Clark Griswold and Cousin Eddie can step aside this year because folks across Alabama are sparkling the night with strings of lights, figurines and even synchronized music to celebrate the holidays.

According to Electrical Safety Foundation International, more than 86 percent of Americans decorate their homes to celebrate the holidays.

Some families, like the Krawcyzk’s in Birmingham’s Crestline neighborhood, take the Griswold approach and string lights on almost every inch of their home and property.

The Krawcyzk family home in Birmingham’s Crestline community.

If you can hang something on it, I’ll string the lights,” says Craig Krawczyk, an architect. “I’m going for the wacky and the tacky.”

Then there are families such as the Tysons in Foley and the Huffs in Prattville who prefer color coordination or maybe music synchronization.

Tyson family home in Foley all aglow with the sights of the season.

Douglas Huff, a software engineer is retired from the military. He remembers living on a base where Christmas lights were limited to a single strand across the roof.

At his home on Tara Drive in Prattville,  you’ll find dozens of strings of lights. This year, he has about 16,000 lights on trees, bushes and on figurines in the yard. Everything is timed to come on at 4:45 p.m. each day. During the week the lights are off at 10 p.m. and on weekend they shine bright until 11 p.m.

“When you drive up to the house, you can tune your radio into our station and enjoy the synchronization,” Huff said. He likes to see the faces of children light up as they come to see his display. He also enjoys the community service connected to his display.

“We collect canned goods in bins in front of the house. The food will be donated to area food banks,” Huff said.

About four years ago, Huff said he passed the 10,000 light mark, and the display continues to grow.

Tyson family home in Foley boasts more than 30,000 lights.

Dwayne Tyson in Foley has 30,000 lights in his holiday display. They aren’t set to music, but the colors are coordinated and neatly displayed in red, white and green.

“I have a holly bush trimmed in red, and our gazebo is decorated with white lights,” Tyson said.

For the Krawcyzks, the Tysons and the Huffs, holiday lights have grown into an event for their communities.

“When we turned the lights on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, there were at least 200 people in our driveway to watch as we flipped the switch,” said Krawcyzk , who has maintained the family tradition for 16 years. They even had a special visit from the man himself – Santa Claus.

Occasionally, Krawcyzk pulls out his Cousin Eddie outfit, similar to the one worn in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” when it hit the screen 25 years ago.

Tyson, a building and grounds manager and contractor, has decorated his home for 30 years in Foley.

The Tyson family’s home has been decorated for more than 30 years.

“I get enjoyment from seeing others enjoy the lights,” Tyson said. “People drive down the street throughout the evening. Every day we run them from 5:15 to 9 p.m.,” he said.   “I don’t do it for competition. I just do it because I enjoy it. I enjoy Christmas.”

Here are some outdoor lighting safety tips from the Electrical Safety Foundation International.

• Make sure all extension cords and electrical decorations used for outdoor decorating are marked for outdoor use.

• Match power needs (amperage) of electrical products with amperage rating of extension cords.

• Outdoor electric lights and decorations should be plugged into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs).  If circuits are not GFCI-protected, portable outdoor GFCIs can be purchased where electrical supplies are sold and require no special knowledge or equipment to install.

• Inspect all lights, decorations, and extension cords for damage before using.

• Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, the house, or other firm supports to protect them from wind damage, but take care not to attach the lights in a way that could damage the cord’s insulation.

• Keep all extension cords and light strings clear of snow and standing water.

• Make sure spotlights used to illuminate decorations are well-ventilated, protected from weather, and a safe distance from flammable items.

• Inspect ladders for loose or missing screws, hinges, bolts, and nuts before using.

• Use wooden or fiberglass ladders when decorating outdoors.  Metal ladders conduct electricity.

• Use the right ladder height, ensuring ladders extend at least three feet past the edge of the roof.

• Exercise caution when decorating near power lines. Keep yourself and your equipment at least 10 feet from power lines.

• Avoid overloading electrical outlets with too many decorations or electrical devices.  They can overheat and cause a fire.

• Make sure that cords are not pinched in doors, windows, or under heavy furniture, which could damage the cord’s insulation.

• Do not mount or support light strings in a way that might damage the cord’s insulation.

• Always unplug electrical decorations before replacing bulbs or fuses.

• Turn off all indoor and outdoor electrical decorations before leaving home or going to sleep.

See more tips from the Electrical Safety Foundation International.