There is no shortage of outdoor Christmas lights and decorations on homes in the area, but for some families, turning the yard into a holiday fantasy is a tradition that goes back decades, a labor of love for the neighborhood to enjoy.

“We’ve been decorating since 1969,” said Eleanor Marcey, standing on the porch of her Arlington home next to an electric train poised to race around the track. “At 5 o’clock, we turn on the lights. Everything brightens and starts moving.”