Volunteers lend hand to Knob Hill Christmas decorator

SAN MARCOS, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) -- The lights spark in fits in starts as San Marcos’s Mr. Christmas rummages around flipping breakers like Chevy Chase in A Christmas Vacation. The wonder created by the illuminating architect inspired nearly 80 years ago.

“I come from a very poor family. Our Christmas was to look at Christmas lights and I told my mom, someday I was going to do this, and here I am,” said Bill Gilfillen, a retired Navy Master Chief and long-time San Marcos resident.

With 38 years of marveling neighbors, his Christmas decorations, the thousands of lights and ornamentals displayed, have gone beyond pretty decorations solidifying a place in San Marcos lore.

“I had a lady go into labor down here one year,” Gilfillen said.

The nightlight nostalgia sweeps up kids and adults alike.

“He got down on his knees and proposed to her and she said yes. There must have been hundreds of people out here and they all started clapping,” Gilfillen said.

With the lights on, dozens of neighbors show up seemingly out of nowhere, enjoying the cool evening. The Knob Hill community didn’t get this show last year because of a back surgery forcing Gilfillen, now 86, to recover. This year too was looking bleak until a neighbor noticed Gilfillen working again, alone moving things too heavy, but at the same time too important to just let go.

"Made a notice on Facebook that said I might need help decorating this year, and he had over 300 people contacting to see if they could help,” Gilfillen said.

Five trusted friends were selected, and Gilfillen still runs the show, but the lights are on and the neighborhood is righted once again.

“It’s not just for the little folks it's for older folks too,” Gilfillen said.