John W. Barry

Poughkeepsie Journal

UNION VALE – Dutchess County is where you can find the largest residential light display – in the world.

That's the word from Guinness World Records following a visit one of its representatives recently made to the Gay family house on Patrick Drive.

According to Guinness adjudicator Michale Empric, the 601,736 lights that adorn the Gay's property and create a mammoth blinking and pulsating holiday circuit board, while evoking shooting stars, rainbows and bowls of sherbet, beat out the most recent Guinness record of 502,165 lights held by the Richards family of Australia. Timothy Gay, an engineer, had held the Guinness Record in 2012.

The lights were not counted, Empric said, but receipts for all the lights were reviewed.

"You are officially amazing," Empric said to Gay and his family after declaring them the new record holder Nov. 28.

The light display is stunning. One tree alone has 5,000 lights and took Gay's son two days to decorate. Oversized hearts, hoops and stars are among the many shapes to give the lights form. And Christmas trees can be found in multiple sizes and designs. While the lights show off the manner in which technology defines so much of the holidays for so many of us, the artistic flair of the display is inspiring and underscores the entire effort.

Gay also works on the project with the Union Vale Fire Department, whose members collect donations from visitors who admire the display while passing through the driveway in vehicles. Gay estimates the effort has raised $80,000 over three years and he expects to collect more than $30,000 by the time the display comes down Dec. 29. Beneficiaries include support services for domestic violence victims and children as well as a community fund established by the Fire Department.

"Not only do you bring happiness and cheer to people and inspire children, we're helping people that need help," Gay said.

He was able to claim the record with the help of Ritz Crackers, which donated a holiday installation with more than 180,000 lights. Gay said he was contacted several months ago by Ritz Crackers and asked if he was interested in re-claiming the record.

"I love Ritz Crackers," he said.

Gay declined to say how much the display cost him. He said the lights cost him $400 in electricity last year, with energy efficient lights slashing that cost in half this year.

On hand for the visit by Guinness officials Friday was Rob Heck, who lives next door to the Gays.

"This is great," Heck said. "We have a front-row seat every night. It brings a lot of people together in the neighborhood, as well."

John W. Barry: jobarry@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4822, Twitter: @JohnBarryPoJo

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