“Deck the Halls” isn’t just a Christmas song for Bryson Walker. The Hoquiam man takes his holiday tradition seriously and his neighbors think he should get some credit for it.

Daniel McPherson, who lives right near Walker, recently called The Daily World to make sure Walker’s efforts got attention. On first glance, from more than a block away, it’s clear which one is Walker’s — 103 West Eklund Ave., in Hoquiam — because at night, the yard and the roof make for the brightest spot near Emerson Elementary School.

“He does all this work himself,” McPherson said. “It’s pretty impressive. People are always slowing down and looking at it. I think it would kind of be a neat surprise to see it in the paper.”

The 19-year-old Walker has helped his family decorate their home for years. And then when Walker turned 15, he took over the project. He still gets help from his stepdad. And this year, his girlfriend Cassie helped.

The home’s front yard is full of the usual Christmas celebrities: Santa Claus, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, puppy dogs and penguins. And then the roof is covered with about 3,000 lights. It’s quite the sight and worth it to dash through the snow, or rain, to get a glimpse of Walker’s work.

Walker spoke about how the yearly endeavor came to be.

“My parents have always been doing this since before I was even born,” Walker said. “My dad and my mom used to do it. My dad used to do it here at this exact house over 20 years ago. They used to be in the paper a lot too, when they did it. We’ve just always had a lot of decorations.”

Walker said on the roof alone there’s “easily around 3,000 lights.” He said there are about 1,000 lights on the bushes and how there are somewhere between 40 to 50 pieces strewn throughout the home’s yard. Walker then spoke about his favorite ornament, which represents one of his family members. It’s a Dachshund dog with wings.

“My main one is that angel, because it represents my dog Sara, who passed in 2017,” Walker said. “It’s the only bad part about having dogs you know, because they don’t live forever. Sara was my dog since I was, shoot, 2, or 4 … then she passed in 2017.”

Walker said another one of his favorite decorations is a family of deer that stands in front of the Adams Street portion of the family’s yard.

When Walker found out McPherson was the person who brought up Walker’s house as one to go check out, he shared his feelings about his neighbor.

“He’s a good neighbor,” Walker said. “He’s a great neighbor. I love that man.”

To put up such an eye-popping display takes time. Walker broke down what he needs to do each season to get it just right.

“It takes us roughly about two weeks,” Walker said. “I get off work and I come here. And then I’m working on this from like 5 to like 9 o’clock at night. So on the days I get off school at 12 (p.m.) from college, I’m here from 12 to like 8 (p.m.)”

And then there’s fighting with the trees and bushes to get the lighting all good to go.

“I had to come here and I had to fix this and I lost two net lights in the process,” Walker said. “And it ain’t cheap because you expect the lights to last longer, but some lights only last like a year. It’s kind of sad how things don’t last very long like they used to.”

Several of the decorations have lasted longer and he’s glad to see them survive the years of rain, snow and wind.

Walker’s happy that so many people like the finished product. He said his house gets mentions on Facebook.

“People post on Facebook that it’s beautiful and they love it,” Walker said. “It makes some people’s day sometimes. It gets you in the spirit.”

Walker said his favorite element during the holidays is the spirit of the season. He loves to give and he loves how Christmastime puts him in a great mood.

Some of the highlights in Walker’s yard are the displays that move. Walker listed Santa and reindeer clinking mugs of hot cocoa, the Santa display with the message “Ho Ho Ho” hovering above him and Frosty the Snowman juggling snowballs.

Another couple highlights of Walker’s winter wonderland are the penguins having a blast as they come down a slide, and the Santa with a calendar showing the days left before Christmas.

Walker shared some advice for people looking to deck their own homes as he and his family does for theirs.

“Start off with a lot of net lights, because that’s what makes everything bright” Walker said. “Just start slow, you know. Add stuff here and there, good things you like, and slowly add on until you get to a certain point. It might take you a few years, but you’ll get there eventually. Six years ago we had barely anything here and then we just added on each year and then we got (to this point).”

Walker wanted to thank his neighbors for coming by, as well as McPherson.

“To the cars passing by, I just want to say ‘thank you very much,’” Walker said. “Every time I see that, it really makes what I do worth it because you get to see everyone out. And then Daniel, he’s a great neighbor. He helps me with a lot of things and I help him with a lot of things. And I hang out with him. He’s a great guy.”

And Walker does a lot more outside of sharing his love of the Christmas season with his neighbors, according to McPherson, who’s also impressed that Walker works so hard at his age.

“This is a kid,” McPherson said. “He really gets into the holidays. This kid, when I moved here, he was 16. He worked a job at Jack in the Box and played on the basketball team.”

McPherson has had Walker watch his house, watch his dog and help in other ways. He’s grateful to have Walker as his friend and neighbor

“He’ll help me pick stuff up at the store,” McPherson said. “He’s driven me to the hospital. … He’s a really good kid. This kid is impressive and I think he deserves recognition.”

In addition to seeing all the impressive Christmas displays like Walker’s throughout Grays Harbor, consider taking some time out to attend one or several of the live music shows and other happenings this weekend:

Thursday, Dec. 14

6 to 8 p.m. — Ladies Night Out Holiday Style — ShuJack’s Bar and Grill — 326 W. Main St., in Elma

Friday, Dec. 15

6 to 10 p.m. — Speedball Devils, Black Shepherd, The Bad and the Ugly, A Lien Nation, Hollow Hound, Ty Wulf, Colin Gage, John Prentice III — Messy Jessy’s Bar and Grill — 212 S. I St., in Aberdeen

6 p.m. — Black Hat Karaoke and Ugly Sweater Contest — Tuggs and Chuggs — 13443 W. Cloquallum Rd., in Elma

8 to 11 p.m. — Sean Curkendall — Gepetto’s Italian Restaurant and Sports Bar — 26 E. Pioneer Ave., in Montesano

Saturday, Dec. 16

1 to 4 p.m. — 22nd Annual Don and Pat Scott’s Christmas for Kids — Ocean Shores Convention Center — 120 W. Chance a La Mer NW, in Ocean Shores

7 p.m. — Christmas Music with Ken Albert and Christine Hill — McCleary Museum and Event Center — 426 S. 3rd St., in McCleary

8 p.m. — Electric Eye — Ashley’s Pub Haus, 710 J St., in Hoquiam

Sunday, Dec. 17

2 p.m. — The Bad and the Ugly, John Prentice III — Ashley’s Pub Haus

5 p.m. — Employee Holiday Party with Customer Appreciation — Messy Jessy’s Bar and Grill

Contact Reporter Matthew N. Wells at matthew.wells@thedailyworld.com.

Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World Bryson Walker’s illuminated penguins enjoy a cold winter’s night in Hoquiam.

Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World Put Bryson Walker on Santa’s nice list. Every year, just for the fun of it, Walker assembles an expansive Christmas light and decorative display at his family’s home in Hoquiam — 103 W. Eklund Ave. Clearly, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Santa Claus approve as they clink their mugs full of hot cocoa.

Matthew N. Wells / The Daily World Not only have Bryson Walker’s neighbors recognized what a gem his Christmas display is, the city of Hoquiam has noticed as well. Brian Shay, Hoquiam’s city administrator, said the display is “incredible.” Shay said he’ll be letting Hoquiam Mayor Ben Winkelman know to check out Walker’s display for the mayor’s Yard of the Month award.