Palm Harbor Display Could Win $100,000 for Pinellas Co. Schools

Who has the grandest holiday light display of them all? 

The owners of a Palm Harbor home have a dazzling display of lights. They've entered Patch's holiday light contest, with the hope of winning $100,000 for Pinellas County Schools.

Arlene and John Banacki started decorating their home in the Indian Trails subdivision when they first moved in 20 years ago. "Every year it gets a little bigger," said Arlene Banacki.

In the early years, the family paid retail prices for holiday lights. But, as their display grew in size, they realized they could save money by buying lights at yard sales and flea markets.

Preps for the annual display begin before Thanksgiving. It takes about three weeks for the family to test the lights according to John Banacki, who is also a chiropractor in Palm Harbor.

The Banackis invite family members to their home for Thanksgiving. After dinner, guests pitch in to help put up the gargantuan display on the home, "We cook, they work," Arlene chuckled.

The home sits on a corner lot, so there is double the amount of lights needed in order to allow people to see the display from both sides. Before putting up the lights, the entire display is mapped out on paper, so the family knows where things like aliens and santa should be placed. They give nicknames like "Tree City", "Alien Corner" and "Penguin Point" to specific parts of the display.

Once the lights are switched on, the Banackis' power bill rises. One year, the bill was a whopping $1,200; last year it was $750. No doubt, if the Banackis were to win the Patch contest, the $500 prize to pay the electric bill would certainly come in handy.

Viewing the Banackis' holiday light display has become a part of many people's Christmas tradition, "We get people every year," said Arlene Banacki. The family also holds an open house each year, inviting people inside their home, which is lavishly decorated with displays and more than a dozen trees.

The Banackis' light display will be up through the holidays, if you want to check it out yourself. You may want to allow plenty of time, so you can drive through the entire Indian Trails subdivision, homeowners are enthusiastic when it comes to decorating their homes for the holidays.

The Indian Trail subdivision is on the south side of Alderman Rd. The Banackis' home is located near the entrance of Indian Trails at 2478 Indian Trails East, Palm Harbor, FL, 34683.