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It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Finney's Christmas Wonderland in Crossett, Ark., a 2 hour and 30 minute drive from Texarkana. This magical Christmas Wonderland designed by Sam Finney was the 2015 winner of "The Great Christmas Light Fight"  on ABC-TV where contestants all across America compete to win $50,000 by showcasing their elaborate light displays.

Sam Finney, a former military man from Ohio was drafted into the U.S. Army straight out of high school and served in the Vietnam War in charge of artillery for a year. After returning home, Finney visited a friend he met while in Vietnam who lived in Souhwest Arkansas. That's where he met his friends sister and they hit it off immediately which led  to them getting married in 1971 and Finney calling Crossett his home. He was hired by Georgia Pacific where he worked for 43 years before retiring in 2014.  Finney has always had a lifelong dream of spreading the joy of the Christmas season not only to family but to everyone in his community. What started out as a small display has turned into huge colorful displays that feature mostly hand crafted decorations created by Sam's imagination. Over the years his decorations have expanded to cover both side of the road surrounding his home. Now people from all across the country make a trip to Crossett just to share this unique experience with their families.

And the best part of Finney's displays is that each year he pays tribute to the men and women who have served in our military by honoring them with a special section dedicated just for them. It's his way of saying "thank you" for the sacrifices they made fighting for our country. Steadfast in his Christian beliefs Finney also has a religious themed scene that represents the true meaning of Christmas.

And if your wondering just how many lights adorn Finney's Christmas Wonderland. Over 1 million lights are used. The lights are made of mini LED's, one hundred floodlights, one hundred LED incandescent, and florescent lights. Some of the features include a drive thru lighted tunnel, color changing trees, animated Nativity scene, 8 ft. Ferris wheel, 16 ft. snow slide, set of shooting stars, snow globes, bubble machine and a train on a a 30 foot oval track. It's guaranteed that this year will be bigger and better than ever before. So move over Clark Griswold, the Finney family is about to show you up.

So gather up the family and take a little trip to Crossett for an evening fun and entertainment to Finney's Christmas Wonderland located at 123 Goshen Road.

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Displays are open Weekdays sunset until 10PM and Weekends sunset until 11PM through the holidays. Admission is FREE but donations are gladly accepted. For more information visit Finney's website or Facebook page.

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