# Christmas Lights Inspiration Gallery

> A curated collection of real-world displays, prop ideas, and effect descriptions.
> Australian context — prices in AUD unless noted. Last updated: September 2026.

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## Table of Contents

1. [Beginner Builds (10)](#beginner-builds)
2. [Intermediate Builds (10)](#intermediate-builds)
3. [Advanced / Epic Builds (10)](#advanced--epic-builds)
4. [Australian Showcase](#australian-showcase)
5. [Prop Ideas Gallery (25+)](#prop-ideas-gallery)
6. [xLights Effect Showcase (20)](#xlights-effect-showcase)

---

## Beginner Builds

Simple displays anyone can pull off in a weekend with minimal tools. Perfect for Year 1.

### 1. Simple Roofline Outline

- **What**: Single run of WS2811 bullet pixels along the front gutterline, static white or slow colour chase
- **Pixel Count**: ~150–300 pixels (50–100 ft of roofline at 3 pixels/ft)
- **Estimated Cost**: $350–$520 AUD
- **Parts**: 3–5 strings of 100-count WS2811 12V bullets, 1× 8-port Ethernet controller, 1× Mean Well LRS-350-12 PSU, mounting strip, xConnect extensions
- **Difficulty**: ★★☆☆☆
- **Time**: 4–6 hours install + 2–3 hours basic sequencing
- **Reference**: [Your Pixel Store — First Display Guide](https://yourpixelstore.com/pixel-christmas-lights/)

### 2. Window Frame Outlines

- **What**: Pixel strip or bullet nodes framing 4–6 front-facing windows
- **Pixel Count**: ~120–240 pixels (20–40 per window)
- **Estimated Cost**: $250–$400 AUD
- **Parts**: 12V WS2811 pixel strip (30/10 density), PVC channel/mounting clips, pigtails, 1× small controller (Pixie4 or similar), PSU
- **Difficulty**: ★★☆☆☆
- **Time**: 3–5 hours
- **Reference**: [Gilbert HD Pixel Trim kits](https://www.learnchristmaslighting.com/post/how-much-does-it-cost-to-build-an-animated-christmas-light-display)

### 3. Candy Cane Pathway Markers

- **What**: 6–10 pixel candy canes lining a driveway or front path, running simple chase effects
- **Pixel Count**: ~100–200 pixels (10–20 per cane)
- **Estimated Cost**: $200–$350 AUD
- **Parts**: Boscoyo or ELD coro candy cane shapes, WS2811 bullet pixels, controller port allocation, stakes
- **Difficulty**: ★☆☆☆☆
- **Time**: 2–3 hours
- **Reference**: [Boscoyo Studios Candy Canes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbmznWkHBBk)

### 4. Front Door Wreath (Pixel)

- **What**: A single pixel wreath prop mounted above or beside the front door, running rainbow/twinkle effects
- **Pixel Count**: 50–100 pixels
- **Estimated Cost**: $80–$150 AUD
- **Parts**: Coro wreath cutout (or DIY from corrugated plastic), 1 string of 50-count bullets, shares existing controller
- **Difficulty**: ★☆☆☆☆
- **Time**: 1–2 hours

### 5. Mini Pixel Trees (×3)

- **What**: Three small ground-mounted pixel trees (~1m tall) flanking the driveway or porch
- **Pixel Count**: 150 pixels (50 per tree)
- **Estimated Cost**: $200–$350 AUD
- **Parts**: Tomato cage or PVC cone frame, 50-count pixel strings wrapped spiral-fashion, stakes, shares controller
- **Difficulty**: ★★☆☆☆
- **Time**: 3–4 hours
- **Reference**: [PixelProDisplays Mini Mega Tree](https://pixelprodisplays.com/diy-pixel-mini-mega-tree/)

### 6. Icicle Drops Along Gutterline

- **What**: Pre-made coro icicle panels hung from the gutter, creating a dripping/falling effect
- **Pixel Count**: ~150 pixels per 3-set
- **Estimated Cost**: $250–$400 AUD
- **Parts**: 3× Boscoyo Icicle 100 coro sets, bullet pixels pushed into holes, gutter clips
- **Difficulty**: ★★☆☆☆
- **Time**: 3–4 hours
- **Reference**: [Learn Christmas Lighting cost breakdown](https://www.learnchristmaslighting.com/post/how-much-does-it-cost-to-build-an-animated-christmas-light-display)

