Thought I'd share videos of our Christmas Lighting Display if anyone is interested.

Background behind this project: My son Jon, currently 21 years old, began this project in 2008 when he was only 18 years old. In 2008, Jon came up with the idea to decorate our house after seeing the Holdman 2007 Christmas videos. Jon worked on this project for a little over 3 weeks. He identified and ordered all the parts, circuits, etc. He built more than 16 circuit boards, built the controller boxes, drew and built a 6' x 4' star with 177 lights, ran over 1000' of CAT5 wiring outside, hooked up the many extension cords and programmed the light sequence to the music.

In 2009, he built three additional controller boards, added five 7.5' trees and a 15' mega tree. One of the controller boards allows him to fade the lights on and off, a second is controlling the five additional trees and the third controls the mega tree. In addition, he built a radio transmitter which allows visitors to tune their car radio to 90.5FM so they won't need to roll down their car window to hear the music (he is only broadcasting a block radius so he doesn't interfere with others already using this station). There are currently 6 songs in his display (Music Box Dancer, Amazing Grace, Let It Rock, On This Very Christmas Night, Fireflies, Away In A Manger). We hope to add more songs this year for his 2011 display.
Here are the links to our light shows, Part I http://vimeo.com/8664168 and Part II http://vimeo.com/8827047.

I also developed a website www.ChristmasInOrland.com to showcase his work. Enjoy!

 

Thanks for posting. Son did a great job. Outstanding, merry xmas!

 

Absolutely amazing electrical work !
What a very cool display.
I think I have seen your house profiled on the local news in the past years.

Merry Christmas and great job !!!'
Thanks for sharing

 

Annette,
Are you gonna have this spectacular Christmas light display outside your house again this year ?
We might like to come by and see it !!

 

Hi Gary,
Yes, we are in the process of setting it up and hope to have it running by this weekend. Had to replace a lot of bulbs, so that has delayed us a bit... I'll let you know once it's running. It would be great if you can make it out to see it as it's much better in person....
Annette

 

Maybe I can get some other locals here together to join me.
Maybe even a dinner together somewhere near your house in Orland Park

 

My parents for 40 yrs were doing a huge Christmas display. They had 4 acres of lights over 80000 bulbs. WE are talking light bulbs not leds. People came from all around to see them, had traffic backed up for miles on our old country road. As a kid, I hated them. I couldn't even get home some nights to get into my driveway. There were so many lights, you couldn't sleep, it was like day light. Now that I am old, I would love to see them again...nice work. If we could have done that to music....what a dispay it would have been. Dad and Mom dressed up as Mr. and Mrs. Claus music playing and all. Churches would bring their choir out to sing on the Eve...I just didn't appreciate growing up....

 

Its up and running for Christmas 2012
Who wants to join me in a drive by sometime this month ??
Orland Park, Illinois

www.ChristmasInOrland.com

 

Yes, it is finally up and running (as long as it's not raining). The show runs nightly from 5:30 until 10:30 Mon - Thurs & 5:30 until 11:30 Fri-Sun. There are currently seven songs programmed & they just keep looping during the above times. So stop by & enjoy our Christmas Spirit... Be sure to tune your car radio to 90.5 FM while your in front of the house to hear the music in the comfort of your car. We normally keep it running until the second week in January. Just let me know when you'll be heading out!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

 

We took a drive out to Annette's house tonight to see the Christmas light show
Very impressive show timed to music on the FM dial
Then we stopped in and visited for a short time and met her son's one of which is the mastermind behind this highly technical light show.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

 

I love these show sets! Recently there was a news item about competitor neighbors on this street, the guy on the left just didn't get into it this year and put up a light set saying "DITTO" with an arrow beneath it pointing to the neighbors house. FUNNY!

Merry Christmas to all, and a SAFE and Happy New Years!