There are plenty of places in New Jersey to see holiday lights, but only one house can claim to be the ultimate champion. Michael McCarty and Lyle Williams of Pitman have bragging rights after winning the ABC reality show “The Great Christmas Light Fight.”
The married couple topped some of the country’s most dedicated decorators with an over-the-top winter wonderland they call Frostland Village. They beat out competition from Illinois, Florida and Texas to bring the Christmas light trophy and a $50,000 prize back to Gloucester County.
The couple won for their 2023 display, but were sworn to secrecy until the episode aired earlier this month. However, almost everything viewers saw on the show has been brought back for 2024. Usually, they start from scratch, but this year, they wanted people to be able to see everything from the TV competition in person.
NJ.com secured an advance interview with McCarty and Williams right before the big reveal on national television.
“We’ve been lying to all of our friends and family for an entire year now,” says McCarty. “It’s insane. We didn’t expect to win. We’re more than grateful that we did. We’re extremely excited. I’m probably going to take the money and reinvest it into Christmas. It’s an addiction that’s just going to keep growing.”
They officially launched this year’s display on November 29th. The massive homage to Christmas at 23 Euclid Avenue in Pitman draws visitors from South Jersey and all over the country. This year, Frostland Village is decorated with vintage animated displays from Saks Fifth Avenue.
Each piece features a showgirl representing a different city. A Christmas tree crafted from illuminated holiday figures serves as the centerpiece for the entire festive showcase. Williams and McCarty stacked old-school Santa Clauses, elves, snowmen, and other lawn decor from Christmases long past to create a tree like no other. This nostalgic showstopper particularly delighted “The Great Christmas Light Fight” host, celebrity designer Taniya Nayak.
The couple has been building their annual holiday spectacular for a decade, but each year they aim higher and go bigger. McCarty specializes in animatronic characters which adorn the property in various scenes, each of which tells a special holiday story. He hand paints backdrops and repurposes old holiday decorations as he builds his creations.
“I kind of come up with the crazy ideas and I rope Lyle into going along with them,” quips McCarty.
Williams and McCarty begin assembling the extravaganza right after Halloween. For the next few weeks they dedicate all their time to Frostland Village so it will be ready for primetime on the day after Thanksgiving. In the past, thousands have visited each year. After the big win, they expect a big jump in traffic.
Frostland Village is open until the first week in January, but you can check it out anytime on their glorious Facebook page. If you’re looking for holiday cheer closer to home, dive into our list of the best Christmas towns in New Jersey.
