Mr Symonds said they still could not believe they won the competition last year and he urged others to get involved.
"It doesn't matter how many lights you put up. And it's good if you can get neighbours to get involved - a group of houses in the same street with Christmas lights would be an attraction anywhere."
The Symonds started getting their display ready this week but said they were probably a couple of weeks behind schedule. The biggest job involved checking all the lights were in working order.
"We've got a couple of new features for this year. We were in Hastings at New Year and saw some lights so the bank balance took a bit of a dip."
Mr Symonds said they would be switching their lights on in the first week of December.
Their display last year used about 20,000 lights, mainly low wattage bulbs or LED lights. Keeping to those types of lights meant their power bill that month usually went up by about $40 to $50.
"But it's not the cost. We gets lots of families come around and the kids love them - that's what;'s important."
Cleveland Funeral Home in Wanganui has come on board as the new sponsor and with the Chronicle and three other sponsors backing the promotion, it is set to be the best yet, with almost $4000 in prizes.
It is open to all residents within the Wanganui Chronicle circulation area: that's the Wanganui city and district; Rangitikei district; Ruapehu; Waimarino and South Taranaki. Everyone who enters will get a goodie bag, as well as brightening up the season.
The competition will be run in four categories, with Cleveland Funeral Home giving $500 for the best Christmas lights and, to help with those increased power bills, $100 a month for a year paid into the electricity account. That's a total of $1200 to the winner's energy provider.
Second place wins a $300 Mitre 10 Mega voucher, with a $100 voucher for third. The winner in the business category gets a $600 package from the Chronicle and More FM, with a $400 package for the runner-up.
The people's choice picks up a $200 Pak'n Save voucher, with a $100 voucher for the runner-up, and it's a $200 LJ Hooker gift basket for the best new entrant, with a $100 gift basket for second.
Entry is free, but an entry form must be in to the Chronicle by Thursday, November 27.
The Christmas lights map will be published in the Chronicle, with judging on December 11 and prizegiving at Stellar on December 13.