### 7. Single Star Topper on a Pole

- **What**: A pixel star on a freestanding pole in the front yard — the simplest standalone focal point
- **Pixel Count**: 50–100 pixels
- **Estimated Cost**: $100–$200 AUD
- **Parts**: Coro star cutout (from Boscoyo/ELD), pole mount, 1 string of pixels, extension cable to controller
- **Difficulty**: ★☆☆☆☆
- **Time**: 1–2 hours

### 8. WLED-Powered Porch Tree

- **What**: A small pixel tree on the porch running WLED on an ESP32 — no full show controller needed
- **Pixel Count**: 50–100 pixels (seed pixels or strip)
- **Estimated Cost**: $60–$120 AUD
- **Parts**: ESP32 board ($10), WS2812B strip or seed pixels, 5V USB power supply, 3D-printed cone or wire frame
- **Difficulty**: ★★☆☆☆ (requires basic soldering)
- **Time**: 2–3 hours
- **Reference**: [WLED Christmas tree conversion (YouTube)](https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=WLED+christmas+tree+ESP32)

### 9. Inflatable + Static Lights Combo

- **What**: 2–3 blow-up figures (Santa, snowman, gingerbread man) with traditional fairy light strings filling the yard
- **Pixel Count**: 0 pixels (traditional approach)
- **Estimated Cost**: $150–$300 AUD
- **Parts**: Inflatables from Bunnings/Kmart ($40–$80 each), warm white fairy lights, outdoor timer, extension leads
- **Difficulty**: ★☆☆☆☆
- **Time**: 1–2 hours
- **Tip**: Great stepping stone — add pixel roofline in Year 2

### 10. Tune-To FM Sign + Simple Show

- **What**: A basic pixel roofline synced to music broadcast on a low-power FM transmitter
- **Pixel Count**: ~200 pixels
- **Estimated Cost**: $400–$600 AUD
- **Parts**: Roofline pixels, controller, PSU, FM transmitter ($30–$50), P10 LED panel "Tune To" sign or printed corflute sign
- **Difficulty**: ★★★☆☆ (the sequencing is the hard part)
- **Time**: 8–12 hours (mostly sequencing)
- **Reference**: [Smart Home Hookup — Build a Light Show](https://www.thesmarthomehookup.com/do-you-want-to-build-a-light-show/)

---

## Intermediate Builds

Rooflines + ground props + sequencing to music. Year 2–3 territory.

### 1. Full House Outline + Mega Tree

- **What**: Complete roofline, windows, garage door outlined in pixel strip, plus a 3m mega tree as yard centrepiece
- **Pixel Count**: ~2,000–3,000 pixels
- **Estimated Cost**: $2,500–$4,000 AUD
- **Parts**: 30/10 pixel strip for outlines, 16×50 or 16×100 mega tree kit, K16/HinksPix controller, 2–3 smart receivers, mounting hardware, guy wires for tree
- **Difficulty**: ★★★☆☆
- **Time**: 40–60 hours (build + sequence across several weekends)
- **Reference**: [Mr Creed's Pixel House Outline](https://mrcreedslights.com/pixel-house-outline/) — 914 pixels, 305 ft, ~$2,000 USD

### 2. Six Leaping Arches Along the Driveway

- **What**: Semi-circular arches spanning the driveway with chase/rainbow effects leaping across them
- **Pixel Count**: ~300 pixels (50 per arch × 6)
- **Estimated Cost**: $400–$600 AUD
- **Parts**: 6× lengths of 25mm air seeder tube or white PEX, pixel strip cut into 50-pixel sections, 3D-printed or coro arch bases, rebar stakes, bungee cords
- **Difficulty**: ★★★☆☆
- **Time**: 6–8 hours
- **Reference**: [AusChristmasLighting Leaping Arch Wiki](https://auschristmaslighting.com/wiki/Leaping-Arch), [Mr Creed's Leaping Light Arches](https://mrcreedslights.com/leaping-light-arches)

