Mike Sesterhenn and his wife, Sandy, in their yard at 924 W. Oxford Court in Palatine. He is the 2021 Daily Herald Holiday Lights Editor's Choice award winner for the Northwest suburbs.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Mike Sesterhenn has won the 2021 Holiday Lights Editor's Choice award for the Northwest suburbs. His home is at 924 W. Oxford Court, Palatine.
Q: How long have you been decorating your house like this?
A: Approximately 35 years.
Q: What inspired you to go all out with your decorations?
A: I love lights and enjoy bringing holiday spirit to all that see the house.
Q: How many hours does it take to put up the display?
A: Approximately 35 to 40 hours.
Q: How many strings of lights are involved?
A: Approximately 20,000 individual lights, and more to come each year.
Q: How much does your electric bill spike in December?
A: Almost double, or a little less, because I started switching to LED lights last year.
Q: What do your neighbors think of your display?
A: They love it, and are always amazed and grateful on how it makes our cul-de-sac look.
Mike Sesterhenn put up several trees, each with its own color, in his yard at 924 W. Oxford Court, Palatine. He is the 2021 Daily Herald Holiday Lights Editor's Choice award winner for the Northwest suburbs.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Mike Sesterhenn's display has been created entirely with miniature lights.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Mike Sesterhenn has about 20,000 miniature lights in his yard at 924 W. Oxford Court, Palatine. He says his electric bill shouldn't be as bad this year since he started switching out his old lights to LED.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com
Mike Sesterhenn's display, featuring about 20,000 miniature lights, has won the Holiday Lights Editor's Choice award for Northwest suburbs.
John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com