Daniel Wagner is the Daily Herald Editor’s Choice Holiday Lights 2021 winner for DuPage County. His home is at 1926 Hampton Drive in Wheaton.
Q: How long have you been decorating your house like this?
A: Christmas time is all about kids, so having triplets, plus one, it was natural for us to celebrate all the holidays.
Q: What made you go all out for your decorations?
A: Life gets very busy and decoration acts as a sort of signpost for all of us to stop and remember to celebrate the blessings we have.
Q: How many hours does it take to install the screen?
A: 30 hours
Q: How many string lights are involved?
A: 18,000 individual lights, 23 separate light effects, 22 magnifications, 19 illuminated floor displays
Q: How much does your electricity bill go up in December?
A: Since the vast majority of light fixtures are LED, our electric bill is only $200 more per month.
Q: What do your neighbors think of your display?
A: Our neighborhood has seen more families move in with smaller children. And every time a neighbor thanks us or mentions that our display means a lot to their children, it inspires us to go buy more decorations.
