It's Tacky Light season, Richmond!
The local tradition that features area houses lit up with over-the-top, super-bright displays is back. The Richmond Times-Dispatch has been compiling the annual list of them for over 30 years. To be on it, houses must have at least 40,000 lights.
Here's what's new this year:
The Phifers on Asbury Court are back this year, but with only one house decorated for the holidays, at 9604 Asbury Court.
Mr. Christmas, aka Frank Hudak, of 2300 Wistar Court, says this year will be his last on the Tacky Lights tour, after 51 years of lighting up for the holidays.
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1411 Pennsylvania Ave., also known as the “Live Grinch house,” will return to the Tacky Lights Tour after taking last year off. But the Live Grinch himself, also known as owner Brett Aliotti, won’t be dressing up to pose with visitors this year.
The Tacky Lights tour can be a do-it-yourself tour where you pick a few houses and drive around to see the lights. Or, you can book a limo, bus or take a Tuk Tuk to see the lights. Most of the houses on the Tacky Lights list will stay lit through New Year’s Eve.
Here’s the full list of houses in the Richmond area lighting up with over-the-top, super bright displays this year.
Glen Allen
Henrico/West End
Richmond
615 N. 29th St. (Church Hill)
Chesterfield
809 Executive Drive (Chester)
3650 Hemlock Road (Chester)
3393 Lake Pines Place (Powhatan)
4616 Laurel Spring Court (Chester)
12509 Lewis Road (Chester)
7519 Nicklaus Circle (Moseley)
17201 Silver Maple Terrace (Moseley)
18030 Twin Falls Lane (Moseley)
Mechanicsville/Highland Springs
Ashland
Caroline/Doswell
PHOTOS: Homes on the 2022 Tacky Lights Tour
3209 Hanover Ave.
3209 Hanover Ave. (2018)
3209 Hanover Ave.
3209 Hanover Ave. (2022)
9604 Asbury Court
People visit the Phifer residence in western Henrico County to see the Christmas decorations. “I give advice out all year,” said Bobby Phifer, who downsized from two displays to one this year. “And I learn a lot of things from others, too.”
A Phifer Christmas at 9604 Asbury Court
Bobby Phifer may have downgraded to one house after selling his beloved mother’s house earlier this year, but 9604 Asbury Court is still a spectacular dedication to the holidays. The Phifers upgraded to LED lights this year, the display is super bright, the yard is jam-packed with a feast of decorations for the senses and, of course, the 80-foot trees lit from top to bottom are a sight to behold. This is the Phifers’ 48th year decorating for the holidays.
2300 Wistar Court
Frank Hudak has set up holiday decorations for the last time at his home on Wistar Court in Henrico County. Hudak has used his display to collect donations for the Virginia Home for Boys and Girls, raising $175,000 through the years. Hudak said his display includes more than 100,000 lights and requires 4 miles of wiring.
Mr. Christmas at 2300 Wistar Court
Frank Hudak, aka Mr. Christmas, 80, is seen at his Henrico home on November 17, 2022. He says this year will be his “grand finale” lighting up his house on Wistar Court, which he has decorated for 51 years for the Tacky Light tour. His house has over 100,000 lights & requires 4 miles of wiring. He has raised $175,000 for the Virginia Home for Boys & Girls during that time with his display. EVA RUSSO/TIMES-DISPATCH
Mr. Christmas at 2300 Wistar Court
Frank Hudak, 80, known as Mr. Christmas, has been decorating his Henrico County home for the holidays since 1973.
9625 Peppertree Drive
9625 Peppertree Drive
9625 Peppertree Drive
9625 Peppertree Drive
8720 River Road
8720 River Road
8720 River Road
8720 River Road
2334 Thousand Oaks Drive
2334 Thousand Oaks Drive
2334 Thousand Oaks Drive
2334 Thousand Oaks Drive in the West End.
2300 Wistar Court house
The Christmas House at 2300 Wistar Court.
