FAQ's

FAQ's

(Frequently Asked Questions)

What does Christmas mean to you?

Christmas has always been a time of reflection and happiness in our family. We enjoy bringing joy and happiness to others during this season. Happy Birthday Jesus.

Why do you do all of this every year?

To see people smile and create family memories.

Do you make a profit from the donations?

Nope - it's for charity.

How do you make the lights come alive?

Light-O-Rama light controllers and software are used for our show. The entire show is controlled by a computer that has been programmed to make the lights turn off, on, and fade at certain times...all set to music. It takes approximately 8 hours per minute of music to program all the different light channels. Programming is supposed to start in the summer and be finished by the fall - yeah right - programming never ends.

How many "channels" do you use?

This question refers to the number of individual computerized outputs available to make the lights come alive. Our show changes each and every year so the number of channels change as well. We have 400 available channels for our display.

FAQ's

(Frequently Asked Questions)

How long does it take to set everything up?

The Mega Tree takes approximately 8 - 10 hours by itself to set up. The rest of the display is constructed over several weekends by my wife and me. We begin the set-up process immediately after Halloween. Once everything is set up, testing and debugging the computer programming begins - and of course...replacing all of the broken or dead bulbs.

How many people does it take to set up the display?

2 - Yes, just two...my wife and me. I do all of the programming for the show and she plugs everything in. I take care of everything that requires a ladder - or a lift - and it is a joint effort on setting everything up on the ground.

How much did all of this cost?

More than you think, but that doesn't matter - the reward of smiling faces makes it all worth it. EVERY PENNY!

How much is your electric bill for the month?

Well, we are doing our part to go GREEN so we have begun the switch to LED lighting which is 1/10 the cost of regular incandescent lighting. That being said, JCP&L will not be going out of business anytime soon. Ha ha.

How many lights do you have in your display?

Approximately 100,000 for the 2010 show.