Best and the brightest: Winners of the Daily Herald's holiday lights contest

We asked you Clark Griswold wanna-bes to enter our holiday lights contest, and boy, did you respond.

We received more than 30 entries, all of them merry, all of them BRIGHT - bright enough to possibly seen from the moon on a clear winter's night.

And it's not just the lights, oh no, that's not enough, you supplement your displays with inflatable stuff - there's snowmen, santas, toy soldiers and wreaths. Nativity scenes, reindeer and, of course, Christmas trees.

Our judges pored over your entries and picked those that could best rival the Griswold's over-the-top decorations in the 1989 "Christmas Vacation" movie. The winners of the contest are: Tom and Wendy Johnson of Streamwood, first place; Dale Rohrback of St. Charles second place and Terry Weppler, third place.

The grand prize winner received four tickets to Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament, second place four Cinemark movie passes and two $25 gift certificates to Ala Carte Entertainment restaurants and third place four Cinemark movie passes.

Thanks to all of you who entered and spread Christmas cheer with your creative displays.

Top honors

Streamwood 7 Dover CourtTom Johnson likes to think of his work as the thinking man's holiday display. Sure, there are lights - about 7,000 of them. Reindeer pull Santa's sleigh and candy canes line the sidewalk, staples in any must-see. But it's the artistry and detail found in Johnson's display that earned the Streamwood family grand prize in the Daily Herald holiday lights contest. Read the full profile.

St. Charles 1818 Chandler Ave.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." Read the full profile.

Libertyville 121 W. Church St.His office facing Cook Park in downtown Libertyville, attorney Terry Weppler always had a good look at the village's decorations during the holidays. He took third place in our contest. Now in its fourth year, the synchronized lights and decorations at Weppler's office, 121 W. Church St., have created their own niche in village tradition. Read the full profile.

Honorable mentions

Arlington Heights 2721 N. Windsor DriveFrances and Randy Valentino have a nativity on the roof of their garage and fill their yard at 2721 N. Windsor Drive with lighted figurines.

Bartlett 216 N. Prospect Ave.Bring your sunglasses to check out the miles of lights on Antonio and Rosa Manna's house at 216 N. Prospect Ave. The Mannas have won lights contests in Bartlett in the past.

Batavia 1649 Derby DriveThe Misura family at 1649 Derby Drive frames their house in lights and fills their yard with inflatables. Father Dave, 8-year-old son, Colin, and mom, Karen, love putting up the display. "It is fun to watch the cars outside slow down to view the decorations. We're happy to know that other families are enjoying the display as much as we are," Karen says.

Batavia 595 Carriage DriveDale Evensen's home at 595 Carriage Drive, is lined in lights, with Christmas trees in the windows and Santa sneaking up the roof.

Downers Grove 434 Indianapolis Ave.The Wissmiller family at 434 Indianapolis Ave. started its display with one plastic Santa in 1983 when their first son with born. Now, they have two more sons and more than 75 pieces (and counting) of holiday cheer filling the yard.

Elburn 3N040 Springwood LaneBlue lights and a nativity welcome you as you near Ray Hohe's house, trimmed with multicolored icicles, at 3N040 Springwood Lane.

Elk Grove Village 69 Avon RoadThere's no secret Santa at Doug Moeller's house at 69 Avon Road. The big guy with all his reindeer is landing right on his roof, which is beautifully lined with icicle lights.

Elk Grove Village 1017 Florida LaneAl Smith uses about 15,000 lights to illuminate the roughly 20 Christmas trees and toy soldiers at 1017 Florida Lane.

Elk Grove Village 1495 Morgan DriveBill and Jennifer Kyprianidis display a fun Santa-filled yard with multi-colored lights along trees and the house at 1495 Morgan Drive trimmed in lights.

Geneva 0N553 Armstrong LaneGary Johnson's house at 0N553 Armstrong Lane looks like holiday paradise, classically lined in white lights.

Gurnee 6634 Foxworth LaneMulticolored lights, snowmen and inflatables create a warm winter scene at Patti Volpert's house at 6634 Foxworth Lane.

Island Lake 3105 Wishing Well LaneRobert Gebelhoff's home at 3105 Wishing Well Lane lights up the night with multicolored bulbs and lighted figures.

Mount Prospect 400 Craig CourtClassic white lights wend around towering columns and highlight reindeer creeping across the lawn while a big Ho Ho Ho greets you at the Wozniaks' house at 400 Craig Court.

Palatine 1350 N. Larkspur LaneThe elves are busy in the candy cane land that surrounds Don and Doreen Jarosz's home at 1350 N. Larkspur Lane.

Roselle 795 W. Bryn Mawr Ave.Dennis and Janice Ransdell's home at 795 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. will have you seeing red - literally. It seems every inch of the house is covered with more than 17,000 red lights. You might want to bring your sunglasses.

Schaumburg 707 Teal CourtBryan Ackerlund has invested a couple thousand dollars to put 20,000 to 25,000 lights on his house at 707 Teal Court. His "Merry Rockin Christmas" theme includes hand-built blocks on his roof, a hot-air balloon toting Santa Claus, a candy-cane lined driveway, and a Santa's workshop with animated reindeer.

Villa Park 333 S. CornellEighty-one-year-old Lawrene LaDeur starts planning his holiday decorations in the spring and puts the majority of them up by himself on his home at 333 S. Cornell. Gumdrop lights line the sidewalk and roadside and a massive wreath and nativity scene paint a peaceful holiday picture.

Wheaton1555 Leabrook LaneFollow the stars - and the toy soldiers, snowmen, gingerbread men, candles, lollipops to find Mr. and Mrs. Claus nestled in the yard of Ron and Judie Elenbaas at 1555 Leabrook Lane.

Wheaton 2321 Appleby CourtYou can have a blue Christmas at the Zanonis' home at 2321 Appleby Court. Make sure you catch all sides of their display.

Other entries:

Rolling Meadows 2142 Davis CourtDick Glade's winding drive welcomes you to a lovely holiday scene at 2142 Davis Court.

Schaumburg 424 Alden LaneA giant snowman and Santa tangle in the front yard of Catherine Petrocelli's home at 424 Alden Lane

Synchronized with music

Batavia 1199 Meadow DriveTune into 106.9 in front of Nicholas Miele's house at 1199 Meadow Drive to catch his synchronized show.

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