The days may be short and dark, but Northwest residents are bringing a touch of brightness to their neighborhoods with twinkling holiday-light displays.

Here's a list of displays contributed by Seattle Times readers. If you go for a drive to view them, consider throwing a few cans of food in the car — many homeowners collect donations for local food banks.

SEATTLE

Candy Cane Lane, Northeast Park Road off Ravenna Boulevard. Neighborhood light display, a longtime local tradition, 4 p.m.-midnight through Dec. 31.

Olympic Manor, enter on Northwest 85th Street at 21st or 22nd Avenue Northwest, or at Northwest 90th Street and 24th Avenue Northwest. Most houses in neighborhood decorated.

Gail and Kathy McCormick, 9234 13th Ave. N.W. Santa on the roof, skiing snowman and handmade forest lit for the season.

John Hill, 351 N.W. 52nd St. Come see approximately 18,000 lights consisting of train, 25-foot star, candy canes, snowman, candles, Christmas tree and much more.

Lee Burns, 10406 Eighth Ave. N.W. Traditional mini and LED lights in a classy, yet complete display. Look close for a number of smaller items.

George Banton, 8250 14th Ave. N.E. Year in Lights display of holidays throughout the year, shamrock lights for St. Paddy's Day, eggs for Easter and more, lots of Christmas lights.

Ed Boese, 6557 Fourth Ave. N.E. More than 25,000 multicolored lights blanketing a three-story condo, three inflatables.

Johnson Family, 7702 19th Ave. N.E. Dazzling array of lights and ornaments arranged by 11-year-old Luke has inspired neighbors to decorate as well.

Kathy Johnson, 9547 Wallingford Ave. N. Penguin Village.

Sharon and Fred Ehrig, 3916 Woodlawn Ave. N., and Kay and Tony Horner, 3923 Woodlawn Ave. N. Neighbors work together on the Ehrig house, lights with a North Pole theme and Santa rocking on the porch; whimsical display of 8,000 lights and inflatables at the Horners'.

Dan and Vonnie Breidenstein, 10723 Densmore Ave. N. (accessed from North 107th Street). Animated display with a "winter wonderland" of animals skiing, skating and playing in the snow, Santa's workshop with elves working and playing, 5-11 p.m. Sundays-Mondays through Jan. 1.

Bill Muse, 5103 S. Alaska St. Ten kilowatts of tackiness.

Duane Davis, 4152 46th Ave. S.W. More than 7,000 lights including two cotton-candy trees, one pink and one purple. Neighbors joining in the festivities.

Don Rice, 2128 47th Ave. S.W. Lighted trees, Merry Christmas with Charlie Brown and the Peanuts gang, 8,000 lights.

Martha Aitken and Greg Carlock, 3729 40th Ave. S.W. Inflatables, vintage lawn décor, candy canes and chaser lights, designed by 15-year-old Wyatt Carlock.

David DuBuque, 4823 50th Ave S.W. One side of the yard is a Nativity scene; other side has seven inflatables along with sleigh and automated reindeer.

Ardith and Jeff Burns, 3216 S.W. 114th St., Arbor Heights. More than 20,000 lights, 17 vintage blow molds and two animated scenes. 5-10 p.m. daily through New Year's Eve.

The Martin Family, 4402 S.W. Holly St. Winter wonderland with lots of lights, trees, snowmen and deer.

Shirley Saxwold, 5637 44th Ave. S.W. Two houses side-by-side containing more than 29 items outlined by jumbo lights: Santas, snowmen, penguins, deer, moose, geese, presents, Noah's ark, snow globe, nutcrackers and lots more.

Jeff Knudson, 7302 32nd Ave. S.W. Lights at the tops of three tall trees, one more than 100 feet.

Jon and Anne Manos, 1422 E. Aloha St. Classic Capitol Hill home entirely outlined with clear lights, with candles in all the windows and lit wreaths on all the columns. There are lights on foliage and railings and a star on the roof. 5-11 p.m. daily.

Tom Swanton, 1821 14th Ave. (the alley between 13th/14th avenues from Howell or Denny streets). John Maxwell, former Nordstrom display manager, oversaw the winter wonderland transformation.

Jo Burillo, 625 E. Mercer St. The inflatables include an 8-foot penguin, 6-foot sock monkey, 4-foot snowman and two 4-foot bears. Both levels of the apartment building are covered in white icicle lights, colored net lights, lit candy canes and 30 6-inch penguins that line the upstairs railing.

Jack Menashe and family, 5605 Beach Drive S.W. Manger scene, train, Santa Claus and more, with 300,000 lights.

