Metro-east couple decorates in recycled materials for ABC Christmas light show. See photos
Two Illinois families competed in ABC’s The Great Christmas Light Fight this year, including one from the metro-east and another from the greater Chicago area.
The Great Christmas Light Fight has aired since 2013, and you can watch it on streaming platform Hulu or through a number of cable providers. Each episode features four families competing for a $50,000 prize and a trophy.
The Foys, from Batavia, were featured in season 12’s first episode, which aired Dec. 5. They ultimately did not win their episode, and a family from North Carolina took the $50,000 prize.
The Batavia family wore matching “Tech the Halls” sweatshirts for the show and created an animated light show for the contest.
“Their high tech display created with a massive number of pixels consists of a forest, spark machines, arches, Christmas vignettes, and simulated fireworks!,” Becca Taustine wrote on behalf of ABC in a Dec. 11 email to the News-Democrat.
The Kittells, from Chester, utilized repurposed materials such as soda bottles and PVC pipe to craft their elaborate display.
“The Kittell family from Chester, IL turn trash into Christmas treasure in their beautiful Christmas display. Keith and Barb build 90% of their display from things other people just don’t want. They have dandelions made from 90 water bottles that [look] life-like and [sway] in the cool December breeze. They have a 4-foot green wreath also made from recycled soda bottles that hangs high over a beautiful archway made from PVC pipe on their driveway. There are also milk jug lights that line the archway, a 25-foot cross made from black pipe, mega trees and mini trees made from PVC pipe, and a TV antennae that is now a giant mega tree that overlooks the entire display. This display truly is a treasure,” Taustine wrote.
The metro-east family was featured in episode three, which aired Dec. 12, but a New Jersey family won the grand prize with their Frostland Village display.
A family from Columbia, Mo., was also featured in this season of The Great Christmas Light Fight.
The next episode of The Great Christmas Light Fight will air ABC Thursday, Dec. 19.
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