Where to see the brightest and best

The Sun, with the help of residents, chose these houses as having the best holiday light displays this year. Take a look for yourself in the coming weeks.

1 1335 Andrus Ave.

Joe and Doreen VanHootegem

The mecca of holiday displays. Probably the only Downers Grove display with ducks and a dog.

2 1310 Andrus Ave.

Phil and Karen Buckley

The Buckleys try to give their holiday lights a different flavor every year. This season they went with the Peanuts gang and brought in some LCD lights.

3 1337 Andrus Ave.

Ray and Julie Snisko

Ray and his son, Ryan, 12, started working on their holiday lights right after Halloween. There energy bill goes up $100 during the holiday season, but that makes no difference to Ray.

"Why not?" he said. "It's all about having fun."

4 1321 Lamb Court

Al and Mary Furnam

Every year, the Furnams decide on a different theme, depending on what their two young children are into at the time. The train in the display? That's from their 7-year-old's obsession with choo-choo trains last year.

5 6840 Carpenter St.

Robert and Donna Wiacek

The Wiaceks almost missed decorating their yard this year. Robert Wiacek retired last year and felt he just wouldn't have the energy. Luckily, his wife, Donna, persuaded him to do it for their 10 grandchildren. Through the years, they've handmade the reindeer from chicken wire and lights, and made the house and the soldiers.

6  6830 Saratoga Ave.

Harley and Kerrin Tom

Every year, the Toms' two young children get to help decide what to add to the Christmas display. The big candy cane arch is the newest addition, but Kerrin Tom says it has almost blown away on windy days.

7  6570 Saratoga Ave.

Hilda Holubetz

"Christmas is nothing without the holiday lights," Holubetz said. This household turns holiday lights into a family affair. Both her son and her daughter come home to help her put up the lights whenever they have time.

8  4736 Forest Ave.

Less and Penny Stone

The Stones have been decorating their home since they moved into the neighborhood 45 years ago. The Christmas lights and giant snowman create the quintessential holiday display.

9  410 Indianapolis Ave.

Jim and Christine Bellavia

When Jim Bellavia was growing up with his grandparents, they would elaborately decorate the inside of the house, spending hours on intricate details. Now he can go outside and do the same thing with his two children. "Every night I go out there and I see the kids staring, and their eyes are like, 'Wow,'" he said.

10  434 Indianapolis Ave.

Craig and Kathy Wissmiller

The Wissmillers have turned holiday decorating into a Thanksgiving tradition. Every year, they put out the Nativity scene and lights to welcome the season. Now that their three sons are getting older, it's hard to get the family all in one place, but the kids always make a point of working together to create the display.

Happy holidays!