Holiday Light Fight; Who Has The Brightest Home In Tampa Bay? – Tampa, FL Patch

TAMPA BAY, FL — Even with high inflation rates and the increasing cost of electricity, holiday lights lovers won’t be deterred from their mission to adorn their homes with thousands of Christmas lights, an assortment of Christmas inflatables and animated characters, much to the relief of families who love driving around, looking at all the festive displays.
Here are some places to see over-the-top light displays in Tampa Bay this year:
Each year, Blake Real Estate will host its annual Pinellas County Christmas Lights Competition, giving one lucky family a chance to win a $1,000 cash prize based on voting by their neighbors.
Click here to see a map of the locations of homes in the competition.
Decorated houses in the running include:
The annual Temple Terrace Light Show takes place nightly from 6 to 11 p.m. with snow for 15 minutes at 7, 8 and 9 p.m. all along River Ridge Drive in Temple Terrace.
The Christmas light display includes more than 50,000 computerized lights synchronized to music broadcast on 95.5 FM.
Click here.


Thirteen neighbors on Quintessa Lane in Fishhawk West are lighting up their cul-de-sac as part of a Star Wars-themed Christmas display. The third annual Merry “Sithmas” features more than 100 custom-made light sabers along with beloved characters from the Star Wars series, including life-size mannequins of C3PO, R2-D2, Obi Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader. The lights are synchronized to “Star Wars” and Christmas music. It will be open every night at 6 p.m. through New Year’s Eve.

This year’s light show is raising funds for Hurricane Ian and Nicole victims. The neighborhood has set up a GoFundMe page here. Or those driving by can hand a donation to the neighbors.
Although the neighborhood is small, Mike and Kathy Morbach and their neighbors love lighting up their homes for the holidays. Brian’s Pond Road is located just off Sparkman Road in Plant City.
While more subdued, fitting the traditions of the times when they were built, the historic homes of Church Street in downtown Dade City are also worth a stroll. In fact, the annual Church Street Christmas Stroll is set for Dec. 21 to 23 from 7 to 9 p.m.
This free classic annual holiday event will feature carolers, choirs, dancers and musicians performing along sidewalks lit with luminarias. Santa will be on hand as well. Click here.
The Burton family hosts a nightly light show at their home at 2014 Sydney Road in Valrico from 7 to 11 p.m. Each year, Rodney and Audra Burton share their Christmas spirit with the community by decorating and lighting up their house with more than 75,000 lights, two lights and decorated 20-foot trees, three matrix screens and a light show synchronized to music. Click here for more information.
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