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Family's Christmas lights operated by strangers

Posted at 8:35 PM, Dec 22, 2015
and last updated 2015-12-22 23:35:38-05

The lights continually go on and off at Ken and Rebecca-Ellen Woods’ home in Fairbanks, Alaska. The Woods family allows Internet users to decide what lights go on and off.

This is the sixth year the Woods have relinquished control of their Christmas lights to strangers. The annual tradition has become a hit online as hundreds of users were controlling the family’s display Tuesday afternoon.

The family’s display can be viewed and controlled at kenandrebeccaellen.com. There are a dozen light options on their page. You can see a live webcam view of their home while flipping the lights on or off.

The lights are available to be viewed 24 hours a day until after Christmas. Even in the early afternoon, the lights can easily be viewed due to Fairbanks' low sun angle in December.

On the Woods’ website, the family said that they are accepting donations to help counter the costs for the website and electric. The couple said that the family is $220 away from covering the entire expense of the lights.

Justin Boggs is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @jjboggs.