### 3. Snowflake Array (×10)

- **What**: 10 ChromaFlake-style snowflakes hung from the gutterline or on stakes, each individually sequenced
- **Pixel Count**: ~500 pixels (50 per snowflake)
- **Estimated Cost**: $600–$900 AUD
- **Parts**: 10× Boscoyo ChromaFlake 36″ coro shapes (or ELD equivalent), 10 strings of 50-count bullets, extension cables
- **Difficulty**: ★★★☆☆
- **Time**: 5–8 hours (pushing pixels into coro is the tedious part)

### 4. EZRGB Front Yard Kit

- **What**: Pre-configured starter kit with controller, roofline, mini trees, and pre-made sequences via cloud
- **Pixel Count**: ~800–2,000 pixels
- **Estimated Cost**: $1,000–$2,500 AUD (kit pricing)
- **Parts**: EZRGB Christmas Light Show Kit 1 or Roofline Special + add-on props, EZPlayer, EZSequence subscription
- **Difficulty**: ★★☆☆☆ (easiest path to a sequenced show)
- **Time**: 4–8 hours
- **Reference**: [EZRGB Budget Guide](https://ezrgb.com/blog/how-can-i-budget-with-ezrgb)

### 5. Pixel Fence Toppers + Roofline

- **What**: Pixel strip running along the top of a front fence, synchronised with the roofline above
- **Pixel Count**: ~1,000–1,500 pixels
- **Estimated Cost**: $1,200–$1,800 AUD
- **Parts**: Roofline pixels, fence-top strip in weatherproof channel, shared controller, extension runs
- **Difficulty**: ★★★☆☆
- **Time**: 8–12 hours

### 6. Singing Face Duo

- **What**: Two flat-panel singing faces (left and right of the door) lip-syncing to music using xLights Papagayo integration
- **Pixel Count**: ~200–400 pixels (100–200 per face)
- **Estimated Cost**: $400–$700 AUD
- **Parts**: Coro face cutouts (Boscoyo/ELD/DIY), bullet pixels for eyes/mouth/outline, Papagayo phoneme file for lip sync
- **Difficulty**: ★★★★☆ (the lip sync sequencing is complex)
- **Time**: 10–15 hours
- **Reference**: [AusChristmasLighting — Singing Faces thread](https://auschristmaslighting.com/threads/what-are-you-changing-this-year-elements-you-are-building-or-installing-for-2023.15450/)

### 7. Roofline + Spiral Trees + Candy Canes

- **What**: A well-rounded intermediate display with roofline outline, 4 spiral trees, and 8 candy canes
- **Pixel Count**: ~1,500–2,000 pixels
- **Estimated Cost**: $1,800–$2,500 AUD
- **Parts**: Roofline pixels, spiral tree frames (tomato cage + pixel string wound in spiral), coro candy canes, controller, PSU, mounting
- **Difficulty**: ★★★☆☆
- **Time**: 15–20 hours

### 8. P10 Matrix "Tune To" Sign + Show

- **What**: A proper LED matrix sign showing "Tune to 87.9 FM" with scrolling text/animations, integrated into a sequenced show
- **Pixel Count**: ~500 pixels (in the P10 panel) + display pixels
- **Estimated Cost**: $300–$500 AUD for the sign alone
- **Parts**: P10 outdoor LED panels (1–2 panels), HUB75 controller or FPP with P10 cape, waterproof enclosure
- **Difficulty**: ★★★☆☆
- **Time**: 4–6 hours

### 9. Light-O-Rama Mission Illumination Package

- **What**: Complete bundled system with mega tree, arches, mini trees, spinners, snowflakes, roofline, and controllers
- **Pixel Count**: ~3,000–5,000 pixels
- **Estimated Cost**: ~$5,500–$6,500 AUD (≈US$4,000 + shipping)
- **Parts**: Pixie16 + Pixie8 + Pixie4 controllers, coro props (customer pushes pixels), pixel mounting trim, Showtime Director or PC
- **Difficulty**: ★★★☆☆
- **Time**: 20–30 hours
- **Reference**: [Light-O-Rama Mission Illumination Starter](https://store.lightorama.com/products/mission-illumination-starter-package) — US$3,999.95

