Twinkly Awards 2023: Central Florida’s best, brightest home holiday-light displays
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While Bing Crosby wished for your days to be merry and bright, a small handful of dedicated holiday heroes in Central Florida go out of their way to ensure your December evenings are also blindingly bright.
Florida doesn’t experience the snowfall and blustery cold that northern states associate with the holiday season, but Sunshine State residents do get to enjoy boat parades, Surfing Santas, festive light displays and decked halls of all kinds.
For our sixth annual Twinkly Awards, we’re honoring the aspiring Clark Griswolds of Central Florida, who each year haul out countless boxes of twinkle lights in the name of spreading holiday cheer.
Some lights provide a synchronized spectacle with bulbs that blink to the beat of music, while others twinkle slowly with thousands of strands in every corner of the house and yard. A few homes even have simulated snowfall or tinselly twists to surprise and delight visitors.
In no particular order, here are Central Florida’s best home holiday displays.
Musical Merriment
For more than a decade, two friends have collaborated on a dancing display of musical merriment in Lake Nona. The hard work of Randy Tennison and Todd O’Neal shines brightly with 25,000 lights dancing to music each holiday season. According to the Lake Nona Lights website, each 10 seconds of music takes about 2.5 hours to program. With a playlist that includes Christmas classics and holiday movie songs, this happening home is sure to dazzle visitors of all ages.
Address: 9800 Old Patina Way in Orlando
Hours: 6-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 6-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, through Dec. 31
Tune to: 87.9 FM
More info: lakenonalights.com
As Seen From Space
Set on an otherwise quiet street in Orlando’s Moss Park neighborhood, this extravagantly bright home is the product of countless hours of hard work. According to the person who submitted a description by email, work began on this display in June. It’s worth it so that even astronauts can have a merry Christmas, as it’s almost certain this house can be seen from space.
Address: 11403 Great Commission Way in Orlando
Antler Animations
Laureate Park Lights, which has grown and changed since its inception in 2015, hosts a Halloween show and a Christmas show in Lake Nona. This year, the work of Kevin Crossman shimmers with lights that seem to be more animated than ever before. Park the car or take a walk by this Lake Nona display to see lights pulsing to the beat of music and reindeer singing along.
Address: 8195 Upper Perse Circle in Orlando
Tune to: 89.5 FM
Colorful Characters
Visit the Lights of Newbridge Lane, a cheerful dancing display created by Derek Durden, to see singing lightbulbs, a penguin and characters that come to life on a tree made of pixels. More than just Christmas carols, the playlist includes pop hits that inspire lights on the roof and in the front yard to blink along to the beat. A “snow” machine next to the driveway completes the experience.
Address: 1424 Newbridge Lane in Orlando
Hours: 6-10 p.m. nightly, through Dec. 31
Tune to: 87.9 FM
More info: facebook.com/LightsOfNewbridgeLane
All Aglow
Set in Avalon Park, the Lights on Topsail Hill Street presents a showcase with thousands of color-changing pixels that pulse to Christmas classics. The frontman of this merry band is Frosty, who’s a popular figure in several light displays this year. The snowman sings along as his chorus of lightbulbs joins in the fun.
Address: 2606 Topsail Hill St. in Orlando
Hours: 6-11 p.m. nightly
Tune to: 89.7 FM
More info: facebook.com/LightsOnTopsail
Frosty’s Friends
More than 40,000 pixels and lights might not have much in common until they’re programmed into a harmonious sequence, each bulb working in tandem to create a show. The Goelz Dancing Christmas Lights display has a 25-foot tree, pinwheel arches, singing lightbulbs and more dancing along to 17 songs. For extra holiday merriment, Frosty the Snowman gets his time to shine.
Address: 3501 Rhapsody St. in St. Cloud
Hours: 5:45-10 p.m., nightly through Dec. 31
Tune to: 90.1 FM
More info: facebook.com/GoelzDancingChristmasLights
Santa’s Estate
The stately home of Vernon and Victoria Lindo would be enough to turn heads even without the decorations. When it comes to the holidays, this estate comes to life with lights and garland up and down its tall columns, plus countless Santa Clauses, nutcrackers, snowmen, elves and other characters adorning the front lawn.
