HUDSON -- They're putting out "only" 110,000 lights this year. Consider it quality over quantity.

Hudson residents Marc Mousseau and his father-in-law Paul Roy, who have turned their annual Christmas lighting disaplay outside their 75 Pelham Road home into one of the more popular holiday lighting spectacles in New England, chose to go with a special "Merry Hudson Christmas Circus" theme this year.

Beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day and continuing through Dec. 25, Mousseau and Roy said passing -- and stopping -- motorists will be treated to the sight of numerous circus-themed additions to the annual display, including a lighted Ferris wheel, roller coaster, hot-air balloon, "cages" holding a tiger, lion, bears and fire-breathing dragon, dolphins jumping through a fiery ring, and penguins walking a tightrope. Also prominently displayed will be an elf who appears to be shooting presents from a "cannon" across the yard into Santa's gift sack.

"This year we weren't going for the ultimate number (of lights)," said Roy. "We dropped back to 110,000 lights because we were really trying to stay within the circus theme."
Again Mousseau plans to synchronize the spiraling flashing lights on the 30-foot Christmas tree next to the garage with synchronized music played by a computer.
Spectators might also notice a donation box that will be set up in the driveway for contributions to aid Matty Dubuc, a Hudson youngster who's fighting a rare form of cancer.

As of last weekend, five days out from "Lights On," the extended forecast called for decent weather on Thanksgiving Day. That was welcome news to Mousseau, who points out that dry conditions or snow are always preferable to rain for the purposes of maintaining the electrical extravaganza.

"If it rains, it's impossible to keep everything lit," Mousseau said.
For more information about Marc Mousseau and Paul Roy's annual Christmas lighting display, visit www.hudsonchristmas.com.