California Christmas Events

It rivals Bellagio water & lights show in Las Vegas, some say. It's even better, say others!

The Sacramento residence shown above doesn't look amazingly unique or spectacular in the photos, but it is. What's special about this light display timed to music is the planning, technology and orchestration that went into creating an experience to inspire. Twinkling, flashing, pulsating lights timed to holiday music at a Carmichael, California home (approx. 10 miles from the heart of downtown Sacramento) offer an awesome experience that leaves visitors energized and inspired.

And inspiration from the likes of Trans Siberian Orchestra (www.trans-siberian.com),  was exactly the impetus for Bob Bistrow, who created magic in a Sacramento neighborhood, raising food for those in need in the season of giving. 

Date: December 2007 through December 31, 2007
Time: Sunday - Thursday 6pm-9pm; Friday-Saturday 6pm-10pm
Address: 6425 Meadowhill Court, Carmichael, CA 95608
Directions: Go North on Fair Oaks Blvd from Arden Way. Turn Right on Landis Ave, Turn Right on Deodar Street, Turn Left onto Meadowhill Court.
More Info: www.lightupxmas.com

Renting a lift, purchasing lights, creating a sound system and inventing ingenious software to make it all happen, have resulted in a fascinating show that this creative (and caring) individual assembled with the blessings of neighbors and support of several sponsors.

With no "off the shelf" hardware and software to meet his needs, Bistrow built a system from scratch that could operate and output the entire production in real time. Tedious scripting of DMX controls that normally take months to program were bypassed with "Holiday House" control software. So intricate and complex are the timing mechanisms, songs can have over 2 million control states with about 10,000 control changes per second! The custom software rivals control software used to run the Bellagio water show in Las Vegas, Nevada. (The Bellagio Hotel water show features dancing water and lights in a huge fountain in front of the hotel, all timed to popular music. This free show featured several times each evening is so popular, hotel rooms and restaurant seats are all reserved to overlook it.)

Holiday House light show is also free to the public and is equally entertaining, drawing hundreds upon hundreds of people who come in cars, and stop to watch and listen. In fact, many who have been to Bellagio say this performance is better!

For those fortunate to drive by the Holiday House, you can contribute to the effort to feed hungry souls in need, by bringing canned goods and food stuffs.  Be sure to visit the official web site, www.lightupxmas.com to obtain additional information and watch the videos and news coverage of this spectacular display.