Fresno home featured on 'Great Christmas Light Fight'

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The Alexander home has been a big attraction on Fresno's Christmas Tree Lane for 24 years.

The elaborate and breathtaking display created by Dean Alexander and his family is one of the four contenders on Monday night's episode of ABC's "The Great Christmas Light Fight."

Alexander is happy Fresno is getting the exposure. He said, "It's kind of exciting to have the entire nation know what we do in Fresno; it is something very special that our house be on Christmas Tree Lane."

The episode featuring the Alexander home was filmed last month. It's competing with three other decorated homes -- one is in the Bay area, another in Kentucky, along with a house in San Antonio, Texas. The winner will get $50,000.

"Every family gets recognized. Obviously the trophy and the grand prize is the icing on the cake, but it's just being part of it, showing the world this is what we do in Fresno," Alexander said.

In a twist to the competition, Action News has learned Christmas Tree Lane actually inspired the Johnson family house in San Antonio. Matt Johnson grew up in Fresno and left for Texas just five years ago.

In a Skype interview from Texas, Johnson told us he credits Christmas Tree Lane for his own decorating enthusiasm. He said, "I have so many good memories of going down Christmas Tree Lane, all the pretty lights and all the decorations. I really do feel honored to be alongside the Alexander's house in this competition."

This is just the second year Matt Johnson decorated his Texas home. The Alexanders have been building up their display for a quarter of a century. While they will be sharing it with the whole nation Monday night, their first love is for the folks who come down Christmas Tree Lane.

As Dean Alexander says, "When you live on Christmas Tree Lane you actually become addicted to Christmas. You want to share it with everybody else. This is what I give back to the community."

"The Great Christmas Light Fight" can be seen Monday at 8 p.m. on ABC30.

Valley viewers have another holiday treat coming. The Sanger home of the Canizales family will be one of the competitors in next week's episodes of "The Great Christmas Light Fight."