Jonn Epplette is counting down the days to Christmas.

The Tsawwassen dad has a hockey-themed countdown feature as part of the Christmas light display at his home at 1705 Spyglass Crescent.

"We put the number up every day," he says, adding there are scoreboards on either side of his garage.

While his setup doesn't have "a ton of lights," Epplette says, "it's more about the characters."

He has handmade wooden Disney characters as well as blowups, including Santa Claus with his sleigh and some hockey players.

"I love watching the kids come up, sit there and try to name all the characters," he says. "That's a hoot for us, watching them out there, pointing at [the characters]."

In addition to the exterior display, Epplette says his family creates a village scene inside that can be looked at through a window.

"That's always a family tradition, to build a miniature village."

Tsawwassen's Glenn Flach's annual light display at 1636 Golf Club Drive is a tribute to the classic movie Christmas Vacation, says his wife Laurie.

"Glenn IS Clark Griswold when it comes to his obsession with Christmas lights," she says in an e-mail to the Optimist.

The display has over 10,000 lights and uses 30 extension cords, four timers and a power pack.

"As soon as the neighbours see the first string of lights go up they are chatting away and offering encouragement and thanks to Glenn for his festive display. Young or old, friends and stranger alike, love to see Glenn's annual creation."

Another display in Tsawwassen is Dave MacMillan's setup at 5468-5B Avenue.

Clocking in between 6,000 and 7,000 red, green and white lights, the display also features a blowup and light-up penguin sitting on top of an igloo. A group of snowmen figures are set up around the igloo's entrance.

Ladner's Bobby Olszowiec has reconfigured his Christmas light display at 5856-50th Avenue to give it a "more complete look."

The west side of the yard is set to music while the front hedge has a waterfall effect.

The 12,000-light display took two weeks to set up, but Olszowiec notes he was working on preparations throughout November.

Rose McClelland is a big fan of the new additions to the light display at her Ladner home (540347th Avenue).

Along with more lights and some birds, three Christmas trees, created with ideas taken from Vancouver's VanDusen Botanical Garden, have been added to the festive setup.

"It's also nice to see that over the last few years, our light display has inspired others in our neighbourhood to add a bit to their displays," she says.

Here is a collection of some Christmas light displays around South Delta to check out:

TSAWWASSEN

. 1705 Spyglass Crescent

. 5305 Camaro Drive

. 1044 English Bluff Road

. 367-55A Street

. 5875 Vardon Place (has Canadian Cancer and Food on the Corner donation boxes outside)

. 1636 Golf Club Drive

. 5468-5B Avenue

LADNER

. 4600 & 4700 blocks of 55A Street

. 4855-58th Street

. 4686-62nd Street

. 4655 Cannery Crescent

. 5152-45th Avenue

. 5160-45th Avenue

. 5081-44th Avenue

. 5856-50th Avenue

. 5403-47th Avenue

. 4858-57th Street

. 4626-88th Street

dwillis@delta-optimist.com