At the corner of Taylor and Crescent Harbor roads, you’ll find Mr. Christmas.

You’ll know his house, and the house of his good friend Tom Carston, by the five-acre Christmas display that runs Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day.

“We pretty much have it covered,” said former Oak Harbor Public Works manager Jim Croft. “What used to take a couple of days now takes a couple of weeks.”

Croft also plays Santa Clause at the Home Depot Christmas village each year.

“I’m Mr. Christmas,” Croft said. “Christmas is my time.”

The annual tradition started in 1978 when Croft put some lights up on his garage. His collection grew, and when Carston moved in next door in 1984, he joined in.

“I’ve always had lights,” said Carston, who retired from the Navy as a lieutenant commander after 30 years of service. “I do it for the people, for the community, for the kids.”

Croft, who served four years in the Navy, has lost count of how many outdoor Christmas decorations he owns, but Carston said he recently tallied his collection at 115 plastic figures, 16 spiral trees, 21 handmade trees, 21 miscellaneous items and 2,995 feet of cord — more than half a mile.

Croft said he has at least that much.

“You can pretty much double that, and it would be about right,” Carston said.

The collection is a combination of items donated to them and ones they’ve purchased or fashioned themselves.

They purchased a lot of the items left behind after the 2006 death of Fuzzy Rodgers, a legend in Oak Harbor known for his traffic-stopping display on Sixth Avenue.

“We just buy stuff and put it up,” Croft said.

“Every year we run out electricity,” Carston said.

Among their Christmas decor are several illuminated Santas, Nativity scenes, and cartoon characters like Mickey Mouse, SpongeBob SquarePants and the Tasmanian Devil.

Croft said people often offer him money to help support the display, but he says he refuses.

“I don’t care what it costs,” Croft said. “It’s not about that.”

The two friends said that people are always welcome to come up their driveway and wander around to enjoy the lights.

In recent weeks, a girls basketball team stopped by and a bus from Regency on Whidbey Retirement and Assisted Living comes by every year.

“Just turn between the two Christmas trees on Crescent Harbor Road,” Carston said. “They’re more than welcome.”

What’s nice, they said, is when people drop Christmas cards and notes at their homes, thanking them for the extra holiday cheer.

The lights turn on each evening at around 5 p.m. and shut off after 11 p.m. each night.