WATCH: Surprising this year’s Battle of the Bulbs holiday lights contest winner

SHELLEY — Whose house is the most merry and bright? Forty-one homes in eastern Idaho were nominated for the Battle of the Bulbs contest, and now we know the winner!

EastIdahoNews.com surprised Jay Stoddard in Shelley during a livestream Monday evening with Travis Zmak of Teton Auto Group and other sponsors who helped make the contest happen.

Hundreds of people voted in the competition and Stoddard’s house took top honors. He received $3,000 in gift cards: $1,000 in services and prizes to Outback Landscaping, $1,000 to Strong Shed and $1,000 to Home Depot!

Stoddard’s house at 865 East 1300 North in Shelley has a life-size nativity scene, six mega trees ranging from 10 feet to 24 feet, and a total of 35,000 lights on the property.

The second-place winning house is located at 7983 Silver Spur Loop in Idaho Falls. It features a magical light show sequenced to upbeat music with holiday cheer.

Third place honors go to the home at 5405 East Hacienda Drive in Idaho Falls. The entry says:

“Our son Travis works for quite a few weekends to put up all these lights for me. I (Vicki) have always loved them so he tries to do them every year when he can. Last year, we had a grandson who passed away. This year, he incorporated ‘Niko’ on our fence to honor him, as he always loved helping put the lights up. We love bringing the festivities to the season and hope you enjoy it too.”

Second and third place winners will receive gift cards of lesser amounts from the sponsoring businesses.

See all entries, along with what entrants say makes their lights special, below.

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... Here are the entries ...

3080 Devonwood Drive, Ammon

"We want to put a smile on peoples faces! Happy holidays."

3225 Midway Avenue, Ammon

"It's beautiful, Clark!"

3065 John Adams Pkwy, Ammon

"Our home is decorated completely by hand as a family, with lots of love, time, and patience. We don’t have a big automated light show—just a warm, classic Christmas display that we create together every year. We’d love for you to stop by and enjoy the simple magic of the season with us."

2180 Dove Drive, Ammon

"With classic Christmas lights, we’re certain it’ll bring you pure joy, just as it does for us each time we step outside!"

1041 Packer Dr, Blackfoot

"Spreading holiday cheer however we can. Even one smile makes all our efforts worth it."

1275 Lyn Drive, Blackfoot

"Experience holiday magic with our Christmas light display! We've blended greater than 25,000 lights and audio into a show, crafted with countless hours of dedication. Enjoy the glow! 'It's a beaut, Clark!' (You can even pick the song at https://reidlights.remotefalcon.com/remote-falcon.)"

1411 W Center St, Blackfoot

"This isn’t just lights — it’s pure Christmas joy! Two giant sparkling trees, 50+ glowing characters (Santa, reindeer, snowmen, penguins, toy soldiers & nativity), a life-size sleigh and massive glowing gingerbread house all come alive at night. I do it to watch kids’ faces light up brighter than my display and hear them shout, 'Best house ever!' from the car. Come feel like a kid again! 🎄✨"

4832 Wiltshire St, Chubbuck

"We love decorating for Christmas and add stuff every year. We have a Santa‘s mailbox where people can drop off letters, and Santa will write back a handwritten response."

382 Lavender St, Chubbuck

"Lights on Lavender is our Christmas labor of love. We love Christmas lights and awesome music, and love to share that passion with the community. Please come see the show every night from sunset to 11 p.m. Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/lightsonlavender. Control the light show at https://lightsonlavender.remotefalcon.com/. Watch recordings of songs at https://www.youtube.com/@LightsOnLavender Hope to see you there. Happy Holidays."

4955 Freedom Ave, Chubbuck

"We have worked hard for years coming up with new ideas, and this year is special because our son came up with his own ideas. We have a traditional setup with his twist of adding a waterfall. We love Christmas and all the lights. People should come check out our lights because our house is unique and beautiful. It definitely lights up the sky. You’re also able to see it from Chubbuck Road. We also sit on a corner, so we have a lot of surface to cover, which makes it fun to drive around looking at."

2667 Limerick Circle, Idaho Falls

"Welcome to 2667 Limerick! We call our display 'Gnome for the Holidays.' Our front yard is decorated with lights, gnome inflatables and lots of fun inflatable characters kids love. The side of the house is a little gnome village decorated for Christmas!"

3190 Wexford Circle, Idaho Falls

"We love the time of year and putting up a traditional display to encourage families getting out and spending time with each other viewing lights."

7983 Silver Spur Loop, Idaho Falls

"To experience a magical light show sequenced to upbeat music with holiday cheer, while spending time with your family."

5629 Inverness Ct, Idaho Falls

"Although its not as flashy and have as many real Christmas lights, its something fun and a little different show that kids and adults will enjoy."