### 10. Halloween → Christmas Dual-Season Display

- **What**: Props designed to work for both Halloween (Oct) and Christmas (Dec) with different sequences — maximises investment
- **Pixel Count**: ~2,000–3,000 pixels
- **Estimated Cost**: $2,500–$4,000 AUD
- **Parts**: Same roofline/outline, mega tree, and arches; swap coro props (tombstones ↔ snowflakes, skulls ↔ stars); different xLights sequences per season
- **Difficulty**: ★★★★☆
- **Time**: 30+ hours across both seasons
- **Reference**: [AusChristmasLighting — Lawrence Drive Dual Display](https://auschristmaslighting.com/threads/2018-lawrence-drive-lights-halloween-display.10998)

---

## Advanced / Epic Builds

Full music-synced mega displays. Thousands of hours of build and programming time. The stuff that stops traffic.

### 1. Tom BetGeorge — Star Wars Light Show (Newark, CA)

- **What**: 100,000+ lights, 12,500 channels synchronised to 9 Star Wars tracks. Life-size instruments (19ft piano, 17ft guitar, full drum kit) built from wood, metal, acrylic, and corrugated plastic. Featured on ABC's Great Christmas Light Fight and Good Morning America twice.
- **Pixel/Light Count**: ~100,000 LEDs
- **Channel Count**: 12,500
- **Key Stats**: ~1,000 hours build time, 10 hours of programming per minute of music, 2 miles of cable, 5,000 wires. Electricity cost ~$100/month (LED efficiency).
- **Software**: Light-O-Rama (LOR), Digital Performer for audio mixing
- **Difficulty**: ★★★★★
- **Reference**: [YouTube — Tom BetGeorge Star Wars](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90oZ3YQ6dAA), [Nerdist feature](https://archive.nerdist.com/the-force-is-strong-with-this-star-wars-christmas-light-show)

### 2. Holdman Christmas Display (Pleasant Grove, UT)

- **What**: One of the most famous residential displays in the world. Full symphonic music sync (Wizards in Winter, Trans-Siberian Orchestra). Hundreds of thousands of lights covering house, trees, and massive yard props.
- **Pixel/Light Count**: 200,000+ lights
- **Estimated Cost**: $50,000+ USD over multiple years
- **Difficulty**: ★★★★★
- **Reference**: YouTube "Holdman Christmas" — the viral video that launched the modern Christmas light show hobby

### 3. Fred Loya Display (El Paso, TX)

- **What**: Commercial-grade corporate display. Entire building facade becomes a pixel-mapped video surface. Professional-grade projections and synchronised LED arrays.
- **Pixel/Light Count**: 800,000+ LEDs
- **Estimated Cost**: $1M+ USD (corporate budget)
- **Difficulty**: ★★★★★ (professional installation crew)
- **Reference**: An annual El Paso tradition drawing 100,000+ visitors

### 4. The Great Christmas Light Fight Winners

- **What**: ABC TV competition showcasing America's most elaborate residential displays. Winners typically feature 50,000–200,000 lights, walk-through tunnels, animated props, and music synchronisation.
- **Notable Winners**:
  - 62 Stockholm Avenue, Hassall Grove (Sydney — Blacktown City competition winner 2024)
  - Deptford, NJ family (Season 11 winner) — full house + yard mega display
  - Mach Christmas Display (California) — theatrical-scale production
- **Difficulty**: ★★★★★
- **Reference**: [ABC Great Christmas Light Fight](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ8ZlQG2mQs)

### 5. Dyker Heights, Brooklyn (Neighbourhood Display)

- **What**: An entire neighbourhood in Brooklyn where residents collectively spend millions on professional Christmas decorations. Life-size nutcrackers, motorised Santas, 20-foot toy soldiers, and millions of lights.
- **Light Count**: Millions collectively
- **Estimated Cost**: Individual homes spend $10,000–$100,000+ USD
- **Difficulty**: ★★★★★ (most hire professional installers)
- **Reference**: A must-see NYC holiday tradition — walking tours run nightly in December

