CROWN POINT | For one evening earlier this month, Crown Point stepped inside a Hollywood classic to see which local family could compete with Clark W. Griswold.

The main character in National Lampoon's "Christmas Vacation" is probably most famous for his house's extravagant light display, and Jennifer Young, Crown Point director of special events, thought some of the city's decorated houses rivaled that holiday home.

So Dec. 12, the city had its first Griswold Tour of Lights, parading attendees by each of the six entries on the city's trolley and allowing them to cast their vote. The house dubbed the Griswold Home of the Year will be announced at Monday's City Council meeting.

Young said the event was one of the city's "most successful" and she's already planning for next year, just like many of this year's entrants.

They include:

The McDonald family, 2170 W. 95th Ave.

John McDonald, 61, estimates he has about 20,000 lights on his holiday display, and he can break down the number of lights on each tree.

With the help of his grandsons, McDonald spends about two weeks putting up the display, earning him the nickname Clark Griswold, even before the city announced the tour this year.

The house is so well-known on the street that the kids who come trick-or-treating on Halloween are ready to discuss Christmas decorations with the McDonalds.

John McDonald laughs as he recalls their comments, "They say, 'My mom says she's going to beat you, but she doesn't even come close.'"

The Bodamer family, 412 Cardinal Drive

Julie Bodamer, 35, always has loved to decorate, but the tradition took on a new meaning now that she has children and one is old enough to help out.

"It's a tradition I wanted to start with my boys," she said.

It's also a tradition that Zachary Bodamer, 5, has readily embraced. She said Zachary takes guests outside to admire the decorations. He watched with his face pressed to the window as each load of Griswold tour visitors came by Dec. 12. The family already has driven the tour route a couple of times to check out the lights.

"He'll say, 'Mommy, I love my house so much, can we go home and look at it?'" Julie Bodamer said laughing. And they do.

The Kapitan family, 694 Davis Court

Ever since he was a child, Andy Kapitan, 54, wanted to decorate his home extravagantly for Christmas.

"It's something I always wanted," he said.

One of the highlights of his decorations is a handmade manger the former carpenter made out of wood from his parents' farm.

He said part of the reason he entered the contest was because he's pleased that so many people on his block decorate and they help each other do so.

"We're very close on this block for some silly reason," Kapitan said. Maybe it's because his four best friends live on that street with him.

The Easto family, 413 E. Greenwood Ave.

Dan Easto, 47, is a little surprised at the attention his home gets during Christmas. After driving by the home and watching the lights synchronized to music, some drivers honk. Easto assumes it's in appreciation. A few years ago, his family received a Christmas card from a Lowell family that Easto had never met. The family thanked him for the display, enclosing hand-drawn pictures from the Lowell family's children.

"We try to add something new each year," he said. "We already have things planned for next year."

The Lindau family, 202 S. Indiana Ave.

Because their house is on a well-traveled Crown Point street, Rick and Jan Lindau, 62, have felt the need to decorate. And not just for Christmas.

Drive past their home just past the busy intersection of Indiana and Joliet streets and you'll see their house lit up at Halloween, the Fourth of July and Christmas, said Rick Lindau, who has lived in the home for 35 years.

He describes his Christmas decorations as a classic snowflake theme because he likes the lights along Chicago's Michigan Avenue.

"I didn't want to go to gaudy, although one year I just might."

The Gard family, 441 S. East St.

The display in front of Brian Gard's house has been put up the same way for the last 40 years, except for a break that occurred after his parents died and he moved back to the house.

Gard's parents, Bettie and Elmer Gard, created a display that tells the story of the birth of Jesus and that his mother called her "Christmas card to the community."

Brian Gard, 47, recommended that drivers turn off their headlights and are patient; it's actually a six-minute long show.

"To get the full effect, you need to see the whole thing."