21 years, 100K lights, countless smiles for kids

BEAVERTON, Ore. (KOIN) -- For the Fitzgerald family of Beaverton, Christmas begins in September. That's when they began pulling out all their holiday decorations stored in their garage to cover their home in the Cooper Mountain area.

Katherine Fitzgerald said that after 21 years of doing this, "we have a system now."

Colin Fitzgerald, a self-described holiday lights enthusiast, said he estimates they have about 100,000 lights.

"We started out in Hillsboro for 15 years and we had, I think 6 or 7 deer and we put some lights on the house and our neighbors did the same thing. and all of a sudden each year we just started adding more and more and more," he said.

Yes, their electric bill goes up but they use mostly LED lights. Colin said their bill only goes up about $150 -- but the display is "priceless."

That display now includes a nativity scene, Star Wars figures, loads of Santas and snowmen and nutcrackers and Noah's Arcs and more.

"I build all the animals," Finley Fitzgerald said, "and these kinds of things to help my dad."

After all the preparation, the switch is flipped the day after Thanksgiving.

Tiffany Mazzoco and her daughter Avery are among the many visitors to the Fitzgerald house each year, 17566 SW Albert Court. There are photo opportunities and a scavenger hunt.

"I think this is our 5th time," Mazzoco said. "We discovered it and we can't stop. We look forward to it every single year."

But there is also a charitable reason behind this over-the-top celebration of the season -- collecting toys for the Red Tricycle Brigade, which gives toys to kids and families experiencing cancer.

"We put a sign out and we have folks that donate toys all through the month of December," Colin said. "And then we're fortunate to go up to Randall (Children's Hospital) and deliver the toys."

The Fitzgeralds often hang around outside to greet people and share their reactions.

"During this time there are a lot of hardships that people experience, whether it's financial or health or grieving a loved one," Katherine said. "If they can come to our display and escape from their hardships and we can bring them joy and smile, then all the hours put into this and all the aches and pains with our knees and back make it all worth it."