CarMax Tacky Light Run - Tacky Training Blog

Little by little, festive decorations are becoming more and more visible on Dawnridge Court in Walton Park as neighbors prepare for the influx of tacky light tourists and the CarMax Tacky Light Run.

This past Saturday, Katy Lloyd-Mustian, her husband Tom Mustian, and their friends and neighbors Paula and Bryan Chamberlain spent seven hours installing lights on the Lloyd-Mustian house and throughout the yard. Tom spent several hours Sunday installing props and shopping for additional lights to fill in the gaps. We checked in with Katy ahead of the big reveal for the second installment of the CarMax Tacky Light Run Tacky Training Blog.

11/24/15:

The yet-to-be announced theme is coming together. Though the grand illumination will take place on Sunday Nov. 29, passersby will notice that once again the display is an oceanfront scene but new elements are being added this year. The yard is covered in blue and white lights representing where the ocean meets the beach. Recognizable props from last year include dolphins and sharks swimming in the ocean, parrots and pelicans perched in trees, flamingos wading in the water, and a lifeguard chair on the beach where Santa hung his red jacket. But where in the display will Santa be? He will make his appearance on Sunday along with a number of new features.

Installing the elaborate theme is not only time-consuming, but also comes with a few aches and pains. Hours of going up and down ladders, bending and squatting down on the ground to cover the yard with lights, and carrying tubs of lights and décor from the third floor attic makes for an intense workout! Days of sore muscles are a regular part of decorating. Like runners training for the CarMax Tacky Light Run, Dawnridge Court residents are getting their exercise too!

As neighbors decorate their yards, we all enjoy the sense of comradery among the residents. Neighbors walk down the street to chat with others about their decorating progress. Passersby in vehicles and on foot stop and offer compliments. Veteran decorators offer advice to the newer folks on the street. They exchange ideas and tools (such as the device that helps identify the bad bulb on a strand of lights). There are even friendly competitive challenges.

In addition to the highly anticipated Neighborhood Superlatives that are part of the CarMax Tacky Light Run, members of the Women’s Club of Walton Park also judge the houses and give Santa House awards for tacky decorations and Holiday House awards with more traditional décor. In the two years that the Lloyd-Mustian family has lived in Walton Park, they have won ‘Best Theme’ and ‘Best on Dawnridge Court’ Tacky Light Run superlatives as well as the Walton Park Santa House. This year, they are hoping to win the ‘Best and Loudest Block Party’ superlative during the CarMax Tacky Light Run.

In order to have the best and loudest block party, we are taking time to plan details for the cheer zone. We’re expecting about 50 friends and have encouraged them to wear costumes with blinking accessories and bring noise makers. We set up heaters and a fire pit in their driveway for friends to gather to cheer on the runners. For the second year, the Meadow Street Band will perform holiday tunes live in the driveway! Additional props are part of the theme but cannot be revealed just yet.

So while preparing for the CarMax Tacky Light Run, residents of Walton Park look forward to entertaining the thousands of runners and walkers, as well as hundreds of others that pass by throughout the holiday season. Visitors will not be disappointed!

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