I’ll try to add everything, but if I overlook something or you have a question, please reach out using the contact form.

How did it start?

In 2022 our old store-bought icicles had reached the end of their life and I was feeling adventurous. I bought 2,500 pixels to start things off which were enough for the door and window outlines. I rapidly added the icicles and spiral trees the same year. In January of 2023 I expanded the display by 10,000 pixels and added music. I built the new props (column matrixes, singing faces, triple arches, & tune-to signs) over the course of the year, all of which are now in the display. Due to the quality issues with the traditional pixels, in October of 2023 I placed an order for 25,000 of the new EVO pixel designed specifically for this hobby which arrived in May of 2024. They are used in the recent additions of the mega tree, mini trees and anything else that would need a repair or replacement going forward.

How long does it take?

It takes about a week to setup, test and troubleshoot. Since everything is made from scratch, there is a lot of trial and error to figure out the best way to mount, hold, or display things.

I bet your power bill is huge!

It uses almost nothing. My power bill only changes by maybe $10 between December when the lights are on to January where there are no lights.

The lights are highly efficient LED, especially the new EVO pixels that only draw 8mA each. The display overall runs at 10% brightness. If I cranked it up to 20% you would have to squint to view it, anything brighter would be a waste of electricity as it would be too bright to watch or it would pop a circuit breaker.

The Props

There are a lot of props that could be used in a lighting display. You could literally create anything. Here is a list of what is in our display

• The House Outlines:
  • Eves (gutters) – part of the Icicles
  • Verticals – 2023
    • 36 count Diamond Pixel Balls from Mattos Designs
  • Window outlines x3 – 2022 – Fully Replaced in 2024
    • 324 EVO pixels each (old ones were 134)
    • 60 pixels high x 72 pixels wide
    • Now with a center string to create 2 window boxes
    • Using the old PVC as a backer to the new coro top & bottom
    • White mega tree strips for sides and center
  • Door – 2022 – Fully Replaced in 2024
    • 210 EVO pixels (was 101)
    • 84 H x 42 W
    • Using the old PVC as a backer to the new coro top
    • White mega tree strips for sides
  • Garage Door – 2022 – Fully Replaced in 2024
    • 362 EVO pixels (was 180)
    • 84 H x 194 W
    • Using the old PVC as a backer to the new coro top
    • White mega tree strips for sides
• Icicles – 2022
  • Upper Left block is 300 pixels
  • Upper Right block is 300 pixels
  • Lower Left block is 370 pixels
  • Lower Right block is 340 pixels
  • White coro frame from Gilbert Engineering
  • Drop pattern of 1,8,1
• Spiral Trees x6 – 2022 – Fully replaced in 2024
  • 100 EVO pixels each
  • 36″ EMT center pole
  • 10″ EMT legs x4
  • 3D printed top, support arm & bottom hub from Inspire Light Shows
  • White coro sprial from Gilbert Engineering
• Hattitude Quartet x3 – 2023
  • I love these because they double as a spinner and singing faces
  • 697 pixels each
  • Coro from Gilbert Engineering
  • 3D parts from Inspire Light Shows
  • EMT conduit back bracing on custom wood frames
• Triple Arches x4 – 2023
  • 300 pixels each
  • 3 rows of 100
  • Black coro from Gilbert Engineering
  • Single bent EMT conduit brace
  • 6′ wide
• Tune-to Sign x2 – 2023
  • 300 pixels each
  • 12 H x 25 W matrix
  • PVC frame
  • Custom using black mega tree strips
• Column Matrix x3 – 2023
  • 1,000 pixels each
  • 100 H x 10 W matrix
  • PVC frame
  • White HPDE mesh from Gilbert Engineering
• Pixel Poles x3 – 2023
  • 150 pixels each
  • 25 H x 6 W
  • Custom using black mega tree strips
  • 3D printed top & bottom caps
  • EMT conduit 4′ tall
• Flood Lights x10 – 2024
  • From Mattos Designs
  • 10 Watts each
  • RGBW using WS2811
  • CE, RoHs and FCC Certified
• Mini Trees x8 – 2024
  • 150 EVO pixels
  • 15 H x 10 W
  • Black HDPE from Gilbert Engineering
  • EMT frame with 3D printed parts
• Mini Tree Topper – GE Spider Mini – 2024
  • 56 EVO Pixels
  • 3D printed mount (generic)
  • Black coro from Gilbert Engineering
• Mini Tree Topper – Mini Star – 2024
  • 70 EVO Pixels
  • 2 layers
  • 3D printed mount from Inspire Light Shows
• Snowflake / Bats x12 – 2024
  • 189 EVO Pixels
  • White coro from Gilbert Engineering
• Nativity Scene – 2024
  • 262 EVO Pixels
  • White coro from Gilbert Engineering
  • EMT braces
• Mega Tree – 2024
  • 6,400 EVO Pixels
  • 32 Strings
  • 17′ Tall & 8′ wide at bottom
  • Mattos Designs Sasquatch™ Modular MegaTree™
• Mega Tree Star – 2024
  • 370 EVO Pixels
  • 9 Layers
  • Black Coro from Gilbert Engineering
• Yard Outline – 2024
  • Mega Tree strips
  • Right front 168 EVO Pixels
  • Left front 85 EVO Pixels
  • Driveway sides 140 EVO Pixels x2
• Door Wreath – GE BOAW – 2024
  • 448 EVO Pixels
  • 7 layers of 64
  • 31″ tall
  • Generic 3D printed mounts
  • Printed “Impression” coro from Gilbert Engineering
  • BOAW stands for Baby Of All Wreaths
• Peach Tree – 2024
  • 900 EVO Pixels
  • Wrapped around the trunk and 6 branches
• Showstopper Mini Trees x5 – 2025
  • A three tier tree 55″ tall x 22.5″ wide from ELF Designs
  • Includes a 50 count star on top
  • total of 400 EVO pixels each tree
• Garage Matrix – 2025
  • Optoma GT1090HDR short throw laser projector
  • 4,200 lumens
  • Run from a Pi5 as a virtual matrix 126 high x 224 wide
  • While I would love to count the 28,224 virtual pixels in the matrix, it only counts as 1 light source for the official pixel count.
• Pixel Forest – Future

