There's something almost magical about Dennis and Tia Gray's Christmas lights display in Meridian's Paramount subdivision.

It's not awesome in size - at 24,000 lights, it's larger than most, but far from the largest in the Treasure Valley.

And it's not the display's depth and breadth of color that dazzles. In fact, it has just three colors: red, white and green.

What makes Dennis Gray's luminescent opus captivating is the smooth orchestration of its lights with an eclectic, delightfully surprising lineup of music.

In between Christmas favorites one might expect, such as "Carol of the Bells," Gray sandwiched non-traditional versions of classics, including a techno version of "Amazing Grace" and Sinead O'Connor's whisperingly gentle "Silent Night."

After dark, cars idle quietly outside the house at 546 W. Valentino. They listen to the music on their car radios, beamed from a transmitter in the Grays' house.

Over the past two years, the display has become a hobby-turned-obsession for Dennis Gray, an electrical engineer at Hewlett-Packard who doesn't think of himself as being terribly artistic.

"It's a gift to people. We like to see people smile," said Gray, who reminds people who come to his lights and music show that "Jesus is the reason for the season."

Animated lights displays - which typically feature 20- to 30-minute light/music shows - topped our list of favorite displays this year. We found something special in the half dozen animated displays that we were directed to, or stumbled upon, and strongly recommend them all to lights lovers.

But before we tell you a little more about those, we'd like to share a bit about one of our favorite lights-only Christmas displays.

It's at 3079 S. Snowflake Way in Boise, home of Randy and Cammy Cegnar, and their son, Parker, 14 months.

Randy Cegnar's wonderfully whimsical display imagines Santa arriving by helicopter, then climbing down the chimney to deliver presents to Parker. Randy Cegnar made the red helicopter that's perched on the house's roof top, its blades spinning.

The Hewlett-Packard technician's mechanical skills are also showcased in a large rotating Christmas tree in the front yard.

Those fanciful features are just part of what make the Cegnars' home a must-see for people of all ages. The lights are elegantly draped on the house and yard decorations, creating a wonderland of color.

UNEXPECTED GEMS

We stumbled on the Grays' and Cegnars' displays while en route to see others we'd been told about. You, too, will discover many gems while out and about, but we thought we'd pass along some addresses, streets and neighborhoods we noted as particularly festive during our numerous nightly travels.

® House/yard at corner of Horseshoe Bend Road and East Shadowview Street in Eagle.

® The Paramount subdivision in Meridian; turn into North Fox Run Way off of Chinden Boulevard.

® 2853 N. High Desert Way, off of Moon Lake in Meridian.

® 1043 E. Cayman Drive in the Meridian Greens subdivision.

® 10153 W. Silverking Court in Boise. Features Nativity.

® Section of Raindrop Street in the Lakewood subdivision in East Boise.

® Warm Springs and Maple Avenue in Boise. Check out Santa's sleigh and all his reindeer.

® 1407 E. Franklin St. in Boise. Reindeer flying off roof.

® 822 N. Haines St. in Boise. North Pole theme with many nutcrackers.

® South Toluka Way and East Hard Rock Drive in Boise. Huge children's Toyland display.

® South Barber Station Way, East Arrow Junction Drive and East Mill Station at Harris Ranch in East Boise.

® 15th Street and Harrison Boulevard in Boise. House with yard wrapped in shooting stars at Harrison and West Brumback.

® 8240 Cherry Lane in Canyon County. "Keep Christ in Christmas" sign.

CLARK W. GRISWOLD, EAT YOUR HEART OUT

We think visiting these displays is a great, inexpensive alternative to a family night at the movies. So heat up some hot chocolate, grab some popcorn, and hit the road.

® 5305 N. Fox Run Way in Meridian. Robert Hall and his family have outdone themselves with their 60,000-light display this year. Perhaps the most unique feature of this display is a projection of Santa Claus in the front window, so viewers can watch him put presents under the Christmas tree. Classy, elegant lights show. And you might get a candy cane.

® 6211 W. Parapet Court in Boise. Roger DeBolt says there are about 100,000 lights in his display. Cars line up in his cul-de-sac to watch his shows, which feature fun songs that kids will enjoy.

