Electric Lizzyland lights display opens in Hollywood/Santa Monica

Liz Simmons in 2018. Photography by Danny Fulgencio.

Electric Lizzyland, a long-running holiday lights display in Hollywood/Santa Monica, is back.

The free event showcases about 100,000 lights scattered around neighbor Liz Simmons’ home and yard. There are other colorful pieces, too, and a lot of glitter.

Simmons spoke to Advocate columnist Patti Vinson in 2018 to explain.

The display started in 1997, when Simmons lived on Prospect Avenue. Back then, there were only 8,000 lights. But with positive feedback from neighbors, Simmons decided to make it an annual tradition.

She kept it up when she moved to Newell Avenue in Hollywood/Santa Monica.

Electric Lizzyland has become legendary in Dallas, and it has gained national attention. In 2007, she placed in the top 20 of a Home Depot contest, and years later, she was on The Great Christmas Light Fight on ABC.

Items included in the annual display have been sourced from estate sales, curiosities and even anonymous gifts.

“Sometimes I’ll come home to find a bag of weird little holiday things on my porch,” Simmons told the Advocate columnist.

Electric Lizzyland opens Dec. 18 at 714 Newell Ave.; see it any night through Christmas, weather permitting. Lights are on 6-8:30 pm, though that’s not a hard-and-fast rule. There’s no need to sign up or register for the free event. Park somewhere on the street, but be respectful of the neighbors.

Get out of your car. walk around Take all the photos you desire. But don’t touch anything.

Still not sure what this is all about? Just look at this picture, which neighbor Patrick Donlin took about 10 years ago. Simmons’ house is on the left, and Donlin’s is on the right. Simmons helped Donlin with the “Ditto” sign.

Electric Lizzyland and the neighboring house, owned by the Donlins. Photo courtesy of Patrick Donlin.