There is just something about Christmas lights that truly ignites the festive spirit in the young and the young at heart.
The colourful, jolly displays spread joy across Perth neighbourhoods. But when it comes down to looking for homes decked to the nines in decorations and exhibits you want to get out of the car for to explore further, it can be a bit tiresome if you don’t know where to go.
Thankfully, to save you from driving around in circles, the duo behind the Christmas Light Search website have made it all a little easier by putting all the holiday lights in the ‘burbs onto an interactive map — where you can search your neighbourhood and find the best spots.
Co-founders Lachlan Kennedy and his cousin, Chris, had always enjoyed getting into the festive spirit and visiting Chrissy lights when they were kids, so when they decided they wanted to develop a website, they had a light bulb moment.
“My cousin and I had an interest in web development and thought a great idea for a website would be one that showed a map of Christmas lights, as we always visited lights as kids,” Kennedy said.
“Once the website got going after a few years it became apparent that we had created a really useful platform for homeowners to promote their displays on and this has motivated us to keep it going ever since.”
The duo kicked off the directory in Melbourne in 2008 with 40 light displays. Besides well-known locations, they had to drive around hunting for all the best homes decked out in lights and add them to the site manually. Until it became so popular, people started sending in their displays.
“From then on the site grew in popularity each year and we quickly expanded nationally,” Kennedy said.
This year, the website has more than 2,500 confirmed Christmas light locations across Australia, with about 450 to see in Perth.
The site is user-friendly and now allows anyone to add their Christmas display to the map for free.
What makes a Christmas light display truly spectacular nowadays?
Christmas light displays have come a long way over the years, said Kennedy, adding that it had become much more advanced than just stringing a few bulbs on the fence, with some festive folk spending a month or longer to create their magical exhibits.
“In the past, the best displays were judged by how many LEDs you had and how bright it looked,” he said.
“Bright displays still attract a huge crowd but these days a ‘spectacular’ display also has interactive elements. We are finding homeowners embrace elements like snow and bubble machines, opening up their driveways for kids to dance in (with music, lasers, and projections), giant moving LED characters and inflatables, and sit in Santa Sleigh’s for photo ops.”
He said it was also a bonus when the homeowners also get involved by dressing up as Santa or other popular characters and holding community raffles, BBQs and fundraisers.
“We find Christmas displays these days have evolved to be much more than just about the lights.”
Here are 10 of Kennedy’s favourite Perth displays for 2022 (in no particular order)
1) 8 Malleefowl Way, Alkimos
This fully computerised “music to lights” Christmas show at 8 Malleefowl Way in Alkimos is truly a Christmas wonder.
“The attention to detail is something to admire — the owners work on programming their show all year!” Kennedy said, with every light in the show able to be individually controlled.
“Kids will love dancing in the driveway with music and projections.”
The creators of this magical show said the best thing about it was being able to “express music and emotion through lights” and bring “joy to the community”.
2) 2 Sherlock Rise, Carramar
The residents behind this spectacular Christmas display at 2 Sherlock Rise, Carramar, have been creating their festive exhibit for more than 10 years, and Kennedy says it just “keeps getting better!”
Described as a small “interactive Christmas theme park” — there is so much to do at the property including photo opportunities in a giant six-seater sleigh.
Visitors are invited to, “hang out for an hour and enjoy the lights, the music, the snow machines, interact with all our characters, meet Santa inside in his grotto, sit in our six-seater sleigh, the list goes on…” the residents said.
3) Palmer Crescent, High Wycombe
This Aussie themed Christmas lights display at Palmer Crescent in High Wycombe is sure to impress — with a huge inflatable koala, kangaroo and a sparkling light archway.
The homeowners behind the dazzling display have been transforming their home into a festive wonderland for 15 years now.
“We love putting up our Christmas lights because we love to see the joy on the kids’ and adults’ faces,” they said.
“The best thing about our display is our huge kangaroo, koala, wombat, reindeers and Santa.”
