For two and a half hours last week, north Springfield residents Tricia Barnes and Nancy Moore drove around their community judging people. Or, rather, judging their holiday decorations.

“We had no idea this neighborhood was that big,” Moore said.

Barnes and Moore are both officers with the North Springfield Civic Association: membership chair and treasurer, respectively. But on Dec. 15, they toured the neighborhood in search of the top lights.

Going back to the first recorded rankings in the early 1960s, according to NSCA president Ken Balbuena, there has been a holiday lights contest each year in North Springfield. It was a way of not only recognizing the creative, electrical endeavors of residents, but also encouraging others to explore parts of the neighborhood they may not have visited before.

Since 2008, however, one residence on Fremont St. has become something of a heavyweight champion. While others may eclipse the yard for sheer wattage or bulb count, this house boasts a 20-minute display timed to music playing in the yard or available by tuning into 107.9 FM on the radio.

Without many strong contenders for the title, the NSCA board decided to create additional categories to recognize more winners and keep the competition going. Those included Continued Excellence, Must See, Honorable Mention, Traditional Christmas, Best Groupings, Best Tree and Unique Presentation.

That move, while successful, also proved to be much more labor intensive for the judges. And the list of addresses spread out across North Springfield wasn’t user-friendly for a cohesive driving tour either, Moore said.

As a result, the lights competition didn’t happen altogether in 2015.

For 2016, the NSCA board decided to bring the lights judging back but with a few changes. Rather than rank the houses in different categories, they decided to divide the neighborhood into four areas and list several in each that the judges deemed “must see.”

“We thought by putting the list in areas, it would make it easier for folks to drive around and see them,” Moore said.

After making their must-see list, Moore and Barnes posted it on the community’s Facebook page and encouraged residents to make the tour themselves and vote on their favorites.

“I always think it’s a nice thing -- everyone decorates,” Moore said. “People that decorate should get acknowledged in a way, not just first or second.”

Must-see light decorations in North Springfield as chosen by NSCA judges

Area 1 – Woodland Drive and all side streets.

Granberry Way: Many houses

Hansford Court: 7212

Woodland Drive: 7156

Area 2 – East of Heming to Backlick Road to include Leesville Blvd., Ferndale St. and all side streets.

Belfast Place: 5536

Catlett: Dead End side

Freemont: 5406

Garner: 5202

Glen Allen: 5512, 5517, 5520

Gresham: 7312

Jervis: 7316, 7415

Joplin: 5501, 5503, 5511

Leesville: 7104

Area 3 – West of Heming St. to include Ravensworth Road and all side streets up to North Springfield Elementary.

Clive Place: 7614

Dunston: 7622

Elgar: 7500, 7505

Heming: 5203, 5509, also near of corner of Heming & Chatham

Inzer: 7523

Ives Place: 5413

Jervis: 7519, 7521, 7522

Kipling: 5204

Ravensworth: 5538

Area 4 – Areas on other side of the 495 under pass to include Long Pine Dr., Queensberry Blvd., Flag Run Dr. and all side streets.

Boulder: 7603

Heming: 5504, 5507, 5617, 5709, 5724, 5730, 5804

Long Pine: 7412, 7420, 7624

Queensbury: 5620

Tender Court: 5704