But despite the problems, that hasn’t slowed him down from getting out and stringing up the world-famous display, perhaps for the last time.
“It’s happening. If you want to see both houses together, you should come on by,” Phifer said.
The Whitlocks have already lit up their popular drive-thru display at their home at 8720 River Road.
What started as a simple project to give the yardman work for Christmas has grown into a drive-thru display very popular on the Tacky Lights tour. The display features over 250,000 lights with 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.
And, don’t miss some of the hidden gems such as Spiderman climbing at the roofline, live Santa in the window or the eagle soaring through the trees.
Al and Esther Thompson at 9716 Wendhurst Drive in Glen Allen, one of the most recognizable houses on the tour, are lighting up again this year.
The house is super bright, with over 170,000 lights and 2,200-plus homemade decorations. They won ABC’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight” a few years ago and continue to draw record crowds every year.