NORTH

Mike and Deanna Zawaideh, 1827 N. 192nd St., Shoreline. Life-size Nativity scene, musical lighted trees, Santa and sleigh with reindeer, thousands of LED lights, 20-foot Christmas tree, bring sunglasses for light extravaganza.

Joe Waltz and Lyn Donivan, 15758 Greenwood Ave. N., Shoreline. Santa's sleigh and reindeer, Nativity manger, trees, lights, Santa in window.

Trent and Michael Kristjanson, 6128 N.E. 204th St., Kenmore. Come join Snoopy, Linus, Lucy and "the gang" and thousands of lights celebrating the holidays. Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!

Les Ruthford, 21105 Shell Valley Road, Edmonds. More than 85,000 hand-strung lights on house, ground and three decorated 40-plus-foot trees. MapQuest address as it can be tricky to find.

Edmonds Yacht Club, at Port of Edmonds Marina, 336 Admiral Way, Edmonds. Public welcome to view lighted boats at guest docks, J, K and L, nightly through Jan. 5.

Jeff Layne, 66th Avenue West at 227th Street Southwest, Mountlake Terrace. Two houses with more than 12,000 lights apiece. One has a light show coordinated to music.

John and Sindi Cysewski, 17115 102nd Ave. N.E. (Norway Hill), Bothell. 15,000 red, green and white lights synchronized to outdoor Christmas music. Lining the driveway are 40 small, lighted metal Christmas trees and a large bright star above the rooftop.

Kelly Gaddis, 19815 23rd Drive S.E., Bothell. Wrenwood Neighborhood at 198th Street Southeast and 24th Drive Southeast has 15 houses that go all out.

John Jorna, 12313 N.E. 165th St., Bothell. Binary Christmas has returned for its fourth year of brilliant lights choreographed to upbeat music using more than 250 computer-controlled switches. The display is even larger this year featuring a third house and more than 20,000 lights. 4:30-10 p.m. through Jan. 8.

Jeff and Candice Keener, 16504 112th Place N.E., Bothell. South Bothell's favorite elves continues a decades-old, family tradition with an acre estate containing more than 100,000 lights, 17 reindeer, inflatable structures, retro figurines and a 300-foot circular lighted and decorated driveway with music playing. Off I-405, 6-11 p.m. daily.

David Anderson, 12121 Admiralty Way, Building P, Everett. Santa's workshop and all of his friends. You might even see it snow on your visit.

Susan Sant, 3530 122nd Place S.E., Everett. Tons of lights, displays of Santas, Nativity, star, etc. Pioneer Trails neighborhood is well lit up and has great displays.

Lorne Counter, 20025 Heathers Place S.E., Monroe. 1,000 strands of LED lights, music broadcast on 103.3 synchronized with display, 14-foot lighted tree. Dusk to 9 p.m. weekdays, later on weekends.

Larry and Shelly Johnson, 604 Old Cascades Highway E., Skykomish. "Sky Lights," 1923 house with more than 40,000 LED lights, fiber-optic illuminations, Santa's village, reindeer forest, Nativity scene. Weekends only.

SOUTH

Bob and Nancy Meyer, 13835 146th Place S.E., Renton. Have decorated a 200-foot public walkway that connects the corner of Southeast 139th Place and 146th Avenue Southeast with 146th Place Southeast, partly bordering Maplewood Park. "Big Bertha," a 16-foot candy cane, marks the entrance. Look for figures hiding under the holly hedge, including Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Winnie the Pooh, Snoopy, Taz, Mr. and Mrs. Claus and plenty of snowmen. Free candy canes in Santa's mailbox. Spin Santa's Naughty or Nice wheel. Walk the path to enjoy the lane. Lit 4:30-10 p.m. daily.

Joe Kinne, 12759 185th Way S.E. Renton. More than 37,000 lights, 20 lighted deer, animated 20-foot tree, a North Pole and snow. 5-10 p.m. daily.

James M. Arlint, 17834 109th St. S.E., Renton. Outdoor village with working train, animated Santa, elves, Mrs. Claus, skaters. 5-9 p.m. Fridays-Sundays.

Maxwell Hanna, 35134 56th Ave. S., Auburn. A little bit of something for everyone. Nativity, train, carousel, penguins, angels. Lights flash in tune with festive music.

Michelle Holldorf, 5716 Hazel Ave. S.E., Auburn. This Lakeland Hills "Blue House" has more than 20,000 blue LED lights to honor law enforcement.

