yard and real snow fills the air. Decorated mine tunnels wind through the side yard, homespun miniatures fill the garage and “Frozen” characters surround the backyard pool. It’s widely consid- ered the best display in the Valley. Hours: Nightly, 6 to 10 p.m., through Dec. 28. Dillingham Residence 5925 E. St. Andrews Way, Scottsdale This walk-through holiday gem glows with 75,000-plus twinkling lights and pure old-fashioned cheer. Santa and Mrs. Claus appear beside a sleigh built for photo ops. Wooden ornaments are also available for visitors to leave their own holiday messages and become part of the display. Hours: Nightly through Dec. 25. Grayhawk AZ Christmas Street 76th Way and Rose Garden Lane, Scottsdale Each year, Rose Garden Lane in Scottsdale’s Grayhawk community goes into holiday overdrive as every home lights up in unison. The decades-long tradition features free cocoa, cookies and candy canes from Santa’s Cocoa Hut. Visitors Glendale’s Lights on Bluefield is an astounding sight. (Benjamin Leatherman) The Birkett family’s Winter Wonderland in Scottsdale is popular holiday display. (Benjamin Leatherman) ReinDeer Valley in north Phoenix. (Lisa and Kevin Bryan) >> p 16