Address: 618 Golfpark Drive in Celebration
A Christmas Celebration
While the popular Lights on Jeater Bend went dark at the end of last year, other holiday heroes in Celebration are stepping up to make sure the streets stay sparkling with cheer. On Celebration Avenue, find several homes in a row that embody the Christmas spirit, beginning with Santa and Mickey Mouse inflatables at one home, plus peppermints hanging from a tree. A few doors down, the neighbors have lights that dance and flash with music.
Address: 1100 Celebration Ave. in Celebration
Merry and (Very) Bright
In Davenport, park the car and spend some time taking in the Banbor Lights Spectacular, which lives up to its description with thousands of pixels timed precisely to match the music. On the rooftop, Santa and his reindeer even illuminate to the beat, while a screen on the garage displays animations, and spotlights shine into the night sky. Hear holiday tunes from Trans-Siberian Orchestra, remixes and more.
Address: 7237 Mystic Brook Way in Davenport
Hours: 5:30-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5:30-10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Tune to: 91.5 FM
More info: facebook.com/BanborLights
Happy HoLedet
Lighting up a sleepy street in Minneola, the HoLedet (pronounced Ho-La-day) Show is the hard work of Marcus and Mallory Ledet, back now for its fifth year. The dancing-light show features music from past and present Disney light shows and parades, complete with water canons and thousands of lights illuminating in sync.
Address: 15635 Turkey Farm Road in Minneola
Hours: 6-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 6-10 p.m. Friday-Sunday through early January
Tune to: FM 88.1
More info: facebook.com/TheHoLedetShow
Grunge Greetings
Many recognizable Christmas tunes continue to delight year after year, including “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” or “Holly Jolly Christmas.” These are a few of the songs people can hear while visiting the Lights on Bonser in Minneola, which has characters glowing and singing to music (plus the infamous leg lamp from “A Christmas Story”). During a visit to the show, it became clear that Frosty is more cultured than he appears — the snowman can even sing along with Nirvana.
Address: 1701 Bonser Road in Minneola
Hours: 5:30-10 p.m. nightly
Tune to: 97.1 FM
More info: facebook.com/thelightsonbonser
Seasonal Spotlights
Right up the street from Bonser, the Lights on Cavender Creek incorporates illuminated elements that work in tandem with each other to create a showcase of lights. With a tall tree of lights, snowflakes, candy canes and spotlights that dance to music, guests can hear songs such as “Carol of the Bells,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and even a Skrillex medley.
Address: 1362 Cavender Creek Road in Minneola
Hours: 6:30-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 6:30-10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday
More info: facebook.com/cavendercreeklights
Synchronized Snowflakes
With each passing year, LaPrada Lights in Winter Garden seems to get just a little bigger with new illuminated elements that pair with music for a synchronized spectacle. The song list includes “Baby Shark,” “Runnin’ Up That Hill,” “Dominick the Donkey,” pop hits and Christmas staples. Visitors can control the music queue by visiting controlthelights.net.
Address: 2121 White Feather Loop in Oakland
Hours: 6-10:30 p.m. nightly
Tune to: 93.9 FM
More info: lapradalights.com
Touching Tribute
David Nubar and Frank Boyce might not have the most real estate in Central Florida, but they use every square inch of their urban Orlando home and yard to fit as many lights into their display as humanly possible. Even the driveway is covered, leaving only the sidewalks open to pedestrians, who come in droves to witness the spectacle. More than a million lights comprise this display, which was featured last year on an episode of ABC’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight.” This year, David and Frank’s tribute to victims of the COVID-19 pandemic has gone viral on social media, so visit on weeknights to see the display with fewer people around.
Address: 2811 Clemwood St. in Orlando
Charitable Christmas
While there are many cheerful holiday homes in Baldwin Park, the McBride Family goes out of its way to put up 80,000 lights in the name of giving back to the community. For every $1 donated, the family donates $3 to support area schools and nonprofits.
Address: 4564 New Broad St. in Orlando
Handmade Holidays
86-year-old George Case has been putting out his lovingly handmade wooden Christmas decorations for years, still finding the time and energy to adorn his front yard with adorable characters and characters each year. Many of these were painted by Case’s late wife, Beatrice, to whom he dedicates this display.
