holiday Lights on Hillside

Debuting in 2016, the Holiday Lights On Hillside show is a multimedia Christmas light display. The 2025 show will use 35,142 pixels containing 105,426 LEDs. Pixels are “bulbs” consisting of three LEDs (red, green, blue) that are “mixed” via software to create over seventeen million colors and allow for the independent control of each bulb.

All the pixels are mounted on 107 props including an eighteen-foot Mega Tree, a four-foot by six-foot video screen, snowflakes, stars, candy canes, leaping arches, and singing Christmas Trees with Santa Hats. Holiday music is transmitted on Santa FM (87.9 FM) and all elements are connected via a local area computer network to create a truly unique holiday experience combining lights, graphics, and videos all perfectly synchronized to dance to the music.

For 2026, the show is tentatively scheduled to run from November 20th through December 31st. Show times are from 4:30 PM to 9:30 PM with extended hours during the week of Christmas (December 20th through December 25th). 

The show is free and open to the public.

Approximately 1,600 hours starting in mid-December and concluding by the end of the following November.

In the months prior to the 2025 show launching during Thanksgiving weekend, fabrication on thirty-seven new/upgraded props will have been completed and approximately 19,000 pixels will have to be individually inserted into predrilled holes (pushing pixels) to illuminate the thirty-seven additional show elements.

Additional tasks include show set-up (almost the entire month of November), continuous testing of controllers, local area computer network, props, programming edits, creating/finalizing song playlists, updating the website, and so much more.

During the shows’ approximate month-long engagement, the power bill increases roughly $60.00 on average. All 35,142 pixels contain three very energy efficient LEDs and due to the intense illumination generated by 105,426 LEDs, the brightness output of the entire display is limited to 20%.

In general, visitors’ comments are published to share their experience at the Holiday Lights On Hillside show with the entire community of Christmas lighting enthusiasts. The comment (or an excerpt) is published, the author is identified by first name and first letter of the last name (Jane D., Tony M.), and contact information is never shared. Select comments are featured on the home page (immediately above the FAQs) and all comments will appear when a feedback page is added to the website.