Penguin theme leads to 3-peat

Maybe it all started with the movie “The March of the Penguins.”

Or maybe the origins of Mary Raymond’s fascination with the arctic waddlers is a fulfillment of a childhood dream deferred.

Either way, the important thing is she’s having fun and her spectators admiring her annual Christmas display are wowed.

That much is certain now that Carl and Mary Raymond won the top Sweepstakes award in the annual Ring of Lights contest, which kicks off the Newport Beach Boat Parade. Many families who live along the parade route go to town each year decorating their homes as a lively backdrop to the promenading vessels.

The penguin proliferation at their home at 40 Linda Isle is the through-line for the couple’s three-peat.

“The first year when we shared the Sweepstakes award with the Olsons we had Santa in a hammock with palm trees with 250 penguins of all different sizes marching up across the house to try to wake up Santa for Christmas,” Mary Raymond said. “Last year, we won the Sweepstakes by ourselves, and since the theme was ‘Twas the Lights Before Christmas’ we had the penguins carrying lights, climbing up the ladder putting lights on the tree.”

“This year, since it’s the 100-year theme we have a big sign saying, ‘100 years of cheers,’ and all the penguins are cheering.”

So were the judges.

The Raymond house won the Sweepstakes because of its incredible color and detail that draws the eye even from far off, said Ring of Lights judge Duncan Forgey.

“It’s almost like a cartoon,” he said. “It almost sucks you in. There’s so much detail, over 300 penguins. She added a bunch of other figures and Christmas ornaments of that nature this year to the penguins that were so impressive last year…”

“When you’re across the bay, it absolutely sparkles.”

That’s not to say there aren’t other “wonderful” displays, Forgey said.

“Every year we’re not disappointed,” he said. “There are some truly phenomenal houses out there this year.”

Part of what leads to the impressive displays is a healthy spirit of competition, Forgey said.

“There’s a difference between those who decorate their houses and those who compete,” he said.

“I spoke with several of the winners, as I was delivering banners of that nature, and they’re already thinking about next year, and what they can do to get the edge on their friends.”

It’s definitely a time-consuming affair.

Mary Raymond said she gathered her husband and four others about the middle of November to get started on this year’s display. Her co-conspirators include the couple’s boat captain, John Granath, and co-captain, Linton Weiss, and electrician friends Randy Smith and Pete Lefvre.

Mary has four storage units that hold the decorations and each year the plans basically involve how she will recycle them into a new theme. The 2005 documentary on penguins offered the initial inspiration, she said, and it took off from there.

She grew up with basically modest Christmases because the family couldn’t afford much, so now that she can afford it Mary Raymond enjoys cutting loose.

“I love Christmas. I love penguins. I have five grandchildren, and it’s just fun. I’m blessed I can do it,” she said. “When you hear people go by and they’re so excited, well, that’s what it’s all about. When you please people you please yourself.”

She’s noticed that because of the slumping economy that there’s even more enthusiasm for the parade this year as a diversion from all the bad news.

“It’s amazing. More people are staying in town for the holidays and are looking for things to do for free,” she said. “We’re so fortunate to be in Newport and have these things that we can enjoy.”

MICHAEL ALEXANDER may be reached at (714) 966-4618 or at michael.alexander@latimes.com.