Holly's recommended

	Historical Tacky Christmas Lights 2003 IN FAIRFAX COUNTY, NORTHERN VIRGINIA
(With a name like Holly, how could I not recommend Christmas Lights???) Last Updated 16-Jan-2008

Now Playing:  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

 

The following map was reproduced from the Fairfax Journal Newspaper dated 12/22/1998 and modified to represent my favorites...

Looking back at Christmas 2003 - The Year of the Inflatables... None of the newspapers published a listing of lighted houses this year so, my viewing was limited to last year's addresses. As I drove around  I noticed everyone had the new Inflatable yard decorations. They obviously came down in price and were more available than last year when I saw just a few.  At first I was disappointed (I prefer LOTS of lights), but the house on Fairview Avenue (13) changed my mind. And some homes where still doing lots of lights along with the Inflatables and those looked best.  Viewing advice: Check nearby neighborhood streets for other extravagantly decorated homes. Usually there's more than one.  A Last Aside: I was contacted by Peter Carlson from the Washington Post, which resulted in some of homes listed below being interviewed for his article on Christmas lights which appeared on the front of the Style section on Christmas day. He had seen this web page. I decided to put a counter on the page and within two weeks I had over 1500 hits! I now realize this page is a reference and I will try to keep it up to date. Therefore, if you know of a house in Fairfax County which should be included on this list, please email me so I can check it out.

1. 7825 Newington Woods Drive, Newington
    Has animated lighted deer hopping over the driveway

   

2. Gone

3. Gone

4. 3608 Old Post Road, Fairfax City

   
   Very tacky but, I love the unique things (carousel, helicopter) in the 
   front. Back yard is also decorated. Go around the block to see it.

   

5. Gone

6. 2122 Galloping Way, Vienna
   Very elegant, all white lights done very tastefully
   

   

7. 1746 block Pimmit Drive
   2000 block Storm Drive, Falls Church

    
   Prior to 2003
   My favorites, have visited for years 
   Pimmit Drive has a house with homemade animated wooden decorations, 
   Have watched them add new items thru the years
   Santa appears here in mid December
   2001 - This year's additions: 
   Uncle Sam waving a flag; helicopter painted stars and stripes
    
   2003 - Major change on Pimmit Drive, wooden decorations replaced by
   large inflatables. (Someone stole one already - bah humbug)
      
   Other homes in the Pimmit Neighborhood

   

8. 1713 N. Quebec Street, Arlington
   A small yard jam-packed full of lights and lighted figures.

   

9. 5502 Justis Place, Alexandria

   
   A lot of decorations in a very small yard
    I love the reindeer and sleigh flying over the driveway

   

10. 6634 South Kings Highway, Alexandria
    2003: Featured in Peter Carlson's Article

     
    
    My son in front of this popular house,
    Has a small working train for giving the little ones a ride
     
    Other houses on Memorial Street

    

11. 128 Nutley Street, N.W.,  Vienna

     
    Again very pretty with use of different colors for different objects...lots of blue lights (my favorite color)
    These pictures do NOT do it justice. The lights are abundant and wide spread but subtle...

    

12. 3912 and 3917 Lincolnshire Street, Arlington
    2003: Featured in Peter Carlson's Article

    Another of my favorites... Two houses directly across the street from each other try to outdo each other, one with lights and the other with lighted figures...What a Sight!!  Always makes me happy to see these.

    

13. 2507 Fairview Drive, Alexandria

    What a glow! Very beautiful from a distance, Candy canes all over the trees Roof lights and house outline with icicle lights is overwhelming. Lots of lighted figures. 2000: Owner said he'd make snow with his new snow-making machine but, he didn't...Maybe next year

    2003 - Major change (like Pimmit Drive) some lights and lighted figures replaced by large inflatables.  Overdone to the MAX!!! I vote TACKIEST of 2003!!!! He is the KING of the Inflatables!!!  He must have one of every kind available. The right property line was lined with intermixed Santas and Snowmen. The roofs was covered with inflatables, and there is still lots of lights... A neighborhood house

    

14. 1601 Collingwood Road, Mount Vernon
    

     

    
    Extremely large house and yard with beautifully done lights everywhere! 
    I loved the ground cover done in green lights with the larger red (berry) lights.
    I want to do that to my holly tree at the end of our driveway. Also, many groups of lighted deer figures.

    

15. East Juniper Avenue, Sterling

        
    Everyone on this entire street gets into the act and it's like one of those drive-thru light shows. I loved the variety.  
    One yard was set up as a seascape with Santa in a sail boat.
    Another had large wooden Peanuts characters.
    Santa will be there Dec. 16-23, 2004

     

    

16. Hi-Tech Transmissions, 8633 Lee Hwy, Fairfax

    
    This business has been putting lighted figures on their roof for years
    They also have multicolored lights on a big pine tree 
    The definition of tacky...I love it!!

    

17. Miracle of Lights, Bull Run Regional Park, Centreville
    The annual Miracle of Lights Holiday Drive-Thru Light Show opens on Friday, November 16th at Bull Run Regional Park in Centreville, Virginia. A drive through the wooded and winding park will elicit plenty of oohs and aahs as visitors enjoy peacocks, Santa and his elves and reindeer, wood nymphs and more. The display runs through Saturday, January 3, 2004 (except New Year's Eve) from 5:30-10:30 p.m. daily. Tickets are $12 per car or van, $25 for a commercial van and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Medical Care for Children Partnership. For more information, call 703-709-KIDS or visit www.miracleoflights.com.

    Interested in finding more Light Shows? Click here.

    

The Fairfax Journal usually publishes their light recommendations with map and directions within a week of Christmas.
Check your local newsstand starting on the 20th.

If you see other local displays you would recommend,
please email me at hollyzell@hotmail.com with the address
so I can check it out and add it to my list.  

Enjoy the COLORS and remember
Jesus is the reason for the season

A special thanks to all you home decorators...you make the season bright...bless you...

Please visit these other TACKY XMAS sites:

Mad Dog's Tacky Xmas

The Water-Skiing Santa 
 (This guy is a good friend of mine)

Planet Christmas

Virtual Tour of Lights

 
MY Christmas Decorations
My "Tacky" is the Light-up Santa. 
I inherited him from a great aunt who owned a motel in Rehoboth, Delaware.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This web page would not have been possible without the information provided in the Fairfax Journal Newspaper.  

©Holly A Zell
Revised:  January 16, 2008 12:04
All Original Artwork Copyrighted.
All photographs by Holly Zell unless otherwise noted.