With Christmas just around the corner, Valentina Mickovska's home on South Street in Tempe is one of many lit up around the inner west for the festive season.
Ms Mickovska has been decorating her home at 7 South Street for more than 10 years. She says it's "an addiction", but the neighbours love it.
The display started off small with "just a few strings here and there". But for the past five years she has been making her display "bigger and better" and last year she decided to go "massive".
"I love seeing the smiles on everyone's faces that come here. People go through so many things that we don't know of, and some of the stories that they tell me are heartbreaking, but they say I put a smile on their faces," she said.
"If I can put smiles on people's faces then that's all I want."
Ms Mickovska's 16-year-old daughter helps out with the display but getting all the decorations up still takes four to five weeks. She starts in October so it's ready to be switched on by the end of November.
She also decorates her mother's home, which is two doors down, and helps another neighbour get into the spirit.
But getting all the decorations up is only the beginning for Tempe's Christmas light queen. Last year she was out in the yard every night for six weeks chatting with visitors and turning on her snow machine, bubble machine and fog machine for kids who came by.
This year she decided to put on the machines for just three nights a week - from Friday to Sunday - but as school goes on holidays she'll put them on more often. But when families travel in from afar she says she can't help herself.
"If I hear people out the front door I'll switch on the machines for them. I had a family who came all the way from Carlingford, so I filled up the machines and the kids loved it," she said.
"I thought, I can't let you leave without seeing the snow and the bubbles."
Ms Mickovska says she spends "at least $3000" each year adding to her display, but always keeps an eye out for when things are on sale so she can pick up a bargain to go "bigger and bigger".
Last year her home came equal first in an Australia-wide Christmas lights competition on the Christmas Light Search website. This year she's not entering the competition so she has more time to mingle with the visitors and enjoy it.
"I want to sit out there and socialise and have a chat with everybody. I absolutely love it!"
This year Ms Mickovska is also fundraising for the family of a local man named Peter who was recently diagnosed with stage 4 adenocarcinoma lung cancer.
Donations will help relieve financial stress on Peter's wife and three kids, including 16 year-old Maddi who went to school with Ms Mickovska's daughter, while he is in treatment.
Other inner west homes with fabulous Christmas light displays this year can be found on Second Street in Ashbury, Burwood Road and Brady Street in Croydon, Cameron Street in Birchgrove and Lilyfield Road in Rozelle.
COVID-19 restrictions may have been lifted but if you're out and about looking at lights this year it's important to stay safe by keeping your distance and avoiding crowds.
If you've got an upcoming Christmas event that you want the community to know about, send us the details at editor@innerwestreview.com.au
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