### 6. Whole-House Pixel Mapping (Matrix on Every Surface)

- **What**: Every surface of the house becomes a video display — roofline, walls, garage door, fence — all pixel-mapped as a single virtual matrix in xLights. Plays video, animations, and complex effects across the entire structure.
- **Pixel Count**: 15,000–30,000+ pixels
- **Estimated Cost**: $15,000–$30,000+ AUD
- **Parts**: Massive quantities of pixel strip (30/10 or 60/20 density), multiple Falcon F48 or K32 controllers, numerous smart receivers, industrial PSUs, custom mounting solutions
- **Difficulty**: ★★★★★
- **Time**: 200+ hours

### 7. Full Mega Tree (6m+) with 48 Strings

- **What**: A towering 6-metre+ mega tree with 48 strings of 100 pixels each, creating a cone of 4,800 pixels that can display spirals, fire, video wraps, and more
- **Pixel Count**: 4,800 pixels
- **Estimated Cost**: $5,000–$8,000 AUD
- **Parts**: Custom pole (heavy-duty steel or aluminium), guy wires, megatree topper/hub, 48×100 pixel strings, 2–3 Falcon F16V4 controllers, multiple PSUs
- **Difficulty**: ★★★★★
- **Time**: 40–60 hours (structural engineering is critical)

### 8. Walk-Through Pixel Tunnel

- **What**: A 10–20m tunnel of arches that visitors walk through, with synchronised effects wrapping around them — creating an immersive light experience
- **Pixel Count**: 3,000–8,000 pixels
- **Estimated Cost**: $4,000–$10,000 AUD
- **Parts**: 15–30 large arches (2m+ tall), PEX or steel tubing, pixel strip or bullets, dedicated controller bank, ground anchoring
- **Difficulty**: ★★★★★
- **Time**: 50+ hours

### 9. P5/P10 Video Matrix Wall

- **What**: A large outdoor LED video wall (e.g., 2m × 1m) displaying full-colour video, animations, and graphics synchronised to the rest of the show
- **Pixel Count**: ~40,000 LEDs (P5) or ~10,000 LEDs (P10) per square metre
- **Estimated Cost**: $2,000–$5,000 AUD for the matrix alone
- **Parts**: P5 or P10 outdoor LED panels, HUB75 receiver cards, FPP with LED panel cape or dedicated sender card, weatherproof enclosure, structural frame
- **Difficulty**: ★★★★★
- **Time**: 20–30 hours

### 10. Full Musical Show — 20+ Songs, 50,000+ Pixels

- **What**: The endgame display. Entire property covered: house outline, mega tree, mini trees, arches, snowflakes, candy canes, singing faces, matrix wall, tunnel, custom props. 20+ songs fully sequenced. FM broadcast + "Tune To" sign. Automated show schedule via FPP.
- **Pixel Count**: 50,000+
- **Estimated Cost**: $30,000–$80,000+ AUD (built over 5+ years)
- **Parts**: Everything — multiple controllers (Falcon F48, K32), dozens of smart receivers, industrial power distribution, custom wiring harnesses, weatherproof enclosures, structural engineering
- **Difficulty**: ★★★★★
- **Time**: 500–1,000+ hours per season
- **Reference**: [Learn Christmas Lighting Blog](https://www.learnchristmaslighting.com/blog) — detailed breakdowns of builds at this scale

---

## Australian Showcase

Notable Australian Christmas light displays and communities.

### Lobethal, South Australia — Lights of Lobethal Festival

- **Status**: The **largest community Christmas light display in the Southern Hemisphere**
- **Location**: Lobethal, Adelaide Hills, SA
- **Running Since**: 1950s — 70+ year tradition
- **Scale**: Entire town participates. The Lobethal Centennial Hall hosts the main display; streets throughout the town are decorated.
- **Visitors**: Up to 250,000 people annually
- **Dates (typical)**: Early-to-mid December, ~10 nights
- **Reference**: [christmaslane.info](https://www.christmaslane.info/), [Lights of Lobethal Festival Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/thelightsoflobethalfestival/)

