Friendly Work Rivalry Spurs Spectacular Holiday Light Shows in Austin

They say everything is bigger in Texas. And it’s especially true when it comes to spectacular holiday light shows, thanks to a decade-long rivalry between two Austin-based NVIDIA engineers. John Storms and Lee Franzen festoon their respective homes with elaborate decorations played out in thousands of lights — Santa in a sleigh pulled by galloping reindeer, rows of glistening trees, and gigantic snowflakes. And it’s all synchronized to music. For Franzen, a senior program manager, planning lasts throughout the year, beginning just as the lights from the previous year’s show come down in January. He flips the switch on his new show just before Thanksgiving with an opening party that thrills neighbors who come out in force to watch the display begin.