Record Breaking NY Christmas Light Display Is Bothering Neighbors

A New York family that holds the Guinness World Record for the most lights on a residential property said this year's Christmas display is their biggest ever, but all neighbors are amused.

Tim Gay of Union Vale, whose family first set the record for most lights on a residential property with 346,283 Christmas lights in 2012 before topping it with their 2014 display, which the ERDAJT Holiday Lights Display now has 720,426 lights.

The show boasts over 250 songs that play continuously throughout the night so families always have a show to see.

The tradition is not only a tradition for the Gay family, but over 50,000 people who come by to see the home over the season. It's also a tradition of anger for some neighbors, particularly one who is running for a seat on the town board to put as top to the tradition.

"It's essentially running a Legoland out of your property for 40 days," Kasche told The New York Times.

Neighbors complain of the crowds leaving their yards littered with discarded alcohol bottles, trash, and even human urine.

Joseph Kile, a lieutenant with the LaGrange Fire District, said he is concerned about the effect the traffic could have on emergency vehicles being able to reach an incident if they have to drive through that area.

Town Supervisor Betsy C. Maas said there is no local ordinance giving the town the ability to put a stop to the display, and officials said they have no plans to stop it either.

"Are you going to be the one to get rid of Santa?" she said.

Tim Gay isn't worried about criticism.

"If you bring joy and happiness to 50,000 people, and you have 10 or 20 don't like you, I think that's a fair trade-off," he said.