N. Aurora's brightest light shows

The flashing lights are the first clue that an extra-special Christmas light display is ahead as you round the corner and turn onto McDuffee Circle, in Tanner Trails on the far west side of North Aurora.

A simple sign in front of the house instructs viewers to tune to 87.9 FM. That's when the real show begins.

The house at 2712 McDuffee Circle is one of 12 homes and two neighborhoods that registered for the North Aurora Lions Christmas Home Decorating Contest.

The Lions have a list of the home and neighborhood entrants on its Web site, www.geocities.com/northauroralions, and voting instructions are also on the site. The first-place vote-getter will win a $150 cash prize from the Lions. Second place wins $100, and third place $50. Voting continues through Dec. 22.

At the home, while frenetic Christmas music blares from the car stereo, the lit trees, reindeer and some 15,000 lights greet passers-by with a synchronized light show.

Patrick and Lisa Falcone have teamed up this year to set up a spectacular light show synced to Christmas music. Patrick has set up the thousands of lights for displays in his front yard, and Lisa has worked over 100 hours programming the display to play with the music.

"I've programmed five songs so far and I'm working on the sixth one," said Lisa, who was recently laid off and has some extra time on her hands this season.

She has selected "Wizards in Winter" and "Queen of Winter Night," both by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, for two of the tunes. Falcone has also chosen a techno "Jingle Bells", "Boughs of Holly" and a slower "O Christmas Tree" to round out her music selections.

Falcone said her husband's grandfather was the family Christmas display master in years past.

"We enjoy looking at the lights and decided to get crazy this year," she said.

Falcone said they are never quite done with the display and know already that they want to top themselves next year.

"We went to all our neighbors and told them what we planned to do this year to make sure that it was all right," she said. "They were all supportive of us."

"We had a lady stop by this week," Falcone said. "She said she just wanted to thank us for bringing the Christmas spirit out in the neighborhood.

"We were worried when the North Aurora enforcement code car stopped and parked in front of the house, but he came over and told us he thought the display was spectacular," Falcone remembered with relief.

Falcone said her husband's dream is to get on TV or in the paper and carry on his grandfather's decorating tradition.

"We had an electrician come in and up our ampage so we could handle the extra lights," Falcone said. "My husband is going to Menard's nearly every night getting more extension cords. No one can walk in our yard because of all the cords."

Falcone said that all their cords and lights and displays are organized in numbered tubs in the basement and the attic in their home.

At least now the snow is covering most of the wiring, she said.

The display runs weeknights until 9:30 p.m., and until 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Lion Sarah Prah is in charge of the club's contest this year.

Even though her husband's entry won first prize in the festive category last year, Prah had to admit that the Falcones outdid them this year.

"We loved the Falcones' display," she said. "We must have spent 20 minutes sitting out front just looking at the lights and listening."

Husband Chris Prah also has his share of extension cords for his bright display at their home, at 217 Wildwood Drive in the Timber Oaks subdivision.

"I lost count of how many lights I had a couple of years ago," he said. "Every year I try something different. Last year I had a Christmas tree display on the roof, and this year I have a wreath."

His lighting display brightens up the whole street with three lit archways over the sidewalk in front and lights strung up in the large trees that line the parkway.

The Prahs have a separate room in their basement to store the lights and displays. He has one bin just for extension cords.

"I've got the lights on six different circuits and timers and have 9 to 10 decent-size bins for just the lights," he said.

This is the fourth year for the Prah family's outdoor decorating.

"I want to egg on my neighbors to do the same thing," he said. "My biggest joy is to get people to slow down and look. Then I know I've done my job."