It’s a big neighborhood.  Someone needs to light it – with Christmas Lights of course!  The Rossmoor Homeowners Association (RHA) presents the 2015 Rossmoor Christmas Lights Celebration Awards.  For our 9th Annual Celebration, we didn’t intentionally call for rain the night the judges hit the road, but besides tempering the drought, it made for some really cool light reflections in the sidewalks and streets.

Download 2015 Rossmoor Christmas Lights Hot Spots Map here

Let’s get right to it! Drum roll – And the Rossmoor Christmas Lights Award Recipients are:

Childhood Enchantment Award, Butterfield Family,
2762 Salmon Drive

OK the Butterfield’s did it once again, earned a Rossmoor Christmas Lights Recognition Award with their display of teddy bear and snowmen inflatables, manger scene wishing baby Jesus a Happy Birthday, candy canes engulfing the grass perimeter, and images of children singing Christmas carols on the front lawn.  Wow with all that, the judges realized it’s all dedicated to children.  Most adults will find it amusing too!

Rossmoor WinterFest Award, Curd Family,

12101 Chianti Drive

Not often does one get to witness kids and kids-at-heart simultaneously shout in excitement the moment they see your front lawn.  Members of the Curd family were traveling on the Rossmoor WinterFest Trolley, checking out the neighborhood lights and experienced that reaction when the driver pulled in front of their house, which was all decorated with friendly dinosaurs and colorfully wrapped lighted trees.  This is the first year the RCSD hosted the Rossmoor WinterFest, which included families voting on their favorite display.  Congratulations to the Curd Family for being the first WinterFest Award Recipient!

Best Display of … Everything Award, Waters Family,

2932 Bostonian Drive

This is sooooo great.  We could also have called this the “you’ll never find Waldo in here – award”  Humungous helicopter on the roof, several Santa’s in whimsical situations, manger scene, funky parkway tree lit up like never before seen, snowmen in need of tender loving care.  This was a first time entry to the Rossmoor Christmas Lights Celebration, and easy to spot on Bostonian.  You might have to wait your turn in line to check it out.  Then you’ll have a tough time looking away.

Sound and Sights of Christmas Award, Herzog Family,

2892 Aceca Drive

We love this house, and it keeps getting better each year.  Even in the high winds and rain, the Herzog Family braved the elements and kept the Christmas tunes spinning.  Once consumed in the magical sound and light show, you never want to leave, wondering what next song will play, and will Santa be lip syncing above the front door.  This was another hugely popular stop on the Trolley WinterFest tour, only the diesel engine drowned out the music, so families will have to re-visit the house and stay for a while.

Holiday Light Post Award, Buono Family,

2682 Brimhall Drive

What a treat, the Buono family have charmed us with their Christmas displays for a few years, and this season they stepped it up even more!  The Rossmoor Holiday Light Post not only has lighted garland, but they used the center piece as a trunk to form a Christmas tree in white lights from top to bottom.  Then through some type of advanced projector-type light bulbs, winter imagery cascades from the eves of their windows, and let’s not forget the ground cover of inflatables that primarily remained standing through most of the storm.

Cul-de-Santa Award,

Burney Place

What is a Cul-de-Santa Award – we’re not quite sure, but turning into Burney Place you’ll instantly know why this part of Rossmoor has been visited by more families seeking Christmas light displays than any other location in the hood, long before the RHA even celebrated the event.  All the homes are glowing, as if welcoming Santa (and Christmas Lights travelers) to enjoy the season and share in the glitter.  Once again 100% participation from all the homes as well!

Picture Perfect Award, Farber Family,

11352 Wembley Road

This home is like no other.  The attention to detail mesmerized the judges, and home owners who go crazy with their lights (and you know who you are), have an incredible appreciation for what the Farber family have created.  Trees across the lawn and driveway are wrapped in white lights, and above each is a distinctive red crown that remains at a consistent level when viewing across the landscape.  Or something like that.  It’s too fascinating to put into words, so you’ll have to check it out for yourself.

Rookie of the Year Award, Warren Family,

3341 Cortese Drive

You know, sometimes those mow-and-blow guys have a cherry picker in the back of their truck.  Craig was fortunate enough to convince his yardmen to drape a few thousand lights across every limb and branch of his parkway tree, resulting in Rookie of the Year!  Of course Craig put in hours himself preparing the outside of his house for his three grand kids, and Santa we suppose.  We’re grateful for all new entries, which brings new life (and lights) to the RHA Rossmoor Christmas Lights Celebration each year!  Next season is our 10 year anniversary, so start planning your decorations now.  Day after Christmas, everything is on major blowout sales!

Good Neighbor Award, Graham and Herrin Families,
3341 Kenilworth & 11552 Wallingsford

Traditionally, recipients of the Good Neighbor Award were adjacent homes, commonly separated by strings of light.  Well, the judges were open to new ideas and allowed the separation to be a long crosswalk in the street.  You certainly can’t miss one for the other.  Both residents have won awards in the past, and upped the ante this year, making the location a stop you can’t miss as you travel the Rossmoor streets with hot chocolate and egg nog.

Most Festive Street(s) Award –

St. Albans, Woodstock and Mainway

Unless we took a Google Maps satellite image of the three streets between Foster and Martha Ann, it would be tough to show you every house with every Rossmoor Holiday Light Post – close to over 100 posts in this combined area.  Instead, you’ll have to check them out for yourself, especially looking for the multiple Woodstocks on Woodstock.  We suppose St. Albans could have a replica of the Abby.  Not sure what Mainway could use as their symbol, but either way, all three streets have great community spirit!