Tinley Park Family Vying For Top Prize In Great Chicago Light Fight

TINLEY PARK, IL — Christmas might be just one day, but Tinley Park's Chris Hirsch spends that one—and all 364 others—dreaming up the next year's plans for his decorations. Hirsch, his wife Jori and sons Kyle and Joshua go all-out to deck their home, and this year it's landed them a spot as a finalist in ABC7's Chicago Light Fight.

"It's a year-round job," Chris Hirsch said, laughing, of his vision coming to fruition each year.

The Hirsch family's display—located at 7805 Nottingham Dr.—is a labor of love for the entire family, and touts impressive numbers. Think 7,000 feet of garland, 100,000 lights, 8,000 feet of extension cords, and 6,000 zip ties.

The family's display—now in its second year—is now one of five Chicagoland Light Fight finalists. They're up against homes in Lynwood, Elk Grove Village, Batavia, and Naperville. Voting takes place online through Wednesday, Dec. 14.

Winning would be a thrill, the couple said, but they already get so much out of their creation every year.

"... I do this to bring joys, smiles, watch the kids out front—it’s just amazing to see the joy on people’s faces," Chris Hirsch said.

The family does all the work together, Jori Hirsch said. It leads to family bonding, and instilling in their sons a solid work ethic and dedication. Kyle—their oldest and a sophomore at Victor J. Andrew High School—showed them it's working.

"He would go to school, go to football, then come home and decorate," Jori Hirsch said. And he kept straight A's, as well, she added.

Each year, Chris adds an additional element to the display—many which were made by him or the family. This year's display includes mini trees made from tomato cages, an 8-foot by 8-foot portrait for families to pose in, and a 40-foot mega tree, topped with a star Chris welded himself at age 16. He hopes next year, his oldest son will weld a tree of his own for future use in the display.

Hirsch aims for a neat display, with clean lines. A portion of it uses static lights; another uses lights synced to music, and linked to a radio frequency for listening.

"The whole goal was just to be clean, nice, straight lines," Chris said.

This year, they began decorating two weeks before Halloween, with Chris taking a week off work to really focus on the lights. He had already spent time programming lights back in July, he said, in preparation for the challenge ahead.

Jori keeps a watchful eye as the others decorate. Hers is the discerning vote on if their work passes muster.

"I watch when they’re decorating, and if it’s not perfect, they re-do it," she said, laughing.

"It gets intense!" Chris chimed in.

In years prior, the family had not offered a way for visitors to contribute. This year, they'll accept donations of any amount, which will go toward Tinley Park social services agency Together We Cope, in addition to Pancan.com, an organization that fundraises to support research on pancreatic cancer. Chris' mom died of pancreatic cancer, and a close friend is currently fighting it, as well, Jori said.

The four family members look forward each year to lighting up their home—so much so, they won't let weather stop them.

"They were out there putting the mega tree up in the pouring rain," Jori said.

Jori can see how much the display means to her family.

"He doesn't look at it like a job," she said. "He loves it.

"We pride ourselves on the neatness, and that it’s just us ... the family time, the bonding. We do have people offer to help, but it’s just us."

The display can be seen Sunday through Thursday, from 4:30 to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 4:30 to 11 p.m.

Voting for the Light Fight ends Wednesday; the winner will be announced Friday, Dec. 16.

No matter the outcome, Chris is already thinking ahead.

"I already have a list of what I need to get this summer for next year," he said.

Vote online for the Hirsch family, finalist in ABC7's Chicago Light Fight.