Having a house decked out in Christmas decorations while kids are trick-or-treating is just one of the snags for those who go all in or a prize-winning festive light display.
It also helps if family members are happy to pitch in, for example painting thousands of rocks to hand out as keepsakes to excited kids who come to admire the handiwork.
Shaun Petrie is a legend of the competitive Christmas light scene as the reigning champion of the annual Blacktown City Council contest, during which glittering displays take over whole streets in the western Sydney region.
The key to a stunning show is being prepared to give up the whole house for months, the air-conditioner mechanic says.
"This year I started in September, by the time I get everything out of storage and go through testing it all ... it definitely takes a good couple of months," Mr Petrie told AAP.
The 43-year-old doesn't just want people admiring from the footpath - his whole yard is set up as an interactive winter wonderland for visitors to enjoy.
"I've got Christmas cutouts so the kids can walk in and put their faces in the cutouts and get photos," Mr Petrie said.
"My mum loves to paint rocks - this year I think she's painted me 700 rocks and we had about 1500 last year, we hand them out to the kids as they walk through."
He will move to the "champion of champions" category for 2025, leaving the door open to contenders such as Carolyn Khoury Medlej to take the mantle as overall winner.
But she also has a greater prize in her sights for her supersized display.
Ms Khoury Medlej, who was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the start of 2025, is conducting a fundraiser for the Sydney Children's Hospital Foundation to multiply the Christmas spirit.
"It doesn't bother me if I win, I just want to see the Christmas spirit in our street and in my country," the mum-of-four said.
A commercial bubble machine and an aluminium sleigh imported from China are just some of the attractions festive visitors can expect to find in the front of her Seven Hills home.
The months of effort and physical danger of scaling the roof is worth it for Ms Khoury Medlej if she can provide a bit of extra cheer to those who need it.
"The bright lights support the other kids that actually need help, who actually can't get out of hospital to celebrate Christmas," she said.
TOP TIPS FOR CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
* Only use lights designed for outdoor use and check cords and bulbs for damage before you hang
* Gutter hooks are a great start for fixing lights around the outside of a house
* Light chains reduce the number of cords and plugs that need to be hidden, improving safety and neatness
* LED lights need fewer power outlets and cost far less to run than traditional, incandescent bulbs
* As decorators get more adventurous, smartphone-controlled lights offer a modern take on classic Christmas light shows
