HARRISON, Ohio —

Every year, Mike Wilson decks out his home in Harrison, Ohio, for the Christmas season.

But things on Abigail Court in the Parks of WhiteWater neighborhood look a bit different in 2021, as the University of Cincinnati Bearcats prepare for their biggest game in program history against Alabama in the Cotton Bowl.

What is usually an array of Christmas colors is now a sea of red and black, as the Wilsons cheer on the Bearcats from afar.

For the Wilsons, the light displays are a labor of love.

"Sometimes I get frustrated with the amount of time it takes leading up to Thanksgiving when I'm trying to get everything done and he's working on the lights forever," Sarah Wilson said of her husband. "But it makes it all worth it in the end."

Sarah Wilson said he's slightly obsessed. But this year, he scored a touchdown, and he's the talk of Bearcat Nation.

"This year, they made history," said Mike Wilson, who describes himself as one of Cincinnati's biggest fans. "They're actually in the College Football Playoff — the first time ever Group of Five team — so why not celebrate as much as we can?"

Like so many in Cincinnati, Mike Wilson has waited for this moment his whole life.

"Finally, something is going right for Cincinnati fans. We're there. I don't want to say we made it because we expect more, but man we're there," he said.

Mike Wilson said he decided to add a little Bearcat flair to the annual light show in 2021. His wife — who normally cheers for that other team — didn't know what to expect.

"When he first told me, I kind of blew it off a little bit," Sarah Wilson said. "But then once he posted it and I saw it I was like, 'OK, that's actually really cool.'"

When asked if his neighbors think the display is just slightly obnoxious, Mike Wilson laughed.

"Well that wouldn't be me if I wasn't," he said.

Now, his entire street is filled with Bearcat believers. The only thing they need now is a little red and black magic in Dallas.

"I think there's a chance. I don't see why they can't shock the world and beat 'em," he said.

After 24 days in the hospital and 17 days in the ICU, Mark Valentine is back home with his family recovering after falling off a ladder while decorating for the city's annual light display.Mark said if it weren’t for his neighbor across the street, he may not be here today. "Thankfully, he saved my life, but in the same sense, if I would have taken 30 seconds before climbing the ladder and said, 'hey BJ, will you come spot me while I climb this ladder,' I wouldn’t have spent 24 days in the hospital," Mark Valentine said.For the past eight years, the Valentines have put on the Bentonville Heart Lites display, inspired after a family trip to Walt Disney World. "We love seeing the kids dancing and singing through the car roofs, and we know from the letters we get that we are touching people who may not have any Christmas," Valentine said. While Valentine was in the hospital, neighbors and people across the region helped finish the light display. "We have been touched by a lot of people through this, I would never want to repeat it, but it definitely opened our eyes how much our display touches other people," Valentine said.Watch the full story in the video player above.

Tis’ the season to light up the night.

In a downtown Denver high-rise apartment building, people are letting their Christmas spirit shine by decorating their balconies.

“At least we can light it up and make people smile,” said resident Kim Dozier.

Out West in Southern California, an Orange County neighborhood is celebrating the holidays by covering their houses and stringing lights across their street.

“We see kids and families coming out here every night,” said homeowner Bruce Barfell.

Across the country in New Jersey, the holiday spirit glows as people cover their houses with festive décor.

And in San Antonio, Texas, there’s a battle to see who’s the biggest and brightest.

These are some of the competitive Christmas lighting celebrations happening during this holiday season.

“It’s a light beaming from all of us,” Dozier said of her building’s competition, adding it’s bringing some much-needed light to what’s been a dark 2020 for some.

“It’s about showing the world we’re still alive,” she said. “Just because we have this insane time to stay at home and we’re going to have fun no matter what.”

From the Mile High City to the California coast, spreading holiday cheer has been a bit more challenging during the COVID-19 crisis.

“This year, unlike other years, it’s harder to kind of fill that Christmas spirit,” said Matt Eyre of Laguna Niguel.

He and neighbor Barfell are looking to help people temporarily escape the pandemic through dazzling displays of lights.

Though Barfell is looking to capture his neighborhood’s Christmas lighting competition for the tenth year in a row, he says whether win or lose, naughty or nice, it’s good to see little holiday magic.

“We just do it for the enjoyment we get and also for what, you know, what people tell us when we’re outside,” Barfell said. “How much they appreciate this.”

Spreading Christmas cheer through some friendly competition.

“Competitive Christmas e lights is just another way to shine the love around everywhere,” Dozier said. “We’ve been held down for so many reasons for so long. So, Christmas, just lets you know just let it shine.”