### Darwin, Northern Territory — Tropical Christmas Lights

- **Notable Display**: Stuart Park (Melas family) — 30+ years of Christmas displays
- **Challenge**: Top End wet season storms; displays must be storm-proofed and powered down during lightning
- **Popular Streets**: Charles Street, Darwin; Temira Crescent (digital light show)
- **Community**: 18,000+ members in local Christmas lights Facebook group
- **Reference**: [ABC News — Darwin Christmas Lights](https://newsapp.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-22/christmas-lights-in-darwin-weather-top-end/103207808)

### Blacktown City, Sydney, NSW — Annual Competition

- **2024 Winner**: 62 Stockholm Avenue, Hassall Grove (1st Place Overall + Ward 5)
- **Runner-up**: 15 Sofa Street, Marayong (2nd) and 11 Filbert Street, Tallawong (3rd)
- **Champion of Champions**: 7 Mallee Street, Quakers Hill
- **Best Street**: Sebastian Crescent, Colebee
- **Scale**: 113 entries in 2024; $4,000 in prizes
- **Reference**: [Blacktown City Christmas Lights Winners](https://miragenews.com/blacktown-citys-christmas-lights-winners-1382122)

### Canterbury-Bankstown, Sydney, NSW

- **Notable Winners (2024)**:
  - 13 Austin Crescent, Belfield (Canterbury Ward winner)
  - 40 Phillip Street, Roselands (Roselands Ward winner)
  - 15 Whittle Avenue, Milperra (Revesby Ward winner)
- **Reference**: [CBCity Christmas Lights Competition](https://haveyoursay.cbcity.nsw.gov.au/christmas-lights-competition-voting)

### Wollongong & Illawarra, NSW

- **Special Mention**: 12 Brian Street, Fairy Meadow — nominated for Top Display with **65,000 lights**
- **Music-synced**: St James Crescent, Dapto — light & music show 7:30–10:30pm spanning 3 houses
- **Other Notable Streets**: Mountbatten Street (Corrimal), Gayantay Way, Woonona (3 townhouses combined)
- **Reference**: [What's On in Wollongong](https://whatsoninwollongong.com.au/christmas-lights-wollongong)

### Newcastle & Hunter Valley, NSW

- **Popular Areas**: Cameron Park, Edgeworth, Cessnock, Thornton
- **Concentration**: Thornton alone has 7+ listed displays (Arnold Crescent, Lemonwood Circuit, Avard Close, Somerset Drive, etc.)
- **Reference**: [Newcastle Weekly Christmas Lights Guide](https://newcastleweekly.com.au/your-newcastle-and-hunter-christmas-lights-guide)

### Brisbane & Southeast Queensland

- **King George Square**: 22-metre Christmas tree, lit nightly throughout December
- **City Hall**: Light & sound show every 15 minutes, 7:30pm–midnight (6–24 Dec)
- **Roma Street Parkland**: "The Enchanted Garden" — custom lighting trail with holograms, LED fields, 3D-printed birds
- **Reference**: [Queensland.com Brisbane Christmas Lights](https://www.queensland.com/au/en/places-to-see/destinations/brisbane/christmas-lights-brisbane-)

### Perth, Western Australia — Synergy Xmas Lights Trail

- **People's Choice Winner (2024)**: Vlade and Mira Radalj
- **2nd Place**: 31A Wem Mews, High Wycombe
- **3rd Place**: 7 Collins Court, Morley
- **Best Solar Display**: 30 Lancer Way, Alexander Heights
- **Best Regional**: 14 Camfield Street, Eaton
- **Reference**: [Synergy Xmas Lights Trail](https://synergy.net.au/About-us/News-and-announcements/Media-releases/Synergy-Xmas-Lights-Trail-illuminates-our-communities-for-a-good-cause)

### South Australia — Council Competitions

- **Tea Tree Gully**: 45 homes competing on Christmas lights trail; $500 shopping voucher prize
- **City of West Torrens**: Riverbank Christmas Display — running since **1959** (65+ years!)
- **Adelaide Victoria Square**: 25-metre tree with 13,616 individually programmed LEDs and 750 decorations
- **Reference**: [SA Local Councils Christmas Displays](https://www.localcouncils.sa.gov.au/news/christmas-light-displays)

