Thank you for participating in this year’s Rossmoor Christmas Lights Nominating Contest. We had plenty of entries this year. Without you helping to find the most spirited and decorated homes in Rossmoor, we would not have been able to complete the complete the Rossmoor HotSpot map for everyone to enjoy.
Thank YOU for letting us know where to look!
Nomination Contest Winners
We randomly selected our winners from those who made Lights Celebration nominations starting on Saturday, December 7th We will select and announce the remaining prize winners between Sunday December 8th and Sunday, December 15th.
The Lights Nomination Contest Winners are:
- Jennifer Bliss won a $50 gift card for Lucille’s Smokehouse
- Anthony Barlin won a $50 gift card from The Meat Company
- Gina Iannelli won a $50 gift card from California Pizza Kitchen
- Rey & Maria Barcelo – won a $50 gift card from The Meat Company
- Debe Graham – won a $50 gift card to Lucille’s Smokehouse
- Stacie Charlton – won a $50 gift card to The Meat Company
- Erin Ward Dugan – won a $50 gift card to California Pizza Kitchen
A BIG THANK YOU to Rossmoor’s own The Meat Company for partnering with us on some of the nomination prizes. It’s fantastic when the community comes together to celebrate the great things about Rossmoor. Thanks again!
And of course, we want to thank you, the nominators and home decorators as, without you, there would be no Rossmoor Lights Celebration.
You made the difference in getting more homes nominated.
THANK YOU!
2024 Recognition Awards
So – when is that Christmas Lights Bicycle Tour? Bring on the decorated golf cart parade! Now is the time to assemble Aunt Mable and the kids, packing them into your family wagon (hopefully with some hot chocolate and mini marshmallows) to travel throughout the streets of Rossmoor for an evening of fun and cheers. Why might you ask? Well, the much anticipated Rossmoor Christmas Light Hot Spot Map (which by-the-way gets tens of thousands downloads and views) is finally here!!!
We hit the streets Saturday evening, while many of you were already in the Christmas spirit mode, partying with family and friends that night, including the merry and bright Rossmoor Winter Fest at Rush Park.
While navigating the route, the judges had their own mini parade, where Santa Darth was an honorary guest, checking out Rossmoor Lights. Yes, we were stopped along the way and asked to pull over with an explanation (several times).
Recognition Where Its Due
Adding to our judge’s excitement (and yours), there were quite a few Rookie entries to the Christmas Lights Celebration, and we are so appreciative of the new creative designs. Some of this year’s rookies included Do-It-Yourself displays like a motorized Ferris wheel at 11611 Martha Ann (part of the Martha Ann Bright Zone), and the Sights & Sounds display at 11302 Foster Road. Word’s out that their son, a senior in college, created his own computer-generated light show from scratch.
In terms of DIY, even some of our seasoned pros, like the Linza Family on Wendy Way, were out there at 7pm, in complete darkness, building even more man-made displays for your Christmas viewing pleasure.
For all these Homes that made the map, know that sooooo much time, care and love go into building these displays. It takes days to create and assemble these impressive spectacles, and the best part is the families do it for us to enjoy, to help make us feel happy during the Christmas season!
Time to recognize and celebrate their hard work and accomplishments! Here they are now – Announcing the 2024 Rossmoor Christmas Lights Recognition Award winners and the Honorable Mention homes that made the Rossmoor Christmas Lights HotSpot Map, (download map PDF ) ! Time for you to check them out in any and all various modes of transportation (just don’t forget the hot chocolate).
All award winning and honorable mention homeowners will receive an appreciation box of chocolate candy from the RHA – mostly composed of dark chocolate!
Special thanks to Art Remnet for his communication efforts for this event and cranking out the winners on the RHA website.
Special thanks to Nia Hartman and Bike Rossmoor for hosting the Lights Bike Tour on Saturday (12/21) and Sunday (12/22) – that’s this weekend! More info on the ride here.
A very special THANKS! to Chris Marshall and Kieran Nolan for organizing, coordinating, and continuing this grand Rossmoor Tradition. You two are the very best of the season.
Most of all special thanks to all the Rossmoor participating homeowners, who decorate their home for all of us to enjoy and soak in the Christmas season.
Merry Christmas to you all, and looking forward to sharing the HotSpot Map with friends and family.
Hope to see you out there on the streets of Rossmoor!
Lights Bike Tour
What about the Lights Bike Tour you ask?
Many folks have inquired about the traditional Rossmoor Christmas Lights Bicycle Tour, now in its 8th year since 2017. Plans are in place for Nia Hartman with the Bike Rossmoor Bicycle Club to host two Rossmoor Christmas Lights Bike Tours on the evenings of Saturday, December 21, and again on Sunday, December 22.
Both start at Rush Park around 5:00 pm with decorating and safety checks. To join in, just meet up with Nia and the group on either (or both) nights at the Park. Details here.
Christmas Lights Recognition Award Winners
With much pleasure, pride, excitement, fanfare, pomp and circumstance, here are the 2024 Rossmoor RHA Christmas Lights Celebration Recognition Award winners and Honorable Mention homes that made the Rossmoor Christmas Lights HotSpot Map, ready for you to check out, in-person, by you and your family!
Recognition Award recipient homes with write-ups are followed by all the Honorable Mention homes and Bright Zones (groups of homes that are worth the trip!) that were selected to be on the RHA Rossmoor Christmas Lights Hot Spot Map.
Drumroll: here are the homes you must check out as you venture throughout the streets of Rossmoor!
Nostalgic Christmas Award - Leavenworth Family (2751 St. Albans Drive)
There’s an incredible story to this display by Randy and Maria (and it’s much more than just the silly moose, wishing you good cheer). We can also say “This is the One” This is the one and only house in our neighborhood that has participated in every Rossmoor Christmas Lights Celebration, since the first year in 2007.
