Daily Herald Holiday Lights Contest Editor's Choice winner: Lake County
Matt Mabus of 2027 W. Savannah Parkway in Round Lake is the Daily Herald Holiday Lights Contest Editor's Choice winner in Lake County for 2018.
Q. How long have you been decorating your house like this?
A. 4 years.
Q. What inspired you to go all out with your decorations?
A. Ever since I could remember I've always enjoyed driving around looking at other people's Christmas lights, so when I got my own house I knew I wanted to decorate - started off like everyone else and just kept adding. And still to this day just keep adding something different.
Q. How many hours does it take to put up the display?
A. Probably around 60 hours alone and close to 15 hours with my wife helping.
Q. How many strings of lights are involved?
A. Around 240 strings altogether. We came up with close to 80,000 individual lights with everything.
Q. How much does your electric bill spike in December?
A. The number one question everyone asks. Ninety-eight percent of the lights are LED, so the bill only goes up about $30-$40.
Q. What do your neighbors think of your display?
A. Never heard anything but good things and support from the adults and children that live around me.