A display 25 years in the making

Second-place winner Dale Rohrbach of 1818 Chandler Ave. in St. Charles has been working on his display for about 25 years.

"I try to add something every year," Rohrbach said. "This year I added a merry-go-round and a mailbox with a bird that comes out with a letter to Santa."

Rohrbach said he has no idea how many lights are in his display, but it takes him four days to set it up, including half a day to connect all the electric cords.

"I use 7 different timers," he said.

His display also includes music, four gingerbread houses, and a palm tree amid the polar bears, penguins and igloo.

"I like to do it for the children," Rohrbach said. His daughters are now 22 and 14 and they help haul the decorations out of the shed. "And more and more people started driving by. Knowing that they like it inspires me. And I have fun putting everything out."