1948 Melody Street, Idaho Falls

"We have a wide variety and a great display."

345 Homestead Ln, Idaho Falls

"It's not a flashy or automated display. It is however built with love and heart. A nod to nostalgia. Bringing the Rudolph characters along with the peanuts gang ice skating on a twinkling pond to the 8-foot happy holidays in incandescent lights on the roof reminiscent of the '70s and '80s."

6766 N 5th E, Idaho Falls

"To see the beauty of Christmas and hopefully get everybody doing Christmas all out like it should be."

1836 Malibu Drive, Idaho Falls

"We welcome you to come visit our winter wonderland where the deer are dancing to the music for you to enjoy."

176 Brookside Drive, Idaho Falls

"I feel like with my lights I have tried to make it feel as if you are driving under a tunnel of blue with the help of my neighbor, who allowed me to extend my lights to his tree, so it spans the entire width of the street. This, coupled with the yard lights, creates a classic Christmas light viewing experience without being overwhelming."

4222 E Hatch Hollow Ln, Idaho Falls

"It's a winter wonderland!"

1581 Parkwood Cir, Idaho Falls

"We try to share joy to others thru our lights during the holiday season."

302 Beulahs Ln, Idaho Falls

"We have life-sized sleigh and reindeer on top of the roof eating to greet you. A fun projection showing nightly from 5-9 p.m."

1170 Grassland Dr, Idaho Falls

"Our house awesome. It reflects traditional Christmas with a nativity scene and a star and so on as well as some fun non-traditional Christmas things like Bluey."

3401 Cobblestone Ln, Idaho Falls

"Traditional homemade setup."

5405 E Hacienda Dr, Idaho Falls

"Our son Travis works for quite a few weekends to put up all these lights for me. I (Vicki) have always loved them so he tries to do them every year when he can. Last year, we had a grandson that passed away. This year, he incorporated 'Niko' on our fence to honor him, as he always loved helping put the lights up. We love bringing the festivities to the season and hope you enjoy it too. The picture is the best angle we could get, as there are lights in both front and backyard."

330 N Karey Lane, Idaho Falls

"It’s a holiday light musical show."

4378 E Poppy Lane, Idaho Falls

"Great holiday movie themed decorations!"

3133 E Pinnacle Dr, Idaho Falls

"Sequenced dancing lights to music!"

2761 Sagebrush Ave, Iona

"Come experience the magic of the season at our Christmas light display at 2761 Sagebrush Ave in Iona🎄✨ Enjoy a festive, family-friendly display filled with twinkling lights, holiday cheer, and a joyful atmosphere everyone will enjoy. It’s a wonderful way to slow down, make memories, and soak in the Christmas spirit with loved ones. Drive by and let the lights brighten your holiday season!"

3582 E 600 N, Menan

"We have light show set to music."

5375 Stuart Avenue, Pocatello

"Projecting video on house with Christmas inflatables."

2075 Satterfield Drive, Pocatello

"Lights synchronized to music. Something for everyone. Santa and Mrs. Claus hand out candy canes every weekend in December, 6:30 to 8."

636 Gary St, Pocatello

"We moved in 12 years ago and started doing a bunch of lights and now the whole loop has decided to do the same. We love having the kids come by and hear their reactions to the igloo and getting candy canes. Love this every year."

1731 Syringa Street, Pocatello

"People should see my house because you can come and walk through the lit up archway or sit in Santa’s sleigh and take a picture next to Santa. We just want to spread holiday cheer."

6329 S 2000 W, Rexburg

"Its a beautiful light display. It took me a month."

1802 E 200 N, Rexburg

"Kids love the lighted trees."

4413 Juniper Ave, Rexburg

"Our house brings a classic Christmas feel with bright red and white lights that glow beautifully at night. It’s simple, festive, and full of holiday spirit. Families can enjoy the cozy atmosphere, take great photos, and feel the magic of the season. Come see our lights and experience a timeless Christmas vibe."

232 N 4231 E, Rigby

"Come see our Christmas lights! It’s a true family affair—everyone pitched in to decorate, build trees, and make the magic shine. With 5,000 lights on the roof and 40 handmade trees sparkling with about 600 lights each, the yard is glowing with cheer. Swing by, feel the festive spirit, and enjoy a little holiday magic made with a whole lot of love!"

3963 E 160 N, Rigby

"It is the 5th year of Firth Family Lights. For the past 5 years we have brought magic and awe to all who have passed by our house. We love the Christmas season and especially love sharing our lights with all. Our lights dance and move to Christmas music that you can listen to from the comfort of your car."

865 E 1300 N, Shelley

"There is a life size nativity scene, 6 mega trees ranging from 10 feet to 24 feet with a total of 35,000 lights!"

813 East 1580 North, Shelley

"It’s Christmasy and fun!"