2302 Wistar Court
2302 Wistar Court
4710 Croft Circle
4710 Croft Circle
1411 Pennsylvania Ave.
1411 Pennsylvania Ave.
9716 Wendhurst
9716 Wendhurst Drive (2014)
9716 Wendhurst Drive
9716 Wendhurst Drive
4424 Belmar Drive
4424 Belmar Drive in N. Chesterfield.
4361 Collingswood Drive
4361 Collingswood Drive
600 Coralview Terrace
600 Coralview Terrace in Midlothian. (2017)
600 Coralview Terrace
600 Coralview Terrace in Midlothian
12618 Dawnridge Court aka 'Christmas Court'
12618 Dawnridge Court is known as “Christmas Court.”
2308 Krossridge Court
2308 Krossridge Court in North Chesterfield. New to the list for 2018.
2216 Millcrest Terrace
The house at 2216 Millcrest Terrace in Brandermill has over 115,000 lights.
2216 Millcrest Terrace
2216 Millcrest Terrace 2017
12612 Queensgate Road
12612 Queensgate Road
12612 Queensgate Road
12612 Queensgate Road
10212 Ridgerun Road
10212 Ridgerun Road
3307 Kensington Ave.
3307 Kensington Ave.
3307 Kensington Ave.
3307 Kensington Ave.
7396 Kelshire Trace
7396 Kelshire Trace
7396 Kelshire Trace
7396 Kelshire Trace (2017)
7267 Marimel Lane
7267 Marimel Lane in Mechanicsville. (2017)
10271 Matthews Grove Lane
10271 Matthews Grove Lane, Mechanicsville (2017)
10271 Matthews Grove Lane
10271 Matthews Grove Lane in Mechanicsville. (2016)
236 N. New Ave.
236 N. New Ave. in Highland Springs is known as the "rock-n-roll Christmas house."
8265 Softwind Court
8265 Softwind Court
4233 Spring Run Road
4233 Spring Run Road
7703 Strath Road
7703 Strath Road
7703 Strath Road
Fred Gay's house on Strath Road boasts 110 blow-up Christmas ornaments and thousands of lights which draw hundreds of visitors each night during the holidays.
10288 Wanchese Way
10288 Wanchese Way
9600 Dove Hollow Lane
9600 Dove Hollow Lane in Glen Allen
11709 Aprilbud Dr.
11709 Aprilbud Dr.
7025 Crape Myrtle Terrace
7025 Crape Myrtle Terrace
1909 Cornell Ave.
1909 Cornell Ave.
7610 Sweetbriar Road
7610 Sweetbriar Road
3330 Hanover Ave.
3330 Hanover Ave.
2200 Park Ave.
2200 Park Ave.
8304 St Charles Road
8304 St. Charles Road
RVA Christmas Pig House
The house at 7302 Buck Rub Lane in Chesterfield County has been dubbed the “RVA Christmas Pig House.” It includes at least 177 pigs.
7024 Hanna Drive
7024 Hanna Drive
9514 Lyndon Circle
9514 Lyndon Circle
3393 Lake Pines Place
3393 Lake Pines Place
12509 Lewis Road
12509 Lewis Road
13404 Dyson Trail Circle
13404 Dyson Trail Circle
5037 King Cotton Lane
5037 King Cotton Lane
9013 Runyon Drive
9013 Runyon Drive
15001 Avening Place
15001 Avening Place
15001 Avening Place
15001 Avening Place
14106 Shallowford Landing Court
14106 Shallowford Landing Court
14106 Shallowford Landing Court
14106 Shallowford Landing Court
5613 Charter Oak Drive.jpg
5613 Charter Oak Drive
10154 Carol Anne Road
10154 Carol Anne Road
7025 Crape Myrtle Terrace
7025 Crape Myrtle Terrace
12629 and 12637 Verdon Road
12629 and 12637 Verdon Road
12618 Dawnbridge
12618 Dawnridge Court in Chesterfield County
River Road Christmas Lights at 8720 River Road
The Whitlocks’ drive-thru holiday light display at their mansion on River Road is like the “chef’s kiss” of the Tacky Light tour. For starters, it’s not tacky, it’s just wonderfully over-the-top with 250,000 lights. The display features a life-sized Nativity, winter wonderlands, a gingerbread playground, 12 Days of Christmas, blow-ups, farm animals and wildlife, water scenes, snow fights, snowmen, bears, penguins, a birthday cake and, of course, Santa, his reindeer and elves. You don’t even have to get out of your car to see it. You might just have to wait a while to get through the backed-up traffic, but it’s absolutely worth it.
CCURRAN@richmond.com
(804) 649-6151
Colleen Curran
Colleen Curran is the features editor for the Richmond Times-Dispatch. She also covers arts and entertainment and food and dining.
