To all who came out on our first night between 6 and 9, I apologize for the transmitter being off the air. It is on a timer to turn on at 5:30pm, but it failed, so there was no music to listen to until we returned from Thanksgiving dinner. It’s fixed, and I hope you return to really see the full show in action.
Tonight is the night when the 2009 Christmas Lights Display is revealed after months of planning, building, sequencing, and installation. Here are the details:
Show starts every night between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve
6:00 – 10:30 PM
Location: 7909 Fontana (2 blocks east of Roe), Prairie Village, KS 66208
Turn your radio to 91.1fm
Please do not block our neighbor’s driveways
Please turn off your headlights so those around you can enjoy the show
Recommend parking on the west side of the street away from the house for the best viewing
Show runs a little over 13 minutes
Four songs were sequenced this year
Illuminations: Reflections of Earth from Epcot
Spirit of the Season from Polar Express
Wizards of Winter by TSO
Linus’ monologue from Charlie Brown Christmas + Linus and Lucy by Vince Guaraldi
Our elves (Jingle, Jangle & Elf Judy) return this year in voice only, and no bad elf jokes
Donations will be collected for Heartland Habitat For Humanity (donation box at north side of yard)
And you can donate online through the Habitat link found on the left side of this page. Please mention that your donation is due to the Dorr Family Christmas Lights Display.
While we have never experienced vandalism, we keep getting questions about our past experiences on this subject. So this year, and with the addition of the Habitat Donation Box, we’ve installed four surveillance cameras that are on and recording 24/7. It’s too bad that it has come to this, so we hope this is a deterrent to anyone who might get the idea of destroying our display and robbing the kid in all of us from enjoying this Christmas tradition.
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, and we hope you enjoy our Christmas Lights Display as much as we enjoy putting it all together.
Even with the wind whipping around and a wind chill in the mid-30’s, we had about 50 brave souls who came out to get a preview of this year’s Christmas Lights Display. There were several instances of ohs and ahs, along with clapping after a couple of songs. And the kids were hyper, so a good time was had by all.
After the show ran, the lights were on in a static mode, with the strobes flashing. We had several cars from outside the neighborhood stop and stare. No music. No dancing lights. But still captivating.
Yesterday we received a note in the mail addressed to “Residents of the Christmas House.” It was written by a lady who lives several blocks away and she writes, “Hello, I just wanted to thank you for putting up the wonderful display of Christmas lights. Our children love to look at the display every night during the holidays! They love the elves and call your house the “elf house.” Thanks so much for spreading the holiday cheer! Jill H and family.”
So why do I do it and take the rest of the family along for the ride? Why do I enlist friends and family to help erect the display each year? For all the Jills and family that are building memories of the best season of the year.
Tomorrows the big reveal for the rest of the world. I’ll post details later.
Tonight is the annual Fontana Preview where we invite neighbors to take a look at this year’s Christmas Lights Display. We’re hoping the rain currently falling has moved on, which is the predictions from the local weather forecasters. But it will be chilly with temperatures hovering around 40º. That will help people get into the Christmas mood.
Finally got all the songs sequenced, which was a chore. Almost doubling the number of controller channels presents unique challenges. Also I’ve got to learn that when I save files, not to overwrite one song over another. That happened with the first one, so I had to do it over again. The only good thing was the first song is the shortest.
And before I jabber on, I’ve got to thank those helping to put up this year’s display. Son Brett flew in from Raleigh to get the Z-Tree erected, which is a story in itself. It was nice to have him with us for five days. Then friend Jim drove over from St. Louis and spent 6 days with us. Daughter Tracy also lent assistance. And our three elves, Jingle (aka Taylor), Jangle (aka Jangle) and Elf Judy (aka Brooke) again add their voices to our display this year.
Z-Tree Builders Tim, Brett & Jim
Mary and I had our own preview at 10:30 last night and think everyone who has the opportunity to stop by this Christmas Season will be pleased. Memories in the making. But that’s just the two of us. Tells us what you think and any ideas you would like incorporated into the 2010 display.
More later after our preview.