Chicken covers the bill

This Christmas, an illuminated Santa, along with about 25,000 lightbulbs, will be on display at the Balboa Island house Greg Zimmerman has decorated for the past seven years.

The difference this year is that Zimmerman has a one in 12 chance of having his electric bill, which is 10 times higher in December than at any other time of the year, taken care of by a fat jolly guy with a white beard and mustache.

Put Colonel Sanders in a red velvet suit and he could probably pass for Santa Claus. And he’s being just as generous.

In a national contest sponsored by Kentucky Fried Chicken, Zimmerman’s house was selected, along with 11 others, as a finalist in the company’s Festive Fanatics Contest, which will award prizes for America’s “most festively decorated home.”

Top prize for the winner? Their December electric and credit card bill — up to $3,000 — will be paid by the company. They also win a year’s supply of KFC, valued at $1,800. Just by qualifying as a semi-finalist, Zimmerman gets a free month of chicken.

Zimmerman began hanging the lights and decorations the day after Halloween, finishing in time to light it all up Thanksgiving night.

That part is relatively easy, though, considering the entire display is computer generated. But this is only the second year Zimmerman has taken it to that level.

In July, he begins programming the more than 96 separate circuits the computer controls.

There are songs that correspond to different light sequences, and for every minute of music visitors hear, Zimmerman said it takes five hours of programming.

His theme, “Walking in a Wired Wonderland,” also includes snow falling from the roof.

Zimmerman makes the white stuff himself with a liquid chemical concoction of water and glycerin.

He stands in front of the house with a remote control, and when he pushes the button, 50 to 100 times a night, it snows.

KFC received more than 50 entries for the contest, said spokesman Rick Maynard, but the Zimmerman house stood out for the judges because it was one of the few entries that didn’t have a really large yard.

That didn’t matter, Maynard said, as Zimmerman appeared to have decorated the building from top to bottom, using “every square inch of available space.”

The Zimmermans have lived on Balboa Island for 16 years, but raising five kids didn’t leave much time for “extreme” decorating in the early years.

Since the first year he went all out with the decorations, neighbors have been very supportive, and Zimmerman loves having nightly visitors.

“Some islanders with families come back every night,” he said, adding they tell their kids they can’t go to bed until they see the lights on his house.

Zimmerman said his overall strategy when it comes to decorating is to make memories.

Not just for his family, but for the whole community at large.

“I appreciate living here, I appreciate my neighbors. I have a skill and a talent that I’m glad I can contribute.”

Zimmerman believes the display on his house is the best, no question about it.

Getting that electric bill paid would be like extra seasoning on the chicken.

“It sure would help,” Zimmerman said.

HOW TO VOTE

Winners of the KFC Festive Fanatics Contest will be chosen by the public. For more information on the Zimmerman house and to cast your vote for their house, go to www.zimchristmas.com. To see all the entries, go to www.kfc.com. Voting ends Dec. 20; winners will be announced Dec. 21.

SUE THOENSEN may be reached at (714) 966-4627 or at [email protected].