To defend the title of Santa Maria’s best-decorated home for the holidays, Larry Iliff is taking things to another level for 2008.

In addition to the elaborate computerized light and music show with 27,000 lights that debuted last year, Iliff is adding a 10-foot-tall Christmas tree made of more than 7,000 lights to the spectacle at 917 Beth Court.

“It’s quite a display, even if I say so myself,” he said.

Iliff, whose exhibition has captured the Best Decorated Residence title in the Santa Maria Lights, Sights and Holiday Nights contest four times in the past 11 years, started setting up the show two weekends before Thanksgiving.

He began working on the tree project in June, and finished up the almost $2,000 project on Nov. 28. He took a week vacation from his job in October to prep the tree for a test run.

Earlier this week, Iliff said he was “not quite done” yet with 10,000 lights left to go.

The tree was not up yet and decorating the driveway — which costs his wife Michelle the ability to park in the garage — is “the last part to go up.”

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“My wife is saying ‘enough is enough,’” he said.

Michelle, his wife of 33 years, said the display has become bigger each year, and would be even bigger if she wasn’t there to hold back Larry’s plans.

“It’s quite a production,” she said.

The origins of the Iliff family display began modestly at his two-story home.

“I started with a couple of strands of lights like everybody else,” he said.

The intricate light display is a nod to Chevy Chase’s Clark Griswold in the film “Christmas Vacation” and Danny DeVito’s Buddy Hall in “Deck the Halls,” he said.

Inspired by an Internet video highlighting homes with choreographed lights, Iliff unveiled a 10-minute light and music show last year with 27,000 lights twinkling, fading and turning on and off to Christmas classics, including “Silent Night” and “Christmas Don't Be Late,” performed by Alvin and the Chipmunks.

“It exceeded all my expectations,” he said.

He has added a new song, ”Wizard in Winter,” for this holiday season.

The lights and music are on from 5 p.m. to at least 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday

Broadcast from the same computer that runs the lights with a portable radio transmitter, the music can be heard by tuning a car radio to 88.1 FM.

The light and music show has not only thrilled countless visitors, it has cut the Iliff family’s electrical bill by about half.

Two years ago, the average electric bill for this time of year was close to $1,000, Iliff said.

Without the lights on at all times last year, the bill dropped to $500.

The annual setup of the display has become a family affair, with each of the five Iliff children joining in. They also have five grandchildren and one on the way.

Iliff said he hopes to keep growing the display each year. However, that would require an increase in amp service to the house — a major expense.

The tree decoration has added 30 more channels for a total of 100 channels controlling a part of the computerized display.

He said the main reason behind the display is to “bring joy to the city,” and the reactions of delight from spectators gives him happiness.

Michelle said the light display is her husband’s way of “giving back to the community.”

“He loves to watch the children and their smiles,” she said.

Nominess emerging for ‘Lights’ contest

There are only a few days left to nominate the Santa Maria Valley’s best-decorated homes and businesses in this year’s edition of the “Lights, Sights and Holiday Nights” contest.

The nomination period is scheduled to last through Monday with judging scheduled from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday. Nominations can be made by calling 925-0951, Ext. 984, or by visiting the Recreation and Parks Department at 615 S. McClelland St.

Awards are given for categories such as most inspirational, best residence, neighborhood spirit, best street, best use of craftsmanship, most nostalgic, best business, and best low-energy.

The annual contest is presented by the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Commission, the Recreation and Parks Department and the Santa Maria Valley Lions.

Event organizer Yvette Fuentes of the Santa Maria Recreation and Parks Department said only a handful of nominations have trickled in so far.

The nominees (as of Tuesday) are:

1749 North Vine St. with a nearest cross street of North Broadway or East Grant Street

3299 Drake Drive with the nearest cross street of Winter Road

1400 East Church St. (Marian Medical Plaza) with the nearest cross street of East Main Street.

209 Sycamore St. with a nearest cross street of North Broadway or West Taylor Street

519 West Taylor St. with the nearest cross street of Railroad Avenue

740 Royal Terrace with the nearest cross street of Cherry Avenue

A group of three members of the Recreation and Parks Department staff and three members of the Recreation and Parks Commission will judge Santa Maria entries. Orcutt nominees will be judged by members of the Santa Maria Valley Lions Club.

Last year there were more than 70 nominations with the Iliff family on North Beth Court winning best residence honors in Santa Maria. Optical Concepts on East Betteravia Road took best business honors in Santa Maria. The home at 4571 Basque Drive was the Orcutt residence winner.

December 4, 2008