The brightest house in Queens outshone three others in the country Monday night.
The Lynch family from Whitestone won ABC’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight” and $50,000 on Dec. 9, beating stiff competition from homes in California, Virginia and Georgia.
“I was jumping, screaming. I went crazy,” said Kevin Lynch. “After the show was over, every single one of my neighbors was on the block. People are coming by, honking their horns.”
The new reality-competition series pits four families against each other nationwide. They each have 20 days to come up with the most elaborate Christmas decoration designs.
“For me to do this in three weeks was tough,” said Lynch, 55, a retired New York City firefighter. “It’s like running a marathon.”
The father of three covered his home at 166-04 23rd Avenue with a blanket of at least 300,000 lights — all with underground wires, no cords — and more than 100 animatronics. There is even a projected Santa Claus, waving from the second-story window.
“I lived on coffee and espresso. I didn’t even eat until 1 o’clock in the morning,” Lynch said. “By 1 o’clock, I was dead. I couldn’t move. I’d pass out, take the kids to school, come back and do lights.”
That became the routine from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. for three straight weeks.
The over-the-top end result blew away Michael Moloney of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” who judged the competition on use of lights, overall design and Christmas spirit.
The display, with its vintage items and “childlike” décor, was “classy” and “magical,” Moloney said.
“This whole family clearly has Christmas spirit,” he said.
“We’re ecstatic. We’re thrilled, shocked,” said wife Tina Lynch.
The Lynch family has devoted 17 years to lavishly decorating their home, which was chosen by ABC through an extensive nationwide search, according to the network.
Even before filming the show, the Whitestone light site was a tourist destination and backdrop for wedding pictures, the family said.
“People come here from all over and send us Christmas cards with our house in them. It gets crazy here, but it’s all in good faith, all in good fun,” Lynch said.
The series continues December 16 and 23 with 16 more competing homes.
As for how much it costs to dazzle the nation for a month, Lynch said he would gladly show his electric bill — to anyone willing to pay it.
CLICK HERE TO SEE A VIDEO OF THE HOUSE
