Christmas lights in Las Cruces

House bio: Troy Bower has been doing a large Christmas display for several years. He has about 25,000 lights, mostly LED, that are timed to 92.7 FM, with a sign on the lawn encourages the audience to tune in. He also has a large television monitor set up in a front window, with a Santa that waves and appears busy wrapping gifts. Watchers can’t immediately tell from the street that he is being displayed on a monitor, giving the illusion a real person is there, waving from the window. Bower gets help from a neighbor to set up the display, which requires about 20 to 25 hours to complete.

House bio: Susan and Bob Heyser have cartoon inflatables, peppermint lollipop lights, luminarias and chile-shaped bulbs that light up Missouri Avenue. Taking two weeks to set up, they typically begin the day after Thanksgiving. They have a Disney room in their home and often put up 30 to 50 Christmas trees in their home. The Heysers have music transmitted over 96.9 FM to match up with the light display. Susan, a local artist, crafted a wooden sign that reads “Seasons Greetings from the Heysers.” They also have a digital clock counting down the days until Christmas. The display begins at 5:30 and runs until 10 p.m.

House bio: Gary Kurz adorns his home with a Santa and sleigh and lights timed to music. Many other inflatable characters, and of course lots of lights, also join the Christmas party. He spends two and a half weekends setting it up. “The lights are one way to lighten things up and forget about the bad things going on around us,” he said. Lights were always a big deal in the family, he said, but since he moved to a corner lot, “it gets pretty elaborate now that we’ve got a whole side of the house.”

House bio: Fred Molina’s “Winter Wonderland” has been lighting up Christmas for almost a decade, and his display acts as a memorial to his late wife, who passed away in 2009. A large display, front and center in red lights, reads “In Loving Memory, Jan.” A giant Snoopy and other inflatables hang out on the rooftop. The lights are on 5:30 to 10 p.m.

House bio: With more than 50,000 clear solid lights, Bridgette and Richard Moorehead's display emits an aura of tranquility with soft music in the background. Bridgette has called it their own little Peace on Earth; it’s definitely more “Silent Night” than “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.” The Mooreheads began their tradition in Truth or Consequences about 15 years ago and have continued it in Las Cruces. The lights go on at dusk and stay on until 11 p.m. and even later as Christmas approaches.

House bio: Joe Novak has been assembling light shows for the community for more than a quarter of a century, from Mesilla Park out to his current home on Stoneville Court. So, it’s no wonder his Novak Family Christmas Display is considered the trailblazer for local Christmas light displays. After teaming up with local computer expert David Morock to implement a choreographed light and music display, Novak uses a computerized program called Light-O-Rama to bring lighted joy to the masses of Las Cruces. The 30,000-light display takes two weeks to set up. Novak’s company, Interstate Batteries, sponsors the project as a gift to Las Crucens. The display is turned on Mondays through Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. and on the weekends until 11 p.m. Visit their website at novakfamilychristmas.com.

House bio: Retiree Dan Wasser uses between 50,000 and 60,000 lights to create his home’s Christmas display, which includes inflatable characters, icicle lights and the house’s flood lights, as well as some holiday tunes. He has 10,000 lights on just one tree alone. The lights come on at 5:30 p.m. and stay on as long as there is an audience.

House bio: Not one house particularly stands out above the rest along the 1200 and 1300 blocks of Mesilla Street , but this is an excellent street for walking up and down. Almost every house on this street is decorated — and not just slightly — with a variety of lights, inflatables, Nativity scenes and interesting designs.