2025 check in: how is your show going, what are you planning for 2026?

ryanschristmaslights

ryanschristmaslights

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With one more night until Christmas and just one week left for the year, it feels appropriate to check in and ask: How is your 2025 show going?

Has anything in particular been a big hit with your audience this year? Is there a specific sequence that is most popular with your visitors - maybe it is the song choice, or perhaps it is what you do with your lights? Feel free to include a video or photo showing your display. Is there anything that didn't quite work out as intended?

It is also that time of year where many of us start thinking about next Christmas. Do you have plans to expand or make other changes in 2026? Has visiting other people's displays or watching their videos inspired you to do anything new or different?

Merry Christmas Eve, one and all!
 
Next year doing the holiday house it on 2acres looks at pixels net large horse drive English box and large Christmas trees about 6m
 
I've just printed out the manual to jump in on the hobby for next year (currently just run solar and low voltage LEDs). Feeling a bit overwhelmed but going to aim for just a few props and arches to start out :D
 
I have a bunch of bits I was going to try to add this year, but they'll be next year now. Just too busy this season. I should just about get some peace stake ws2811s to add to some candy canes I made (I'll do a write up in those soon)

I have baubles that I'm going to wrap in Lytworx LEDs and run off a Hanson controller, a couple of P5 panels for a tune in sign. I also have a bunch of cheap old props that need LED upgrades. Some will get ws2811, some will get Lytworx and be added to the Hanson controller with the baubles. I'll probably get some more wall props too.
 
After 2024 i had big (for me) plans for 2025 and bought 2 more Baldrick 8s and additional 5000 pixels with 1800 megatree and loads more props.

just after the shipments all arrived we decided to demolish house and rebuild so are I a rental this year with small front fence
I've set up 2 arches,2 small flakes,2 bigger flakes and a singing tree and have had nothing but problems. Spent first 2 weeks battling set up issues with port/ channel layout and props only half lighting up. Since then I've had to swap out 2 arches and 1 small flake.

hopefully be in new house next year but I have a lot of work to do just to get the cu6 show functioning before I even think of ramping up..

can't wait though..🤣
 
IRGNT said:
I've just printed out the manual to jump in on the hobby for next year (currently just run solar and low voltage LEDs). Feeling a bit overwhelmed but going to aim for just a few props and arches to start out :D
Click to expand...
I was in this position last year and now have a fully functioning display for this year. Read as much as you can and it will all start to make sense fairly quickly. Then this time next year you will be planning what you want for next Christmas.
 
Top sequence going by remote falcon is bluey but pulsemesh/rf usage is pretty small.

Got a bunch of props ordered from @Christmas Props Aus. sale for next year.
Likely doubling the number of pixels next year at minimum!

Just deciding if i want to add moving heads - will bring the crowds but do i want that...
 
My display was left in a storm this year...

No working pixels for me 😔

I did just get a baldrick 8, however, which will be perfect.
Just ruminating over the fact that I chose 5v...
 
I was lucky enough to get all the old stuff out and did not end up putting anything new up. We had over 12 inches of snow and extreme cold weather before December 1st which took a lot of wind out of my sail. Not to mention I had to complete a large personal project that took a lot of time this year. Mostly I've been watching my props slowly break this season and will need to make a long list of repairs for next year. Next year I will have a lot more time since my personal project is completed.

Plans for next year:
Complete 2 King Diamonds
Complete icicles
Complete larger matrix
Build second megatree
Repair 3 eaves
Repair 3 verticals
Repair 4 snowflakes
Finish Falcon F16v4 32 port controller
Convert 2 smart receiver boxes to Baldric controllers
 
Indigogyre said:
I was lucky enough to get all the old stuff out and did not end up putting anything new up. We had over 12 inches of snow and extreme cold weather before December 1st which took a lot of wind out of my sail. Not to mention I had to complete a large personal project that took a lot of time this year. Mostly I've been watching my props slowly break this season and will need to make a long list of repairs for next year. Next year I will have a lot more time since my personal project is completed.

Plans for next year:
Complete 2 King Diamonds
Complete icicles
Complete larger matrix
Build second megatree
Repair 3 eaves
Repair 3 verticals
Repair 4 snowflakes
Finish Falcon F16v4 32 port controller
Convert 2 smart receiver boxes to Baldric controllers
Click to expand...
How come you are looking at changing your Smart receiver boxes to baldricks. I have only used Baldricks. I am really happy with them and haven’t caused any issues for my show. If I came across a second hand Falcon at a good price I would probably buy it just to try them.
 
tterbo_1988 said:
How come you are looking at changing your Smart receiver boxes to baldricks. I have only used Baldricks. I am really happy with them and haven’t caused any issues for my show. If I came across a second hand Falcon at a good price I would probably buy it just to try them.
Click to expand...
I honestly almost never use them since I have to worry about trying to balance the pixels across receivers and ports at the same time. I'd rather swap out the receiver for a baldrick and then I can have more flexibility with how and where it is used. If they both require power and some sort of data cable to be hooked up I'd rather have a baldrick these days.
 
Now the biggest night is over I can finally say out loud that I had a great year with little to no issues! Only 2 pixels had to be replaced (well, 1, I'm ignoring the other as it's just the B out so still works haha)

Most popular songs have been Golden, Believer, Bluey & Emma Memma Christmas Lights song

I added 3 Baldrick 8's and a Baldrick 17 this year and will look at replacing my Advatek long range next year with some baldricks which will future proof me for quite some time, plus give me better control and full web access for all my controllers.
  • For 2026 I'm looking at adding pixel stakes scattered around the yard but still need to work out how I'll do it as I like to invite people to walk around the display to take photos/videos and get up close so need to make sure everything is safe.
  • I'll also add an Angel (Fairy?) wing selfie station with a box with arcade buttons for colour changing. Will likely use a Baldrick input 8 for the wings.
  • Will be adding more lights to the roof along my tiles (yay I get to drill more PVC...)
  • Finally I might look at some more HD props to add to the display or replace existing props.
Now I'm just editing some videos and uploading
 
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