If you answered yes to either of these questions, and want your fellow local residents to get a load of your holiday spirit, here's your chance to shine.

Lights of the Valley is designed for showing holiday decorations in California that are unusual, elaborate or decorated beyond the traditional strings of lights or simple decorations. Not every house that is submitted will be accepted / displayed.

Please, do not be offended if you submit your house and it's not used.

Before you submit your house, READ THE SUBMISSION RULES below about photo size, etc.

Do not send photos smaller than the required minimum size stated below.

DO NOT SEND BLURRY PHOTOS.

Your photos are perhaps the first and only impression I will have of your display and can make all the difference in the world about them making it onto the site.

Submit a House or Community to Lights of the Valley

This website is compiled from homeowner and website visitor tips. Most were confirmed by homeowners this year; several were not because phone numbers or email addresses were not available.

I rely on the public or homeowners to send additions or omissions. I must have photographic evidence of an impressive display before I add an address to the website.

Email your submission(s) with photos to: lights@lightsofthevalley.com

Or snail-mail them to:
California Christmas Lights
c/o Utkaduck Design
PO Box 1112, Livermore, CA 94551-1112

SUBMISSION RULES: Include your name, the full street address, city, state, zip code, county of the house or property displayed, information or a summary about the display and any special features (FM broadcast, Synched Light Show, etc), or scenes that the display has, as well as any website or video links, and don't forget to send us the digital photos !! Submissions without photos will NOT be considered.  Read the Privacy statement before you submit your house.

PHOTO RULES: Photos MUST be least 1280 pixels wide - nothing smaller will be accepted or acknowledged. All photos MUST be taken in Landscape mode.  DO NOT send blurry photos, or photos taken in complete darkness, unless a time exposure is used.  Each photo MUST be under 4 megs in file size. No more than 10 megs total per email - you MUST send multiple emails spaced a couple of minutes apart so the servers between you and me don't get bogged down. Do NOT send photos embedded in email, send only as attachments.

GREAT PHOTOS: This is an example of a GREAT photo and so is this one as well as this one.

HINTS: The "Best" photos are taken at dusk - before its completely dark. Always use a tripod. Use the self timer to eliminate camera shake. Do not use the flash. Try several different shutter or timing modes.

PHOTO TIPS: How to take better night photos or Night time photography tips

VIDEO RULES: Do NOT send videos to me! If you want your video to be added to your listing, post it to YouTube and send me the link.