Vendors

The display would not be possible without amazing vendors both small and large. This is a list of the ones that I frequent:

• Pixels
  • I buy my pixels exclusively from Mattos Designs. Their quality and warranty coverage can’t be beat. I’ve received 20,000 of their new EVO Pixels. You can get 10% off your first purchase with Mattos Designs if you use the following link: https://loox.io/z/NLCWbN7QF
• Wire, Enclosures, & parts
  • Wired Watts is my go-to for any and all bits, bobbles and parts. Great prices and in-stock parts ship FAST.
  • I’ve also used Wally’s Lights occasionally for specialty items.
• Corrugated Plastic (Coro) Props
  • The vast majority of my coro props are from Gilbert Engineering USA. This includes the icicles, triple arches, column matrixes, bat/flakes, mini trees, spiral trees, spiders, stars, manger, and the Hattitude Quartets. Super fast shipping and made in the USA. Quality laser cut coro in either 6mm or 10mm thicknesses.
  • For the 2025 display I added unique coro props from ELF Designs
• Mega Tree Strips
  • The white and black mega tree strips are from Boscoyo Studio
• 3D Parts
  • You can get either the parts or the files if you want to print them yourself from Inspire Light Shows.
• Controllers
  • The main controller is a Kulp K16A-B from Kulp Lights. The board was designed to run FPP (Falcon Pi Player) natively unlike other controllers.
  • I’ve recently added several remotes and controllers from Experience Lights. While the company is relatively new to the industry, they are making some amazing products. I have Genius PRO: 16 Port Receivers, Genius PRO: 8 Port Receivers, Genius 4 Port Receivers and Genius PRO: 16 Port Controllers.
• Software
  • The only software (that I’m aware of) is xLights. A free community driven software made by its users. This is where the magic happens, combining music with patterns.
• Sequences
  • There are a LOT of vendors for ready made sequences. Just remember, you get what you pay for.
  • If there is a specific song you’re trying to find, search the Sequence Index. It’s like Google for sequences.
  • This list is not exaustive, just the vendors I use.
  • RGB Sequences
  • Show Stopper Sequences
  • Fairy Pixel Dust
  • Inspire light Shows
  • Pixel Pro Displays
  • xTreme Sequences
  • xLights Sequences
  • Vivid Sequences
  • Whimsical Light Shows
  • xLights Around The World
  • Magical Light Shows
  • Pixel Sequence Pros
  • OG Sequences
  • Visionary Light Shows
  • Innovative Sequences
  • ELF Sequences

Layout

The layout is modeled in either 2D or 3D within the xLights program. It contains props that may not even exist yet, but for programming purposes it is easier to add everything into the sequence at the start than to try and add elements later.