Their front yard gets more beautiful and welcoming each year. Randy and Maria were also the designers of the Rossmoor Holiday Light Posts that still decorate our streets.
So when you meander by their home on St. Albans, perhaps applaud them with a clap or quick honk of your horn (just not too late in the night – the moose has to sleep too sometimes)
Rookie of the Year Award – Dugan Family (11171 Donnis Road)
The Dugan family burst onto the holiday scene like a sleigh on turbo mode, taking home the Rookie of the Year Award!
Their yard is a dazzling winter wonderland, complete with a jolly Santa, a cheerful snowman, and a penguin who might just be moonlighting as a DJ (he’s that cool).
The house sparkles with icicle lights so bright, we’re pretty sure Santa added them to his flight path for navigation. Way to shine, Dugans—your holiday debut was nothing short of spectacular!
RHA Family Nomination Award - Bliss Family (3132 Druid Lane)
What we learned from all the numerous comments made about this front lawn extravaganza, is that it’s definitely a family effort, led by Matt and guided by Jenn.
Since the RHA started their fun home nomination raffle, this house has received so many recognition votes over the years, and for good reason. Most Christmas crazies start searching for their lights Thanksgiving weekend. However, the Bliss Family finishes their decorating by Thanksgiving afternoon, so neighbors have a place to walk by after all the turkey and stuffing.
Kids' Choice Award – Cunningham Family (3342 Cortese Dr.)
The Cunningham family clearly knows how to win over the toughest crowd—kids! Their house is a candy-colored explosion of twinkling lights, glowing snowflakes, and a roof-top Santa hat so big, even Rudolph probably did a double take.
The yard features nutcrackers standing at attention and bushes wrapped up like presents. It’s a display so fun and festive, the kids insisted this house was the coolest thing since flying sleighs. Congrats to the Cunninghams for making holiday magic look easy!
Candyland Christmas – Gandara Family (2681 St. Albans Dr.)
The Gandara family turned their home into a real-life Candyland, and we’re still debating whether the gingerbread house is edible. (Spoiler: probably not.)
Their display features candy cane trim, icing details that would make a pastry chef jealous, and a peppermint pathway leading to the door. The yard is sprinkled with candy-themed decorations and holiday figures so sweet, you might need to check your sugar levels after visiting.
It’s a whimsical, delightful masterpiece that brings smiles to everyone who stops by!
Storage Unit Award - Den Hartog Family (3212 Hillrose Drive)
After soaking in the lights and overwhelmed by the colors and splendor, the most common question asked while one gazes upon this house is “Where do they store all that stuff after Christmas?”
It’s been mentioned that Scott has not one, but two storage units (probably somewhere in the North Pole) to accommodate all their arches, candy canes, nutcracker soldiers, bows, snowflakes and even Santa’s Countdown to Christmas.
Every year, this is one of the most fun homes to visit in Rossmoor, so make sure you stop by to check it out for yourself, before they take it all down.
Hidden Gem Cul-De-Sac Award – Hertzog, Harris and Bickerstaff Families (3052 Burney Place)
This is not a one household show.
We’ve always enjoyed turning the corner onto the Burney Place cul-de-sac each year, not quite sure what to expect. When what to our wondering eyes should appear, but a sky filled with lights and multiple homes of a cheer!
Over the years, this location has received the Good Neighbor Award, the Bedford Falls Award, and thanks again to the families’ collaboration, the experience is an eyebrow raising gem you don’t want to miss.
Christmas Charm Award – Burress Family (11871 Martha Ann Dr.)
The Burress family delivered a display so charming, it’s practically a Hallmark movie in lights.
Their yard features a towering Christmas tree glowing brighter than a North Pole power plant, surrounded by colorful lights, festive decorations, and an inflatable Santa who’s clearly living his best life.
From the sparkling icicle lights to the jolly holiday figures, this display is bursting with cheer and holiday magic. Well done, Burress family—you’ve made the season merry and very bright!
Brightest Zone Award – Buono, Diaz and Bowman Families (2682, 2701, 2731 Brimhall Drive)
Many times it’s a festive street or a string of homes doing something special, earning a Bright Zone recognition by the judges.
Well, this section of Rossmoor received the Good Neighbor Award last year, and along the lines of “If some is good, more is better”, they joined forces with the Bowman Family to win over the hearts of our judges. All three homes have decorative arches welcoming walkers, as well as friendly inflatables and multiple-colored lights, strewn across their rooftops.
Another enjoyable series of displays for your family to enjoy.
Covered in Christmas Award – Graham Family (3341 Kenilworth Dr.)
The Graham family’s home is so covered in Christmas cheer, it could double as an emergency lighthouse. Planes, trains, and reindeer were probably rerouting just to get a closer look!
Every square inch is aglow, from the multicolored lights tracing the roofline to the giant shining star guiding the way.
Their yard features a glowing snowman, festive ornaments, and enough holiday figures to staff Santa’s workshop. If there were an Olympics for decking the halls, this house would bring home the gold!
2024 Honorable Mentions (all these homes are also highlighted on the Hot Spots Map)
- 2862 Coleridge Dr.
- 3371 Druid Ln.
- 2942 Edgeley Pl.
- 11302 Foster Rd.
- 2942 Hillrose Dr.
- 3331 Huntley Dr.
- 2761 Mainway Dr.
- 12081 Silver Fox Rd.
- 11352 Wembley Rd.
- 3212 Wendy Way
2024 Bright Zones (this location is highlighted on the HotSpot Map)
- Brimhall Dr. (Martha Ann to Foster)
- Martha Ann Dr. (Piedmont to Coleridge)
- Rowena Dr. (3000 block)
- Woodstock Rd. (Chaucer to Montecito)
