NORFOLK, Va. — Are you confident that you have the brightest holiday display in the region? Or do you have a neighbor with decorations that bring you joy? Keep an eye out for one man who's taking inventory of this year's displays.
Local real estate agent Sam Sansalone is still on a mission to find the best holiday lights in town this season.
He typically drives across the entire region, including stops in cities like Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Suffolk, in search of the greatest home light displays.
Now, he has help from the community in his search. Thanks to his interactive map, people can help compile data on their own light-filled neighborhoods.
His site uses Google Maps to identify the addresses of the best spots with drop pins, so people can enjoy the holiday spirit without having to wander far; that is, unless they want to.
Each pin on his map is color-coded. If you see a blue pin, that means the lights are "very nice" and returning this year. Green pins mean the house is a "must-see." Yellow pins even mean there are minions from the movie "Despicable Me!" Orange pins are submitted by the community.
Red pins mean the home hasn't confirmed decorations for this year.
The Wainwright real estate agent said the project gives him something to work on that’s not ingrained in his job.
“I love to give and I wanted to find things that hadn’t been done before that people could actually use,” Sansalone said.
Sansalone said he hopes the map will lighten up community spirits by encouraging a glowing holiday drive.
If you email him, he’ll add locations you think have a drive-worthy holiday light display.