John Domen | jdomen@wtop.com

For most people, putting a few Christmas lights around the frame of the house and in some bushes is enough. However, some people do more, and some people do more.

In Bowie, Maryland, it was a year-round obsession for a 19-year-old young man in his final year of college.

If you drive along Bowie's Harness Way, stop at the end of a dead end (don't block any lanes), turn off the headlights and turn on the car radio on 89.7 FM to experience the full display of Hunter Pugh's design.

"I have about 3,000 color-changing LE pixels around the house," said Pugh, who majored in computer science, network, and mobile programming at Liberty University. "This is a complete computer programming program. It is programmed as music. It has some interesting conversations."

It is also very suitable for children, featuring a talking Christmas tree, making jokes in front of his house. "I started designing this show in December last year, and the previous show is running," Pugh said. "I have been ordering lights and making props all summer. In the autumn months, I started to install it."

The lights flicker in an animated mode with the beat of the music, broken by "daddy's jokes" and puns, making your children happy while waiting for the grand arrival of Santa Claus.

Pugh said that the show runs for about 10 minutes every night from 6 to 9:30 in the evening.

In Bowie, 19-year-old Hunter Pugh showed off a light show in his house.

WTOP/John Domen Pugh programmed the lights on his computer.

WTOP/John Domen This year a community in Crofton went all out to spend the holiday.

WTOP/John Domen Steve Williams said that this tradition began about 11 years ago.

WTOP/John Dormen Williams said that he has been exhibiting his work for many years.

The WTOP/John Domen holiday cheer is "contagious," Williams said.

(1 /6) Share this gallery: Share on Facebook. Share to Twitter. Share via email. Print. Every year the show gets bigger and bigger; Pugh is programming on his computer.

"A lot of it is DIY," Pugh said. He admits, “I always underestimate the effort put into it every year”, but he also likes to go outside and talk to those who stop to enjoy his performance.

"It's so lucky to see that I can use this show to bless other people," he added. "I hope they are here and everyone can come. I am happy to share the joy of Christmas with them."

Just a few miles away, the entire community of Crofton began to act.

Steve Williams, who lives near Urby Drive and Good Hope Drive, said that when he moved into his house 11 years ago, he realized that he might be able to climb out of the bedroom window and set the light in front.

He adds a little every year, "It's contagious," he said. "All our neighbors, from left to right, joined in."

The entire block is just off Highway 450/National Defense Highway, and it is shining from the roof to the sidewalks. Inflatable decorations and trees and shrubs wrapped in LED lights are not to be missed.

Williams even let Santa fly in a helicopter on his roof-this is the decoration he has from the beginning.

He said that for his house, starting around Thanksgiving, it takes about 30 to 40 hours of planning and installation time to get everything right. It is equally difficult for him to count the number of lights installed around his yard.

"I asked a little girl who passed by the other day,'Do you think we have too many lights or not enough?" he recalled. "Her answer is'not enough', so we will stick to it."

Visitors nearby are welcome to park and walk around to see all the houses. If you catch them at the right time, one of his children might even distribute candy canes.

Williams said: "The joy of these children walking by with their parents is very cool."

After growing up in Maryland, John started working for the WTO in 2016. Although he started his live broadcast on small radio stations in Pennsylvania and Delaware, he spent most of his career in the Washington area. Before coming to WTOP, he had heard it on several local radio stations. .

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