Calling all Christmas lights enthusiasts in the Lower Mountains!
Entries are sought in a Christmas lights competition for people living in the postcodes 2773 and 2774.
Felipe Martin from Century 21 Real Estate in Blaxland loves the festive season and is a Christmas lights fan himself, so he decided to rustle up a bit of Christmas spirit and competition in the Lower Mountains, with the help of Blaxland Village - a newly formed group of Blaxland businesses.
"There's people that start planning for lights a month ahead, purely for the enjoyment of everyone else," Mr Martin said.
Blaxland residents Leon and Bev Carter are a case in point. They've been decorating their home with Christmas lights for 20 years, and each year it gets bigger and bigger.
From the first year of simply fairy lights, their Robertswood Avenue house is now a full-blown spectacle, which even includes a train line running to the neighbours.
"We try to make it so people can see different things," Mrs Carter said.
"It takes us a month to put it up," Mr Carter said. The massive tree in the front yard alone took 6 hours to set up.
People come from far and wide to view the lights, with more than 600 there for the first viewing on November 30. Mr Carter expects the crowd to be at its biggest on Christmas eve, when Santa will make an appearance.
"People will be walking down the street six or eight wide," he said.
They turn the lights on for a few hours every night until December 26, with a wishing well in their front yard for donations to the Mt Riverview Rural Fire Service.
The popular location has already been nominated for the Christmas lights competition.
More than 20 Blaxland businesses have also jumped on board, offering up prizes and supporting an awards night on December 13.
To enter, post a photo of the Christmas lights and the address on the Blaxland Village Facebook page by December 12, and the entry that garners the most likes and comments will be declared the winner.
The awards night, which includes finger food and carollers, will be held at the Blaxland Tavern from 4.30pm - 6.30pm on Friday, December 13. The winner will take home a hamper and a trophy.
