Frequently Asked Questions
Over the years we’ve been asked everything from how many lights are in the display to whether our neighbors think we’re crazy. You’ll find answers to those questions and many more below. Simply check out any question below to learn more about the display, our traditions, how everything works, and what goes on behind the scenes throughout the year.
Why Do You Do All Of This?
People often assume there must be a deep or complicated reason behind a display like this. For some families, it’s rooted in cherished traditions, religious beliefs, or special memories. Our answer is much simpler: we do it because we genuinely enjoy it. For Ryan, Christmas decorating isn’t just something that happens in December. It’s a year-round hobby that combines creativity, technology, problem-solving, and a love of the holiday season. Planning new ideas, building custom decorations, sequencing music, and seeing everything come together is as much a part of the fun as opening night itself.
Of course, one of the best rewards is seeing the reactions from visitors. Over the years, our home has become known as “the Christmas House” in the neighborhood, and it’s incredibly rewarding to watch families create memories together in front of the display. Knowing that something we’ve built can bring a little extra joy to someone’s holiday season makes all the effort worthwhile.
Our family has grown up with the display as well. Our daughters have always enjoyed seeing friends discover where they live, even if they occasionally roll their eyes at Ryan’s year-round Christmas enthusiasm. After all, there’s only so much Christmas music, holiday movies, and decorating shows a family can take in July! Now a new generation is experiencing the magic. Watching our grandson, Jaxen, see the lights and decorations through a child’s eyes reminds us why we started decorating in the first place. Christmas has always been about sharing joy, and that’s exactly what we hope to do each year.
What Is In Your Display?
Our display features more than 150,000 lights, animated songs, and a wide variety of custom-built decorations. Over the years we have created everything from candy cane elements and lighted arches to North Poles, spiral trees, and other unique pieces designed specifically for our display. Building many of these items ourselves allows us to enjoy the hobby throughout the entire year, not just during the Christmas season. The display has evolved continuously since we first moved into our home. What began as a relatively small collection of lights has grown into a large synchronized show featuring computer-controlled animation, themed music nights, custom lighting effects, snow machines, and interactive visits with Santa Claus. Along the way we have added thousands of lights to the house, expanded our song library, restored and rebuilt favorite display pieces, upgraded to LED technology, and introduced new elements to keep the experience fresh for returning visitors. While the display changes from year to year, our goal remains the same: to create a fun, family-friendly Christmas experience that brings joy to everyone who visits. Whether you’re seeing it for the first time or returning for another season, there’s always something new to discover.
Do You Use Animation In Your Display?
Our display is synchronized to music using Light-O-Rama computer control software and a dedicated show computer that runs the entire production. Every song is individually programmed so that the lights, animations, and special effects are carefully timed to the music. What started as a relatively simple setup has grown into a sophisticated system controlling nearly 200 channels of animation throughout the display. As the years passed, additional lighting elements, songs, and custom decorations required more control channels and more complex programming. Today, the technology behind the display allows thousands of lights and numerous animated features to work together as a single coordinated show. While visitors see a festive Christmas display, behind the scenes there are hundreds of hours of planning, sequencing, testing, and maintenance that go into bringing each season to life. It’s a blend of creativity, technology, and a little Christmas magic.
You Music Was On My Radio! How Do You Do That?
The music for our display is broadcast using a low-power FM transmitter, allowing visitors to enjoy the synchronized soundtrack from the comfort of their vehicles. Simply tune your radio to the frequency listed on our signs and you’ll hear the music that accompanies the lights and animations throughout the display. Our station is known as Comet FM, a name that has a special meaning for our family. While Comet is one of Santa’s famous reindeer, the name is also a playful nod to our daughter Hayley. Say it out loud and you’ll get the joke: Hayley’s Comet! Broadcasting the music over FM radio helps create an immersive experience while keeping the neighborhood peaceful and enjoyable for everyone. It’s one of the features that transforms a collection of Christmas lights into a complete holiday show.
What Do Your Neighbors Think?
