The most exciting part about coming home for Winter Break is driving around and looking at the best decorated houses. I am not talking about those houses with the traditional lights hanging from their roofs and with a couple of reindeers in their front yard, but the houses that go all out. Those houses whose electricity bills soar for the month of December because they are so passionate about Christmas.

*I set out on a mission to identify the top three over-the-top houses in some of Arizona's major cities. In doing so, I hope you can throw on that holiday sweater, grab a cup of hot chocolate, and truly experience Christmas.

Ahwatukee

1. Address: Chandler Blvd From 24th Street to Desert Foothills Parkway, Phoenix, AZ, 85048

Number of Lights: 1,000,000

Description: 20th anniversary year of the Festival of Lights. One million white lights with clusters in ocotillos, palo verde trees, and saguaros within the medians on Chandler Blvd. It is run by volunteers with community support to present this lights display for the residents of Ahwatukee, the Foothills, and Club West.

2. Address: 541 E Mountain Sky Ave, Phoenix, AZ, 85048

Number of Lights: 18,000

Description: 25th anniversary of the Santa Train display in Ahwatukee. New mountain show. Interactive 1/6-scale train, Ferris wheel, lots of other animation.

3. Address: 15244 S 36th Place, Phoenix, AZ, 85044

Number of Lights: 25,000

Description: Tune to 106.7 FM and listen and watch over 25,000 lights synchronized to Christmas music from the comfort of your car. Frosty blows 'snow' between each musical display. Show is continuous from 6-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 6-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Dec. 1 thru Jan. 1.

Chandler

1) Address: 632 W. Aster Ct, Chandler, AZ, 85248

Number of Lights: 50,000

Description: Disneyland winter wonderland, lots of figurines, blow ups, shooting stars, snowflakes and music. Located on one of Ocotillo's many beautiful lakes and the holiday lights are visible from the back gate entrance.

2) Address: 2106 N. Arrowhead, Chandler, AZ, 85224

Number of Lights: 70,000

Description: Come and enjoy the Dillmans' family Christmas display. You will see every inch of the house covered in lights. With a river display featuring Santa on the roof, animations and music with a giant Christmas tree. This will definitely put you in the holiday spirit.

3) Address: 2212 W. El Prado Rd., Chandler, AZ, 85224-2133

Number of Lights: 54,000

Description: Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays starting the day after Thanksgiving through Christmas Day they show movies in their driveway with chairs & heaters, and serve free popcorn, hot cocoa & cookies.

Gilbert

1) Address: 3642 E. Comstock Dr., Gilbert, AZ, 85296

Number of Lights: 110,000

Description: Christmas on Comstock: An entire block of 13 houses synchronized to music! Tune radio to 93.9 FM to listen to the music and watch the lights dance. Donations received for Make-A-Wish Arizona.

2) Address: 396 W. Liberty Ln, Gilbert, AZ, 85233

Number of Lights: 100,000

Description: LED and RGB lights synchronized to music. Display covers 5 houses and features 3 mega trees, 12 leaping arches, 5 animated musicians, 4 singing trees and a new 6-foot screen. All donations benefit United Food Bank.

3) Address: 1146 N Quail Ln, Gilbert, AZ, 85233

Number of Lights: 150,000

Description: Come by and check out the lights at Peanuts Airport, see snoopy taking off the end of the runway and Santa in a helicopter, and come get your picture with one of your favorite Peanut character cut-outs like Charlie Brown, Lucy, Schroeder, Sally, Peppermint Patty, and of course Snoopy. You don't want to miss this display.

Glendale

1) Address: 5309 W Barbara Ave, Glendale, AZ, 85302

Number of Lights: 75,000

Description: 6,000 feet of LED rope lights playing to Christmas music.

2) Address: 6060 W Charter Oak Rd, Glendale, AZ, 85304

Number of Lights: 10,000

Description: It's a superhero Christmas! Come and visit your favorite superheroes including the Hulk, Hulkbuster, Spiderman, Superman, Iron Man, Wolverine and many more. Display lit most evenings until 10 p.m. Merry Christmas from the Sirakis family!

3) Address: 5410 North 80th Lane, Glendale, AZ, 85303

Number of Lights: 10,000

Description: A must-see holiday lights display. Inflatable and cut-out characters, ferris wheel, merry go round, light show, and music. Snow flurries display on Thursday-Saturday nights.

