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Christmas Lights Shine Bright In Danbury And Beyond

FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. — The lights are shining bright across Fairfield County this Christmas as many residents, businesses, firemen and firehouses decked the halls in a big way for the holidays. 

Newtown couple Rhonda and Chane Cullens set up Christmas tree extravaganza in their front yard

Newtown couple Rhonda and Chane Cullens set up Christmas tree extravaganza in their front yard

Photo Credit: Sandra Diamond Fox
A Christmas tree at the home of Newtown couple Rhonda and Chane Cullens with 26 angel-shaped ornaments is dedicated to those who lost their lives in the Sandy Hook tragedy

A Christmas tree at the home of Newtown couple Rhonda and Chane Cullens with 26 angel-shaped ornaments is dedicated to those who lost their lives in the Sandy Hook tragedy

Photo Credit: contributed
Fairfield residents Gene, far left, and Mary Halliwell, right, with daughter Maryanne, being interviewed by Hoopla-Ha-Only Good News

Fairfield residents Gene, far left, and Mary Halliwell, right, with daughter Maryanne, being interviewed by Hoopla-Ha-Only Good News

Photo Credit: Wonderland at Roseville Facebook

Fairfield residents Gene and Mary Halliwell have been decorating their home for Christmas for years. They started work on the project back in April.

Photo Credit: HooplaHa - Only Good News
Stamford resident Tony Pampena goes all out in decorating his home.

Stamford resident Tony Pampena goes all out in decorating his home.

Photo Credit: Tonys House of Lights Facebook
Tony Pampena, a Greenwich firefighter, goes all out to decorate his home in Stamford.

Tony Pampena, a Greenwich firefighter, goes all out to decorate his home in Stamford.

Photo Credit: Tonys House of Lights Facebook
Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Department lights up Newtown with its holiday light show.

Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Department lights up Newtown with its holiday light show.

Photo Credit: Hawleyville Fire Department Facebook page
The lights spread across the landscape at the Hawleyville Fire Department in Newtown are set to music. Residents can enjoy the show through Jan. 8.

The lights spread across the landscape at the Hawleyville Fire Department in Newtown are set to music. Residents can enjoy the show through Jan. 8.

Photo Credit: Nicole Kasseris
Wally's Wonderland in Wilton is named after Wally, Schalk's dog

Wally's Wonderland in Wilton is named after Wally, Schalk's dog

Photo Credit: Sandra Diamond Fox
Elaborate light display at the Wilton home of Walter Schalk

Elaborate light display at the Wilton home of Walter Schalk

Photo Credit: Sandra Diamond Fox

Daily Voice profiled some of the most popular Christmas displays to be found across Fairfield County this year. 

It's not too late to get into the Christmas spirit — you can check out these special displays on Sunday evening.    

At 9 Founders Lane in Newtown, Rhonda and Chane Cullens feature a lit-up angel figurine alongside a series of 25 lights in their Christmas display. 

This angel pays tribute to a little girl who lived near them who lost her life in the Sandy Hook School tragedy in 2012. The lights beside the angel represent the girl's friends and teachers who also lost died that fateful day.

The angel figurine and lights make up a small portion of the Cullens’ Christmas decoration extravaganza that has spread across their 1-acre property.

The decorations also include 18 lit up reindeer, a 10-foot blow-up Santa Claus, a train with animated motion and a 30-foot flagpole that’s decorated to look like a tree.

The display has special meaning since the Sandy Hook School tragedy four years ago. 

“After this happened, there was a lot of darkness in our town and I wanted to bring some of the light back,” Rhonda Cullens said.The Cullens' Christmas lights are turned on daily from 5 to 10 p.m. through Jan. 1.

Click here to read more about the Cullens' Christmas display.

At 226 Roseville Terrace off Black Rock Turnpike in Fairfield, Gene and Mary Halliwell have set up 350,000 lights as part of their Christmas display.

The couple has been decorating their home for 17 years. They began putting together their annual "Wonderland at Roseville" in April.

The project features more than 800 pieces, including dozens of Santas, nutcrackers, and Christmas figurines, as well as a big red sleigh. To power it all, there are at least 30 circuits and more than 1,000 feet of running trains.

The display premieres every year at 5 p.m. Thanksgiving Day and remains open until New Year's.

Click here to read more about the Halliwell's Christmas display.

At 68 Lewelyn Road in Stamford, Tony Pampena, aka "Tony Christmas," has set up over 60,000 bulbs as part of his Christmas display.  

The bulbs  -- and at least 900 hours of work -- got him on "The Great Christmas Light Fight," an ABC show that has residents across America competing for the most outlandishly decorated home.

Though he didn't win -- the show aired Monday, Dec. 12 -- Pampena, a Greenwich firefighter, has never done it for the money. It was fun to be on the show and be recognized, he said. But he really does it as a labor of love. In fact, he has been doing it for 31 years.

The home is open until Sunday, Jan. 7, from 5 p.m. until 1 a.m. 

Click here to read more about Pampena's Christmas display.

At 34 Hawleyville Road, just off Exit 9 of I-84 in Newtown, the Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Department has set up a light show set to holiday music.

The free show, which takes place from 5 to 10 every evening through Jan. 8, is set up in front of the firehouse.

As part of the show, 40,000 lights are synchronized through a computer, which plays over 100 Christmas songs.

Guests can park in the department's parking lot and tune their radios to 92.9-FM to hear the music and check out the lights.  

In addition, a 400-foot interactive walk-through display runs from the firehouse to the road. In the interactive display, viewers can check out blow-up characters, including snowmen, a Santa Claus and even a pumpkin.

Click here to read more about the Hawleyville Volunteer Fire Department's Christmas display.

At 67 Drum Hill Road in Wilton, there is a wonderland of lights -- "Wally’s Wonderland" — to be exact.

Wally's Wonderland is an extensive collection of Christmas lights and decorations set up on the hilltop property of 83-year-old Walter Schalk.

The collection, which is named after Wally, Schalk's 14-year-old Jack Russell terrier, consists of thousands of lights as well as an assortment of Christmas trees, candy canes, reindeer, Santa Claus and snowmen.

In addition, lit up on a large square display on the side of the house is a color banner of Wally himself.

A steady stream of traffic slows to look at his house every evening, he said. Some people even park on the side of the road to take pictures.

Click here to read more about Wally's Wonderland.

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