EDGEWOOD — When it comes to holiday lights, few streets can compare with a tiny fork off Dudley Road in Edgewood.

        There, six homes are illuminated each year with tens of thousands of sparkling lights and displays.

Glowing rivers of light cascade from 798 Dudley Road. (Craig Ruttle photos) | ZOOM |

At 808 Dudley Road passersby are wished a Merry Christmas. | ZOOM |

At 800 Dudley, the deer approach a veritable fairyland. | ZOOM |

        Almost every year, at least one of the homes wins the Edgewood holiday decoration contest. This year's contest added a new award, designed to acknowledge the efforts of the usual winners while allowing other homes a chance to win.

        The residents of 798, 800 and 808 Dudley Road recently received a special Community Christmas Spirit Award.

        “This year they kind of forced us to create a new division,” said Kim Wolking, Edgewood's recreation director.

        “In the past, we've only given out three (individual) awards. But last year, all three were on Dudley. Even though they put up a lot of stuff, it's very tastefully done.”

        Edgewood this year is also honoring the best decorations in each of the city's nine neighborhoods, Ms. Wolking said. Still, the homes on Dudley Road stand out.

        Lights illuminate homes, yards, storage sheds, garages and rooftops. The displays include a train that appears to move, racing lights along driveways, and a rooftop sleigh, complete with Rudolph.

        The small street was part of a farm owned by the Arlinghaus family. The homes mostly are owned by members of that family and friends.

        Chris Arlinghaus, 26, and Kim Zimmerman, 29, are siblings, and Mark Hasler, 36, has done brick work for Arlinghaus Builders.

TOP HOMES

Edgewood's award-winning decorated homes     Community Christmas Spirit Award: 798, 800 and 808 Dudley Road    1. Winding Trails area: 798 Ashfield    2. Prestwicke: 3055 Waterbury    3. Brookwood: 3058 Brookwood Circle    4. Dudley Vilage: 3057 Village Drive    5. Charter Oak: 3131 Hergott    6. Whispering Woods: 3067 Magnolia    7. Pius Heights: 3161 Royal Windsor    8. Meadowlark: 105 Whippoorwill    9. Old Edgewood: 3212 Turkeyfoot Rd.

        In the past, the friendly competition spurred the street's top decorators into setting a few ground rules: No one could start work on his holiday display before Nov. 12, and all the lights had to be put up at night, not during the work day.

        “They have one of the prettiest light displays around,” said neighbor Lena Lootens. “I think their displays are better than most because they have a lot more room to decorate.”

        Chris's wife, Pam Arlinghaus, said the holiday display lets her indulge a childhood dream.

        “When I was a kid, my parents never did put up too many lights,” said Mrs. Arlinghaus, who now has about 30,000 lights illuminating her two-story home and driveway.

        “But we'd always drive around on Friday and Saturday nights, looking at all of the Christmas lights. As soon as (my husband and I) got our own house, I said, "I want to put up some lights.'”

       To get there, take Interstate 275 to the Ky. 17 exit. Go south on Ky. 17 to the first traffic light, then turn right on Dudley Road. Go up the hill and turn right at the first intersection.
       

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