ABC7 Great Chicago Light Fight 2024 winner crowned in Tinley Park
CHICAGO (WLS) -- The winner of this year's Great Chicago Light Fight is the Schaaf family of Tinley Park
Check it out! The winner is the Schaaf family at 7702 Hanover Dr., Tinley Park.
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"I've always had the ambition for it, it's something I've always liked to do it makes me happy," Eric Schaaf said.
From Santa and his sleigh, to Yoda, a Minion and so much more! Eric Schaaf, 18, started planning on these decorations months ago. New this year, a unique display that has deep meaning to Eric and his family.
"My grandpa would collect all of the pieces and the houses and the people and I was able to get all of those pieces for my display," Eric said. "In here I have all the people and the theater those from my grandparents, in my front window I have a mechanical doll display those are all my grandmas also."
This is the fourth time a family from Tinley Park won ABC 's Great Chicago Light Fight and the second year in a row. So what makes Tinley so special?
"Christmas is alive in Tinley Park!" Village Manager Pat Carr said.
"It shows you what a great community we have and now we're going to be looking for the next person to match what our last four previous winners have done," Tinley Park Mayor Michael Glotz said.
"People come from all over because our residents share their talents and their enthusiasm for the community for others to share," Tinley Park marketing manager Donna Framke said.
In fact, so many family members and friends came out to support Eric and his family Thursday morning as we handed them the coveted ornament prize even Eric's high school principal came out to show her support.
"Eric is an honors kid at Andrew he's brilliant, he's super smart, and he's very involved and he has over 100 service hours for the community, so for him to have time to do this all on his own," Andrew HS principal Dr. Abir Othman said. "I'm super proud of him, our whole school community is!"
Eric is off to college in the fall, but says he is not done decorating just yet!
Want to see what it takes to win? Take a look back on past Great Chicago Light Fight winners here:
2023 Champions: The Hirsch family of Tinley Park
2022 Champions: The Sandberg Family of Elk Grove Village
2021 Champions: O'Connor family in Tinley Park
2020 Champions: Todd and Jen Scheuerman of Elmhurst
2019 Champions: Kowalczyk family of Tinley Park
2018 Champions: Steffen family of Newark
2017 Champion: Tim Herzog of Round Lake
