Editor's note: Did the Port St. Lucie Christmas House take home the $50,000 prize?

The official opening of the Port St. Lucie Christmas House isn't until next week but viewers caught a glimpse of the decked-out home on national television.

Monday's season premiere of "The Great Christmas Light Fight" featured the Port St. Lucie home of JW Salveson and Jerome Sangalli, along with three other wildly decorated houses, in the two-hour episode, which started at 8 p.m. on ABC.

Missed the show?Watch it here

One of the four families featured in each episode will win the Light Fight trophy and a $50,000 prize.

The 11th annual Port St. Lucie Christmas House will open Dec. 4 and run through Dec. 18. It is open every night from 6 to 9 p.m. The 180-member Treasure Coast High School Marching Band will perform opening night during a "mini parade to light the house," Salveson said.

And, of course, Santa Claus will be there, too.

The home is at 716 S.E. Walters Terrace.

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ABC/Disney approached the couple in March 2017 about featuring their home on the "The Great Christmas Light Fight."

At first, however, Salveson said they declined.

"We were flattered, but we weren't interested because it is a competition," he said. "We don't do this for JW and Jerome. We do this for the children and animals."

Every year, the couple collects thousands of toys — this year's toys will be donated to children at the Boys and Girls Clubs of St. Lucie County — and also gives a portion of ticket proceeds to animal welfare organizations. This year, money will be donated to Dogs and Cats Forever No Kill Animal Sanctuary in Fort Pierce.

But ABC/Disney assured the couple it wanted to focus on the miracle of Christmas. Crews filmed the couple's home in November 2017.

More:Top ways to celebrate the Christmas holidays in Martin County

The Port St. Lucie Christmas House started — unofficially — when Salveson and Sangalli invited neighbors to their first home in Tradition, which, at the time, included 12 beautifully decorated Christmas trees.

Today, there are more than 70 trees, 75,000 twinkling lights and lots and lots of Christmas-themed decorations. About 10,000 people visit the Christmas house every year, Salveson said.

There have only been two years — 2015 and 2016 — when the couple was unable to open their home at Christmas.

In 2015, just a few weeks before the couple would have started decorating, Salveson was injured in a car crash — he was stopped at a traffic light and his car was hit from behind — and doctors said he'd never walk again.

"My biggest concern was 5,000 children, 5,000 children," he said. "I mean, you're talking about thousands and thousands of toys every year."

Through three surgeries and countless hours of rehabilitation, Salveson said, "every time the pain got bad and every step I took, I kept saying 'It's 5,000 children, it's the animals.' "

More:Do you hear what I hear? Hobe Sound Singing Christmas Tree is local tradition

Salveson said he is excited Port St. Lucie will be seen on the national stage; it will show how a community can come together.

Besides what the couple borrows, saves and receives in donations every year, more than 30 volunteers are needed each night as well. Local deejays perform music every night, too.

"It's a huge undertaking, a labor of love," Salveson said. "And we go broke every single year, but it's for the kids, the animals, and it's become a tradition, a way of life for us. We will put it on as long as we can."

Per-person admission is a new, unwrapped toy, valued at $10 or more. Or, each person can purchase a $10 ticket at the door for a chance to win a seven-night cruise for two on Norwegian Cruise Lines. The money raised at the door will benefit Dogs and Cats Forever and The Port St Lucie Christmas House.

For more information, call 772-353-5571.

If you watch

What: "The Great Christmas Light Fight"

When: 8 p.m. Monday

Channel: ABC

Watch it online

Maureen Kenyon is TCPalm's trends reporter, keeping Treasure Coast residents updated on hot topics and happenings. Do you have a story to tell? Want to start a conversation? Send an email to maureen.kenyon@tcpalm.com, call 772-221-4249 or follow her on Twitter @_MaureenKenyon_.