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Holiday Night Lights

JESSICA BALANZA/TRIBUNE PHOTO

With a number of inflatables and colorful lights around this house, 11048 Streamside Dr., is worth checking out. Jim Carson, homeowner, jokingly said it only takes him an hour to decorate the house.

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By ANGELA DELGADO, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 22, 2007

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - Growing up, it was tradition for Jason Dittman to help his father decorate their house for Christmas.

"My dad and I decorated our house almost like the Griswolds," he said.

Today, his father returns the favor. Starting the second week of September, Dittman, his father and a crew of four begin putting up the first of hundreds of thousands of lights that adorn Dittman's restaurant, the Chick-fil-A at 6299 W. Waters Ave.

His brother also is involved, he programs the lights and his late grandfather helped design the decorative carousels.

"It's kind of a family deal," Dittman said. "It's kind of a labor of love."

Five weeks after the decorating begins, the lights are ready for their debut. They can be seen the week before Thanksgiving through Jan. 3.

Dittman began decorating the restaurant when he opened it 11 years ago. Although he started small with about 1,000 lights, the effort obviously grew.

"We started with one Christmas tree and a garland," he said. "As years have gone by, we've just put more and more up."

Those who stop to eat or simply stop by the restaurant can feast their eyes on a sheet of blue lights surrounding the restaurant parking lot, green and red lights adorning the restaurant building, Christmas trees, a Ferris wheel, roller coaster and flying angels.

Oh, and it "snows" at the restaurant at the start and end of every hour. The theatrical snow, made of soap, drops from the restaurant's roof.

The lights also synchronize with half the holiday songs played over the loudspeaker. When recorded music isn't playing, children are performing Christmas carols outside the restaurant almost nightly from mid-November until late December.

This year the lights lessened by 200,000 because the decorations focused mainly on the Chick-fil-A property. In past years, Dittman and company also have decorated around the complex.

"We love it," said customer Michael Nagy, 48, of Westchase, as he ate dinner with his son Vincent, 9. "We look forward to it every year."

"It's fantastic to see a business dedicate so much to the Christmas holiday," said customer Michelle Stone, 47, of Carrollwood.

Although the lights have previously increased Dittman's electricity bill by about $1,000 - his usual bill runs between $5,000 and $6,000 - he is thinking of incorporating a Thanksgiving theme into the decor and expanding the time the lights are on display to the first week of November. He is also using LED lights, so he's hoping that will help keep the bill low.

Still, for Dittman, it's worth it.

"I love Christmas," Dittman said. "It's a time for us to give to the community that supports us 12 months out of the year."

The folks at Chick-fil-A are not the only ones in the area who get into the spirit by creating holiday decorations and stringing thousands of lights. In addition to the photos of the restaurant and area homes with decorations, check out the list accompanying this story for locations worth a visit by those in search of holiday decorations.

IF YOU GO

Holiday Light Displays

10406 Spring Rose Drive, Tampa FL 33626

5118 Rawls Road, Tampa FL 33624

1235 Waterbury Loop, Lutz FL 33559

12014 Littleberry Court, Tampa FL 33635

6704 N. Gunlock Ave., Tampa FL 33614

7506 Brookhaven Court, Tampa FL 33634

Reporter Angela Delgado can be reached at (813) 865-1501 or adelgado@tampatrib.com.

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