BY BENJAMIN LEATHERMAN W here are the best Christmas lights in Phoenix? The short answer: everywhere. From now until New Year’s Day, over-the-top holiday light displays will illuminate every corner of the Valley. That includes the festive displays found on countless homes around town. And this year, there are more than ever. Some displays on local residences are quaint and colorful. Others boast enough LEDs, animatronic figures and inflatables to make Clark W. Griswold blush or are large enough to drive a car through. One even allows you to play games of “Pac- Man” or “Pong.” You’ll find all of these homes in our list of Phoenix’s best Christmas lights and holiday displays for 2024. Read on, grab your nearest and dearest and plan to see as many as possible. Just don’t forget the hot cocoa. Central Phoenix Arcadia Christmas House 4415 E. Calle Tuberia What was once an over-the-top spectacle of holiday decorations adorning the home of Arcadia’s Lee Sepanek (a.k.a. “Christmas Lee”) has become a more modest display of 50,000 lights spanning his home and two neighboring residences. Hours: Nightly, 6 to 10 p.m., through Jan. 1. Willetta Street 714 W. Willetta St. The timeless ambiance of this historic American Colonial Revival-style home from the 1920s is accentuated by the glow of 1,200 holiday lights. Hours: Nightly starting at dusk through early January. Pinchot Avenue’s Candy Canes 2801 E. Pinchot Ave. A two-block stretch of Pinchot Avenue, from 26th to 28th streets, transforms into a walkable or drivable holiday wonderland with candy canes wrapped in colorful lights lining both sides of the road. Overhead, a glowing Christmas star and peace symbol complete the scene. Hours: Nightly at dusk through early January. West Valley Winter Wonderland Phoenix 4237 W. State Ave. phoenixwinterwonderland.com David Chuchla’s holiday display spanning the exterior and interior of his 2,800-square-foot home is a sight to behold. Outside, thousands of lights and hundreds of plastic and animated figures adorn his yard. Inside, rooms overflow with ornaments, miniatures, collectibles and even an Eminem-themed scene. Hours: Sunday to Friday, 6 to 10 p.m.; Saturdays and Christmas Eve, 6 to 11 p.m. through Dec. 29. Palacio Residence 7734 N. 41st Ave. Heads up, “South Park” fans: Emilio Palacio’s holiday display pays tribute to the infamous cartoon with 80-plus characters (including Cartman, Kenny, Towelie, Mr. Hanky, Chef and many more) adorning his yard and home. Hours: Nightly, dusk to 11 p.m., through early January. Redneck Christmas 3353 W. Northview Ave. Amble over to this humorous and homespun West Valley holiday display with 15,000 lights and around 100 inflat- ables. Bubba the Redneck Grinch makes special appearances on Fridays and Saturdays leading up to Christmas. Hours: Nightly, 6 to 10 p.m., weather permitting, through the holidays. Pirate Lights on Laurie Lane 4552 W. Laurie Lane, Glendale facebook.com/piratelightsonlaurielane Set sail for this pirate-themed display with 50,000 dancing lights, a crew of costumed skeletons, a festive soundtrack, a bounce house shaped like a ship and a selfie station. Hours: Nightly, dusk to 11 p.m., from Nov. 28 to Jan. 24. Christmas Winter Wonderland 5315 W. Cholla St., Glendale Stroll through this enchanting walk- through display featuring 300,000 lights, 160-plus inflatables, Santa’s workshop, an illuminated snowfield and themed photo- ops while the music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra plays. Hours: 5 to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday; 5 to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday, until Jan. 6. Cox Residence 4827 W. Osborn Road This Phoenix home radiates holiday cheer with its picket-fenced yard and exterior adorned in a festive array of Santas, snowmen, inflatables, Christmas trees and 80,000 lights. Hours: 6 to 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday; 6 to midnight, Friday and Saturday, through the holidays. Santa’s Castle Christmas 3829 W. Sandra Terrace More than 100,000 lights illuminate the castle-themed display at William Reira’s home that includes reindeer stables, leaping arches, Frosty’s winter wonderland and a workshop for Santa. Dazzling synchronized audio-visual shows fit for royalty occur nightly with music broadcast on 88.9 FM. Hours: Nightly from dusk until 10 p.m. starting Dec. 7. Lights on Bluefield 7625 W. Bluefield Ave., Glendale Santa and his reindeer soar above this charming display featuring 140 Disney cutouts, 200,000 lights, a Ferris wheel, vintage blow molds and other festive delights. A snow machine and Santa’s mailbox will be offered on Fridays and Saturdays. Hours: Nightly, 6 to 10 p.m., from Dec. 1 to 31. A Molar Christmas 8252 W. Camino De Oro, Peoria facebook.com/amolarchristmas Like Hermey the Elf from “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” retired dentist Charles Gatti embraces both Christmastime and proper dental care. Hence this festive display with 143,000 LEDs synchronized to a holiday music mix. Hours: Nightly, 5:30 to 10:30 p.m., until early January. Bauler Family Lights 13626 W. Hearn Road., Surprise baulerfamilylights.com Mesmerizing animated light shows synched to holiday tunes and EDM bangers shimmer and dance across the 100,000-plus LED pixels making up this cutting-edge display. Hours: 5:30 to 9 p.m., Sunday through Thursday; 5:30 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, until early January. Laveen Christmas House 8211 S. 63rd Ave., Laveen facebook.com/laveenxmashouse Mel and Patti Tasker’s free drive-thru display along their circular driveway contains 300,000 lights, 475 cutouts of cartoon and comic book characters, 35 illu- minated animals and an abundance of holiday cheer. Hours: Nightly, 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., until Jan. 5. Winter Wonderland Phoenix (Photo by Jacob Tyler Dunn) Laveen Christmas House (Photo by Jacob Tyler Dunn) Santa’s Castle Christmas (Photo by William Reira) Merry & Bright Your ultimate guide to metro Phoenix’s best holiday lights. >> p 14