Mesa

1) Address: 1335 N Papillon Circle, Mesa, AZ, 85205

Number of Lights: 100,000

Description: Their lights are a huge happy birthday card to Jesus, with over 100,000 lights and displays everywhere. They have a misfit island, singing trees and a full manger scene. Do not forget your canned food as they are gathering goodies for Hope Women's Center.

2) Address: 1431 E. Halifax, Mesa, AZ, 85203

Number of Lights: 45,000

Description: 50-foot tree on roof with 4,000 lights. Little Critters Christmas theme cut-out characters. Nativity scene.

3) Address: 1517 S Arroya Cir, Mesa, AZ, 85206

Number of Lights: 90,000

Description: Beautiful array of flowing rivers, brilliant palm trees, twinkling icicles with various inflatables and animated characters. Various nights will include animated window displays as well.

Peoria

1) Address: 7619 W Banff Ln, Peoria, AZ, 85381

Number of Lights: 40,000

Description: Their yard is a child's dream of Christmas. They have Santa Claus and his elves and reindeer. A winter scene with over 40,000 lights hung in trees and spread throughout their yard. Feel free to get out and walk the pathway that will lead you to their Christmas nativity with life-size characters.

2) Address: 8252 W Camino De Oro, Peoria, AZ, 85383

Number of Lights: 80,000

Description: LED lights computerized and synchronized to 18 songs. 25-foot Mega tree, four leaping arches, 20 Christmas trees, various inflatables and carved cut-outs. Tune your radio station and listen in your car or park and enjoy.

3) Address: 6967 W Cheryl Dr., Peoria, AZ, 85345

Number of Lights: 30,000

Description: Feel free to get out of your car and walk through the North Pole after a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Appearances will be every Friday-Sunday evenings from 7-10 p.m. Beginning December 4-24, times of appearance will be from 6-8 p.m.

Phoenix

1) Address: 4827 W Osborn, Phoenix, AZ, 85031

Number of Lights: 70,000

Description: Lots of lights and trees and inflatables. Santa will be there to hand out candy canes when it is possible. Lights come on at 6 p.m. and go off at 10 p.m. Lights will not be on if it has rained that day.

2) Address: 4415 E. Calle Tuberia, Phoenix, AZ, 85018

Number of Lights: 250,000

Description: Hot cocoa, bubble machine, hundreds of animated characters, inflatables, fizz animated windows, a water feature, computer controlled light display set to music, and much more.

3) Address: 7734 N. 41st Avenue, Phoenix, AZ, 85051

Number of Lights: 30,000

Description: South Park characters: Cartman; Kyle; Stan; Kenny; Mr. Hanky; Big Gay Al; Chef; The Mayor; Mrs. Crabtree and the School Bus; Token; Jimmy and Timmy; Terrance; Phillip; Towley; Officer Barbrady; Mr. Garrison; Shelly; Quintuplets; Tweek and many more.

Scottsdale

1) Address: 7324 E Villa Way, Scottsdale, AZ, 85257

Number of Lights: 50,000

Description: Home Made' signs and cutouts figures set in a beautiful winter wonderland. Recently converted to LED, this display should not be missed.

2) Address: 16 Spur Circle, Scottsdale, AZ, 85251

Number of Lights: 12,000

Description: The joys of Christmas including penguins, snowmen, Mickey and Minnie, sleighs and reindeer, holiday animals, and pulsing holiday lights bring joy to the hearts of young and old.

3) Address: 11068 E Laurel Lane, Scottsdale, AZ, 85259

Number of Lights: 25,000

Description: The Griswolds: Clark (aka Sparky), Ellen, Aunt Edna, Uncle Eddie, Snots & the rest. 25,000 lights & accepting food donations for St. Vincent De Paul.

Tempe

1) Address: 511 E La Donna Dr, Tempe, AZ, 85283

Number of Lights: 5,000

Description: They will be featuring many scenes including Santa's North Pole Workshop, a full nativity, Winter Wonderland, and a singing choir singing Christmas Carols, plus many more dazzling lights. Their scenes feature characters of the blow mold variety, over 65 on display.

2) Address: 8535 South Stanley Place, Tempe, AZ, 85284

Number of Lights: 400,000

Description: Shawn Benson started his light show many years ago and has continued to make it more extravagant since. With over 400,000 lights this year it will be one of the brightest ever. Every weekend, the Benson residence will have Santa sitting outside handing out candy and hot cocoa while the fire is lit until the week before Christmas. They welcome all families in the surrounding area to come look at the great display that will be up this year.

*All data gathered from azcentral, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, Inc.