This house also won Synergy’s Xmas Lights Trail Best House South of the River in 2020.
This is Kennedy’s favourite display this year, just quietly.
4) 8 Kennack Vista, Atwell
The merry folk at 8 Kennack Vista, Atwell have been creating magical displays for more than 20 years.
“We love putting up our Christmas Lights to share the joy with family, friends and community,” they said.
The property has a “lovely colourful display with inflatables, lights and snow machines. As well as music, moving features, a walk-in display, bubbles and lasers.
“There’s even a LED arch walkway under their ‘enchanted’ trees,” Kennedy added.
Donations from visitors go towards supporting Alzheimer’s WA
5) Samson Court, Duncraig
Along Samson Court in Duncraig, Kennedy said you’ll find an “awesome full street display of Christmas lights!”
He said it was the perfect street to park at the end of and have a stroll around. The festive homes have it all, including music, moving features, interactive displays, nativity scenes, inflatables, walk-in features, lights synchronised to music, window decorations, and lasers.
“One house has music sequenced to lights, others have various Christmas motifs and characters and displays,” Kennedy said.
“A spectacular team effort!”
Donations from visitors go towards supporting Wheelchairs4kids.
6) 27 Baumea Turn, Hammond Park
With more than 50,000 lights strung up and a walk-through nativity scene and Christmas grotto display in the shed, this display at 27 Baumea Turn, Hammond Park, is one not to miss.
The creators behind this stunning exhibit have been decking out their home for more than 20 years. If you stop by you’ll see a dazzling interactive display, complete with moving features and inflatables.
7) 143 Langford Avenue, Langford
For about a decade, the residents of 143 Langford Avenue have been creating a dazzling light display.
The interactive display has everything from music, bubbles, a life-sized sleigh, a giant LED snowman, and much, much more.
“We love putting up our Christmas Lights because we love seeing the joy it brings to people who visit,” they said.
“The best thing about our display is the large walk-through interactive display.”
Kennedy added, “there’s no shortage of lights and displays here!”
“The kids will love the life-sized sleigh, giant LED snowman and magical walk-through tunnel,” he said.
Donations from visitors go towards supporting the Miracle Babies Foundation
8) 7 Bauer Street, Cannington
The creators behind this charming display at 7 Bauer Street, Cannington, have been adding Christmas cheer to their neighbourhood for about five years.
This year, visitors will be treated to an interactive display with a three-metre Santa sleigh, music, inflatables, a walk-in feature, a nativity scene, bubbles, smoke and a snow machine.
“We love putting up our Christmas lights because it brings our community together,” the homeowners said.
“The best thing about our display is the magic of Christmas and the community spirit it brings.”
Donations from visitors go towards supporting Autism WA. Plus, kids can take part in a colouring-in competition too.
9) 8 Pontiac Avenue, Cloverdale
The family behind the light display at 8 Pontiac Avenue, Cloverdale, are “Christmas light veterans, having put on their wonderland display for more than 20 years,” Kennedy said.
For 2022 they’ve created a ‘Merry Christmas Down Under’ theme featuring all of Australia’s beloved wildlife including koalas, kangaroos, galahs and more.
The display also has inflatables of all types and sizes, a giant golden-lit Christmas tree, a reindeer display and Santa’s disco with laser lights. Plus, there’s a photo booth.
10) 8 La Salle Road, Alexander Heights
Last but not least, is the special display at 8 La Salle Road in Alexander Heights.
Kennedy says it’s a great interactive display with loads of lights, where visitors can try on Christmas hats and glasses that make the lights look even more magical if that’s possible.
The display has everything from music, bubbles, a tree to decorate, a train, a sleigh for photos, a huge variety of hats to try on, teddies to cuddle, and much, much more.
There are so many characters for the kids to point out, including minions, Sesame Street favourites like Bert and Ernie and Dr Seuss’ the Grinch.
Search more than 400 Perth home light displays or add your home to the map, here.
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