The 48th annual Lights at Interlochen start Friday in a neighborhood in northwest Arlington. Organizers say about 100,000 people will pass through the display, which is open 6-11 p.m. through Christmas.
"This is an extremely, extremely popular event, so traffic builds up very quickly," says the Arlington Police Department's Tim Ciesco.
More than 200 homes are decorated. Organizer Ralph Sobel says they have a friendly competition, but they also help each other out.
"Some of us are a little older than we used to be. Some of us have lost our partners. There are at least two people I know of in the last few days where neighbors have actually gotten on ladders, put up lights for them," he says. "It really is wonderful to see. It's the true Christmas spirit."
Among new displays Sobel has seen this year is a house decorated with Star Wars inflatables, including a Death Star with a wreath around its weapon surrounded by stormtroopers carrying candy canes.
"Some of us like being known as the 'Star Wars house' or the 'Snoopy House.' There's a new one that's going to be well-known, the 'Home Alone house.' It's wonderful how they've adapted things there," Sobel says.
"There's a great 'Down Under Christmas' that's new this year. Someone's doing a 'Rad Christmas' devoted to the culture of the 80s, the beach culture and music. Things are gnarly and rad."
Lights at Interlochen started 48 years ago. Chad Bates brought his college girlfriend from UT Arlington to see the lights when they were dating.
"Six months after our first date, we were married, and that was 43 1/2 years ago. It's amazing," he says.
"I do think about, when I watch people go by and see young couples, maybe history could be repeating itself. My wife jokes with me, 'I knew something was pretty good when you took me to look at Christmas lights on our second date.' Guys out there, think about that, that may be a good way to get in good."
Bates now decorates his own home. Lights line his roof, and he has a light show set to music in his yard.
"When we first put this display in that we have now, people were like, 'Oh no, what did you do that for, Chad?' They called me the Griswold of Interlochen," he says. "It's just part of what Christmas is to us."
A few streets away, Sobel has displays in his windows, and he says he continues to add inflatables to his yard even 28 years after moving in.
"We try to get unique inflatable designs. A lot of them are personal to us," he says. "A Galapagos tortoise we found. There's a blow-up poinsettia we found, and a lot of people like that. We have a new train that looks like a train going through a mountain that's really a lot of fun and an owl, a Christmassy owl."
Sobel says most of the people who live in Interlochen and visit the lights are Christian, but he says they want people of all faiths to feel welcome. Because of the war in Israel, he says a lot of houses are showing menorahs or the Star of David this year.
"I can't tell you how good a feeling it's been when people notice it," he says. "They know what's going on in the world, and they appreciate it."
Arlington Police will direct traffic, but at busy times, they say families may spend more than an hour in line just to get to the start of the show. Sobel says some families expect the wait and bring hot chocolate and games in the car.
Police will also have some lanes and intersections blocked. The city will also have some streets blocked off.
"Police and Public Works do a tremendous job," Sobel says.
"The amount of labor and materials they put into signage is kind of their gift to the neighborhood. The police are wonderful. Fire, heaven forbid there was a fire or EMS emergency, they have a wonderful rescue plan. There are a lot of things going behind the scenes. I've gained a lot of respect for these guys, how much time and effort they've put into it."
A map and more information about Lights at Interlochen can be found here.
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