Whether it's panicked shoppers, gift-obsessed kids with a lust for blood or your genuinely insane Aunt Martha, Christmas brings out the crazy in people. And nowhere is that craziness more publicly apparent than in folks that put in hours (and presumably thousands of dollars) into elaborate Christmas light displays at their own homes. With that in mind (kind of), Redfin conducted a highly scientific poll of real estate agents, who named some of metro ATL's best private property Christmas displays. Most of the homes and neighborhoods are OTP, so if you're up for a road trip, get moving — and if not, drop a line in the comments to let us know about your favorite INTOWN spots for observing Griswold-level Christmas lunacy.
· Christmas in Decatur
· 1428 Oak Grove Dr., Decatur, GA 30033
The lone ITP location to make Redfin's list, the home at 1428 Oak Grove Drive — just off Lavista Road in Decatur — reportedly boasts more than 115,000 lights and was featured on ABC's "The Great Christmas Light Fight" last year. Pull up between 6:30 and 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, or between 6:30 and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and tune your radio to 87.9 FM. The city of Decatur also hosts a decorating contest each year, so take the scenic route.
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· Dallas Displays
224 Oliver Outlook, Dallas;
28 Southshore Pass, Dallas;
1 Severn Way, Dallas
According to Redfin, the city of Dallas — about 15 miles west of Marietta, for those unfamiliar — is a bastion of over-the-top Christmas enthusiasm. With homes dubbing themselves "Felix Family Christmas Lights," "Aubuchon Lights" or "Riley's Rockin' Christmas," this journey outside the confines of I-285 could be worth it.
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· An Alpharetta Adventure
· 4220 Tivoli Way, Alpharetta, GA 30004
Called "Christmas in Castille," this Alpharetta home boasts 54,000 lights set to synchronized music — and, judging by the photos and video, palm trees, lots and lots of "regular" Christmas trees, inflatables and distinctive arches. Shows run from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through Dec. 27.
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· Good Cause in Kennesaw
1045 Peace Drive NW, Kennesaw, GA 30152
According to an article from the Kennesaw Ledger-News, folks in the Calumet West neighborhood decorate their homes each year and collect donations from visitors — but it ain't to pay the light bill. Donations are channeled to Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. While you're in the recently enlightened home of Cobb County's newest mosque, you should also visit "Meckley Family Xmas" at 4291 Edgewater Drive.
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· Santa is Cumming
· 7020 Cole Court, Cumming, GA, 30028
In Cumming, "Blink Midwinter" joins three houses to put on a music-synchornized light display starting at 5:30 p.m. every night of the week. The playlist this year includes the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, a "Takin' Care of Business" spinoff called "Takin' Care of Christmas," and an offering from Christian rapper Toby Mac. "Slaying Santa," a heartwarming classic by death-metal gods Zwargar, did not make this year's cut.
— By Curbed Atlanta contributor Tyler Estep