Dennis and Tammy Wallick, 28780 Redondo Beach Drive S., Des Moines. Blue LEDs, large ornaments and lights in two front birch trees, full-size Betty Boop in upper window decked out in holiday trim, icicles, large angel on roof peak, trio of full size snowmen on deck, large shooting star.

Rick Steenerson, 1305 S. 232nd St., Des Moines. A herd of deer in the yard, a snowman, holiday trees, 6-foot wreath above the garage doors.

Shaug Family Display, 12257 14th Ave. S., Burien. Many lights strings, lighted turning carousel, Santa in sleigh and hot-air balloon, penguins, reindeer, Disney characters, animated drummers, lighted Santa's workshop with window to see Santa, Santa in a helicopter, Mrs. Claus and elves working on toys and more.

John and Helen Boyd, 18910 Fourth Ave. S., Burien. More than 7,500 lights with reindeer, inflatable Santa displayed.

Dianna Hough, 3526 S. 268th St., Kent. Two 9-foot and one 15-foot white reindeer wood cutouts.

Fred Volkers, 4241 S. 176th St., SeaTac. Display includes handmade large sculptures and more.

Bill and Frances Morton, 30101 Eighth Ave. S., Federal Way. Hundreds of luminaria. On Christmas Eve only, weather permitting.

EAST

Bill and Merrily Hornell, 15320 S.E. 48th Drive, Bellevue, in the Horizon Crest area. 10,000 lights, inflatables, decorated windows. 4:30-10 p.m. through Jan. 6.

Syd Darlington, 1810 160th Ave. N.E., Bellevue. Lots of spiral trees, blankets, several deer, glittering snowflakes, running and static light ropes, and Santa caught climbing up a ladder on the chimney, with his sack of goodies.

Kevin Matheson, 20606 N.E. 85th St., Redmond, Union Hill area. Clear lights on every part of home, color lights on bushes, trees and fences.

Mary Reed, 4216 106th Place N.E., Kirkland. Santa on a train, Santa in a car, Santa on a carousel, lights on house, trees and bushes, Mr. Claus, Mrs. Claus and more complete the winter scene.

Mark Zembruski, 23620 N.E. 183rd St., Woodinville. Woodinville Wonderland with 104,079 lights animated to music. Seven-foot star at the pinnacle of the roof, custom-crafted Peanuts Nativity scene and Santa can be seen working in the window doing his work before Christmas. Two masters of ceremonies (a talking reindeer, Rudy and Elfis, an elf fashioned after Elvis) preside over two 35-minute shows of lights and music (broadcast on 101.9 FM and piped in the yard). Set up as both a walking and drive-by display.

Joseph Charest, 9324 240th Ave. S.E., Issaquah. 85-foot tree, piano on the roof, deer jumping over the road, Santa flying through the air, laser show, synced to 104.7.

Mike and Courtney Bostjancic, 230 S.E. Bush St., Issaquah. 15,000 LED Christmas lights and locally famous leg lamp. Tree-lined street with 6,000 LED lights.

Nutcracker Lane, 190th Avenue Southeast off Southeast 44th Way, Issaquah. Each house on cul-de-sac block has a 6-foot painted nutcracker with red-and-white striped guardhouse. Fence of candy canes held together with white lights connects entire block. In the cul-de-sac is a child-size gingerbread house with decorated trees and gingerbread people; music played outdoors nightly. Each house also has displays of cutouts including Santa and his reindeer, snowmen, carolers, a Nativity scene and more.

The Parkinson Family, 2509 227th Place N.E., Sammamish. 40,000 lights, with lake, waterfall, meadow, animals made of lights, Candy Cane Corner, giant toy soldier. David Parkinson, inspiration behind annual light display passed away Nov. 12. Family invites you to share thoughts and memories at www.flintoffs.com.

The Yurkanin Family, 7115 410th Ave. S.E., Snoqualmie. 5,000 computer-controlled lights timed to music broadcast on 90.1 FM. 5-9 p.m. through Jan. 1.

WEST SOUND

Kyanne, Kevin, Korey and Kolin Hawkins, 9223 N.E. Bluefin Court, Bainbridge Island. Thousands of lights, classic blow molds (Mickey Mouse and Minnie in Santa outfits, Winnie the Pooh, Snoopy, snowmen, Santa Claus and more), animated Santa popping out of a Christmas tree, Charlie Brown helping Snoopy out of the chimney, giant Polar Bear and baby, Towering Snowman, Massive 15-foot Nutcracker; lighted penguins, reindeer, candy canes, flowing LED icicles and light show. 5-10 p.m.