It's lit: Delaware's Clark Griswold is back with 33,696 Christmas lights at home

Delaware's version of Clark Griswold from the holiday classic film "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" has 33,696 glowing reasons for folks to see his holiday light show this year. 

Manny Duarte, 57, of Middletown, has his light show on view in his front yard (103 Cazier Drive, Middletown), which the public is free to view daily from 5 p.m. to midnight, until the final day on Sunday, Jan 7. 

While visitors may not notice it, Duarte doesn't crank his LED lights up to full power. This has nothing to do with him trying to cut costs on his electric bill, which balloons to $800 during the holiday season, he explained.  

"If I put them all at 100% brightness, it's so bright that you wouldn't be able to stand looking at the lights," said Duarte, who added he uses "a couple hundred" extensions cords for the display.

Duarte's fourth annual holiday light show features over 2,000 more lights than last year. The goal for this year's display was to fill in empty spaces, rather than double the number of lights he used last year, he said.  

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'Bob's Burgers' song in Christmas light show

Whether cruising along in your car, or walking on foot, visitors within a few blocks of the house can choose their favorite songs from the light show by visiting his website (mannyslights.remotefalcon.com) and tuning into 97.7 FM. 

Eighteen songs are available like The Beach Boys' "Little Saint Nick" to "Twinkly Lights" from the cartoon "Bob's Burgers.''   

Duarte synced his lights to songs to small Christmas trees that "sing'' along with the tunes. 

There are two 10-foot-high screens that display images complementing whatever song is playing. That includes a video for Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You." 

Last year Duarte was surprised the most selected song from visitors was "Here Is Our King" by the Christian group David Crowder Band. That's Duarte's favorite group.  

"When I put that song out there, I didn't know how people would [receive] it. And then it ended up being the most requested," he said.  

"Maybe people started thinking about what Christmas is all about, and not just getting presents," Duarte added.  

Planning for Christmas show starts in February

Duarte is an IT specialist and owns a company named Omnimaven. He handles everything from running network wires to setting up servers and PCs, wireless networks, phone systems and security cameras. 

In 2021, Duarte told Delaware Online/The News Journal that programming the lights to sync with his songs took between three weeks to eight weeks — for each tune.  He starts planning for each light show around February.

That same year Duarte gained national exposure after Newsweek reported on his second light show.   

The attention he's since gained from local and national press has helped to bring more eyes to his Christmas light show. 

Christmas lights request for mom in hospital

Duarte said he does the Christmas display to make others happy.  

That's why he left his lights up for an extra two weeks last holiday season after some folks told him they otherwise wouldn't be able to make it.  

One of those requests was from a daughter whose mom had health struggles and got discharged from the hospital after Christmas. 

"It really touched my heart because ... her mom was in the hospital," Duarte explained.  

"She missed all of Christmas. So she wanted to bring her mom by [my house] after New Year's. That felt good." 

If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at [email protected]. Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at delawareonline.com/newsletters.

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