Address: 1901 Mosher Drive in Orlando
Santa’s Summer Home
If elves are real, then Eric Johannessen and his team of holiday helpers are certainly living examples of Santa’s helpers. The family’s Winter Park home has gotten big and bright enough to have been recognized on USA Today’s 10 Best list of the top public holiday light displays in the nation. In cooperation with the county and sheriff’s office, Johannessen Lights has worked to accommodate crowds and now has parking across the street at University Plaza. Take a short walk to become immersed in a bright village reminiscent of the North Pole with a free front-yard display and a $10 donation requested for a visit to the decked-out backyard.
Address: 7849 Georgeann St. in Winter Park
Hours: 6-10 p.m. Dec. 14-16, 21-23, 26-31 (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day)
More info: facebook.com/JohanessenLights
Drum Roll, Please
Just around the corner from Johannessen Lights (and much less crowded), this dancing display has appeared on three different homes in as many years, moving to different Central Florida houses. From College Park to Conway to Winter Park last year, the latest iteration features thousands of colorful lights synchronized to music. One sequence references the scene in “Christmas Vacation” where Clark Griswold tries to plug in the lights and, eventually, succeeds.
Address: 7510 Waunaqua Drive in Winter Park
Tune to: 87.9 FM
More info: facebook.com/WPLightsonWaunaqua
Holiday Joy
At this point, Cross Christmas has become a holiday tradition for many Central Florida families seeking holiday “joy,” which is spelled out on the front of the Cross family home. With an oak tree wrapped in tens of thousands of lights, colorful dancing bulbs, countless characters and snowfall, this display never ceases to dazzle visitors young and old.
Address: 4241 N. Econlockhatchee Trail in Orlando
Hours: 6-10 p.m. on weekdays, 6-11 p.m. on weekends, through New Year’s Day
More info: facebook.com/crosschristmas
A Crazy Christmas
Now in its 15th year, the Fye’s Crazy Christmas House is made up of more than 60,000 lights, 24 arches, a life-size sleigh and reindeer, a Nativity scene and a North Pole village. Hard work and dedication are key ingredients to getting this display up every year, plus more than 100 extension cords, 30 power outlets and 1,000 zip ties that hold everything up.
Address: 407 Eagle Circle in Casselberry
Hours: 5:30-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5:30-9:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday
More info: facebook.com/407fyechristmashouse
Whoville Holidays
The Grinch cannot possibly steal the Christmas joy contained in the Hilo Family Lights display. Visit to see singing lightbulbs and a snowman, snowflakes that pulse to the music and a large tree of lights that features prominently in the display. On one side of the yard, the Grinch is scheming, but on the other side, Whos stand and sing in harmony.
Address: 2812 Pewter Mist Court in Oviedo
Hours: 6-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 6-10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday
Tune to: 88.5 FM
More info: hilofamilylights.com
Reindeer Rave
The Winter Springs home of the Bivona Family carries on a holiday tradition that began in 1983. This decidedly 21st-century display now features singing Christmas trees, Pikachu and a tall tree of lights that all pulse to EDM remixes of classic carols. All is merry and bright, that’s for sure.
Address: 1601 N. Wind Court in Winter Springs
Hours:6-10:30 p.m. nightly through Dec. 31
Tune to: 91.3 FM
More info: facebook.com/BivonaChristmas
Up on the Housetop
The front yard of the Worsham Family in Oviedo feels like a North Pole party with the who’s who of Christmas. Special guests include a gingerbread man, a giant teddy bear, penguins, Santa and his reindeer, Ralphie and the Grinch.
Address: 1009 Cutoff Branch Court in Oviedo
O Holy Night
Dubbed Neely Nights, this festive street in Oviedo is filled with decorated holiday homes. The most prominent among them is also the first visitors see when entering the neighborhood. There are countless thousands of lights adorning this corner home and surrounding trees, plus a reminder on the roof: Jesus is the reason.
Address: 1003 McKinnon Ave. in Oviedo
Well-Trimmed Trail
For more than a decade, the Brown Family has invited guests to travel on the short Christmas trail in their front yard, complete with interactive displays. A labor of love that begins in September each year, the homemade family tradition has nightly “snowfall” and plenty of references to holiday movies.
Address: 242 Buena Vista St. in Debary
Find me @PConnPie on Instagram or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com.