We’re happy to say that our neighbors have been incredibly supportive over the years. Many have made the display part of their own holiday traditions, bringing children, grandchildren, friends, and out-of-town guests by to enjoy the lights and take photos. We’ve seen countless families pose in front of the display, visit with Santa, and create memories that have become part of their Christmas celebrations. The display has also been recognized within the neighborhood, receiving several decorating awards over the years. While we eventually stepped away from local decorating contests to give other families an opportunity to participate and be recognized, we remain honored by the support and encouragement we’ve received from our community. Being able to share the display with our neighbors is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do, and we’re grateful for the kindness and enthusiasm they continue to show each holiday season.
Where Do You Get Your Ideas From?
Inspiration comes from just about everywhere. Some ideas start as a random thought that pops into Ryan’s head, while others are inspired by Christmas books, movies, decorating magazines, television specials, and displays we encounter throughout the year. One of our favorite traditions is piling into the car with blankets and hot chocolate to drive around and look at Christmas lights. Yes, people still do that! Seeing how other families celebrate the season often sparks new ideas and reminds us why we love decorating in the first place. Over the years, the display has become a blend of many influences mixed with our own creativity. Sometimes the best ideas come from the most unexpected places, and occasionally a simple concept grows into one of our favorite display elements.
What Are You Planning For The Future?
Our goal is simple: keep the display fresh, fun, and enjoyable for both our visitors and ourselves. Each season we look for opportunities to add something new, whether that’s a new display element, additional songs, improvements to our Santa experience, or other surprises that help make each year unique. At the same time, we don’t believe in changing everything just for the sake of change. Many visitors return year after year to see their favorite elements, so we prefer to build upon what already works rather than start over from scratch. The display continues to evolve, but its heart remains the same.
One thing we’ve learned over the years is that a display of this size requires a tremendous amount of time, effort, and energy. In fact, we’ve taken two seasons off entirely simply to recharge and avoid burnout (2016 and 2025(. While we love sharing Christmas with our community, it’s important to remember that this is still a family hobby, and sometimes even Santa’s helpers need a break! As long as we’re enjoying it and visitors continue to smile when they arrive, we’ll keep looking for new ways to spread a little Christmas magic at the Corner.
How Much Does All Of This Stuff Cost?
That’s one question we’re asked all the time, and the honest answer is: we have no idea! Over the years we’ve added lights, decorations, custom-built elements, technology, music, costumes, and countless other items a little at a time. Because the display has grown gradually, we’ve never kept a running total, and at this point we’re not sure we’d want to know the answer. The reality is that the display isn’t something we view as an expense spreadsheet. It’s a hobby, a family tradition, and a way to share Christmas with our community. The smiles, laughter, family photos, and holiday memories are what matter most to us.
Besides, if we ever did figure out the total expense, it might be a little too shocking to print on a website! 🙂
Don’t You Worry About Vandals?
Like anyone who puts a lot of time and effort into a project, we do worry about it from time to time. Fortunately, serious problems have been very rare over the years. Most visitors are respectful, appreciative, and often go out of their way to thank us for putting on the display.
That said, we did have one memorable incident when a group of teenagers decided it would be funny to damage one of our decorations just days before Christmas. Let’s just say the situation didn’t go quite as they had planned, and one of them had a much worse evening than our inflatable snowman did! The experience reminded us that it’s important to take security seriously. Thankfully, incidents like that are the exception rather than the rule.
Today, we use security cameras, motion-activated lighting, and clearly marked boundaries to help protect the display. We also have wonderful neighbors who keep an eye on things and aren’t shy about speaking up if someone wanders where they shouldn’t. The overwhelming majority of our visitors are families who simply want to enjoy the lights, take photos, make memories, and celebrate the season. That’s what makes all the work worthwhile.
And for anyone thinking about damaging Christmas decorations: remember, that’s the kind of thing that can earn you a permanent spot on Santa’s Naughty List!
Don’t You Think It’s Weird To Do Christmas Stuff All Year Long?
Yes it is. By the way, could you email us some details about your hobby so we can make you feel weird/stupid/etc about it? That’d be great- Thanks! 🙂
Don’t see the answer you’re looking for? Feel free to contact us.