The Christmas lights display is the automotive shop owner's favorite hobby, next to hunting. He hopes one of his twin sons will take it over some day.

DeBolt is also raising money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Donate on his Web site: www.christmasinboise.com

® 223 E. Cornell Drive in Meridian. Zachary Cadger, 14, and his dad put their hearts into their family's animated Christmas lights display, making many of its most striking features - including a 15-foot star - by hand. In between the Christmas songs in the show, the Cadgers have put in sound bites from favorite Christmas movies, including "Christmas Vacation." The Cadgers' display was even featured earlier this week on CBS' "The Early Show."

If you visit, bring some canned food to drop into a collection bin set out to benefit the Meridian Foodbank.

Check out the Cadgers' Web site, which also offers several lists of homes with lights in the Treasure Valley: www.freewebs.com/idahochristmaslights

® 4403 Keldoon Ave. in Boise. Scott Tuthill has been refining his display for the past three years. The display has about 19,000 lights and features a 30-minute show.

® 1911 W. Hendricks Court in Meridian. Don Landin's display has about 12,000 lights on 20 features in the yard, including trees and deer. Eight different light shows play to the music of Trans Siberian-Orchestra.

SANTA'S BOISE HOME

2200 E. Oakridge St. in Boise. Dan Christensen's red-and-white house is Santa's home away from the North Pole.

Santa takes visitors on sleigh rides around the neighborhood (4-wheel ATV decorated with wooden reindeer). On Christmas Eve, free hot chocolate and candy.

ONE TREE STANDS OUT

Angie Clancy wrote us to say she was wowed by the giant tree in the 36th Street Garden Center area at the intersection of Hill Road. We agree that the lights adorning the majestic old tree give it eye-popping appeal. Definitely, a must-see.

SEE LIGHTS FROM SKY, LIKE SANTA

Get a reindeer's eye view of Boise's lights with the help of Silverhawk Aviation Academy.

The Caldwell-based business is offering 15-minute tours of Boise's Christmas lights, from today, Dec. 18, to Jan. 1. The tours go from the Boise Airport, through Downtown, over the Idaho Botanical Garden and the Foothills.

The cost is $50 per person, with a minimum of three passengers required. The fee for couples who may not want a third person to tag along is $125 per pair.

Silverhawk Aviation owner Catherine Rad Weber said people don't get interested in lights until about Dec. 18, and they're still into them days after that.

"After Christmas, it's very busy," she said of demand for lights tours. She expects to schedule more than 50 trips this year.

Most people don't find it scary.

"They say it feels like you are floating," Rad Weber said.

For tickets or information, call 453-8577; e-mail, fly@silverhawkaviation.net or check out the Web site: www.silverhawkaviation.net/tours.html. Gift certificates are available.

LIGHTS IN THE GARDEN

We know that hardcore lights afficionados have likely already visited the Idaho Botanical Garden's Winter Garden aGlow this year. But we wanted to remind those who haven't that there's always something new to see.

"Often when I walk through, certain designs and colors bring tears to my eyes," said Judy Ouderkirk, former director of the Garden.

Open from 6 to 9 p.m. daily through Jan. 10, Idaho Botanical Garden, 2355 N. Penitentiary Road.

Enjoy hot refreshments, cookies, holiday music and the warmth of fire barrels. Santa makes a visit Dec. 18-23. $6 general, $4 children 4-12 and members. 343-8649.

DITTO: WE LOVE IT, TOO

When you live next door to a house that has more than 500,000 lights on and around it, you might as well roll with it.

A neighbor of Dave and Connie Lamarque in Northwest Boise put up a sign in lights that reads "Ditto," and has an arrow pointing toward the house famous for the 85-foot angel behind it and an almost blinding number of lights out front.

Both houses are must-sees: The Lamarque house is at 4379 W. Quail Point Court, off Hill Road and Collister. It's pretty easy to spot the neighbor's home - a guaranteed chuckle!

And in case you missed the feature story we did about the Lamarques' fabulous display earlier this season, you can read the story at IdahoStatesman.com.

Katy Moeller: 377-6413