### Karratha, Western Australia

- **Notable**: Residents who relocated from Perth bringing 8+ years of lighting experience
- **Creative Entry**: "Merry LIFTmas" — 3 LED stick-figure Santas lifting barbells in stop-motion sequence on a balcony
- **Reference**: [Karratha Christmas Lights Competition Map 2025](https://karratha.wa.gov.au/system/files/xmas_lights_2025_a4.pdf)

### AusChristmasLighting Community (auschristmaslighting.com)

- **What**: Australia's premier online community for animated Christmas lighting enthusiasts
- **Key Resources**:
  - Free [101 Manual](https://auschristmaslighting.com/wiki/AusChristmasLighting-101) — getting started with animated/RGB lighting
  - Active forums covering xLights, controllers, prop builds, Australian suppliers
  - Annual "What are you building this year?" threads with detailed prop breakdowns
- **Australian Suppliers Referenced**: Extreme Lighting Displays (ELD), Ray Wu (AliExpress/direct), Hanson Electronics
- **Reference**: [auschristmaslighting.com](https://auschristmaslighting.com/)

### Finding Displays Near You

- **Christmas Light Search Australia**: [christmaslightsearch.com.au](http://christmaslightsearch.com.au/) — interactive map of displays across Australia, updated annually

---

## Prop Ideas Gallery

### Ground Props

| # | Prop | Description | Pixel Count | Est. Cost (AUD) | Difficulty |
|---|------|-------------|-------------|------------------|------------|
| 1 | **Candy Canes** | Coro cutout canes on stakes, classic red/white chase. 0.6–1m tall. | 10–25 per cane | $15–$40 each | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 2 | **Mini Pixel Trees** | Tomato cage or PVC cone frame wound with pixel string. 0.6–1.2m tall. | 50–100 per tree | $50–$100 each | ★★☆☆☆ |
| 3 | **Spiral Trees** | Similar to mini trees but with visible spiral pattern; strip wound at angle. | 50–100 per tree | $60–$120 each | ★★☆☆☆ |
| 4 | **Pathway Markers** | Small stakes with pixel clusters, lining paths. Simple on/off or twinkle. | 5–10 per marker | $5–$15 each | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| 5 | **Nativity Scene** | Coro silhouette cutouts (Mary, Joseph, baby, manger, star) backlit or edge-lit with pixels. | 100–300 total | $200–$400 | ★★★☆☆ |
| 6 | **Santa & Sleigh** | Large coro Santa in sleigh silhouette with reindeer team, pixel-outlined. | 200–500 | $300–$600 | ★★★☆☆ |

### Arch Props

| # | Prop | Description | Pixel Count | Est. Cost (AUD) | Difficulty |
|---|------|-------------|-------------|------------------|------------|
| 7 | **Leaping Arches** | Semi-circular arches from PEX/air seeder tube with strip inside. Chase effects "leap" across 4–8 arches. | 25–50 per arch | $40–$80 each | ★★★☆☆ |
| 8 | **Driveway Arch** | Full-size arch spanning driveway (~4m wide, 3m tall). Walk/drive under it. 16 strings × 50 pixels. | 400–800 | $500–$1,000 | ★★★★☆ |
| 9 | **Fan Arches** | Arches with additional spokes radiating from centre like a fan. 8 fan segments + 9 arch segments. | 200–400 | $200–$400 | ★★★★☆ |
| 10 | **Walk-Through Tunnel** | 10–30 arches in series forming a tunnel. Immersive effects wrap around visitors. | 1,000–5,000 | $2,000–$8,000 | ★★★★★ |

### Hanging / Elevated Props

| # | Prop | Description | Pixel Count | Est. Cost (AUD) | Difficulty |
|---|------|-------------|-------------|------------------|------------|
| 11 | **Snowflakes (ChromaFlake)** | 36″ coro snowflake cutouts, hung from gutter or mounted on stakes. | 36–50 per flake | $40–$70 each | ★★☆☆☆ |
| 12 | **Stars** | 5-point or 8-point coro stars, various sizes. Often used as mega tree toppers. | 25–100 | $30–$80 each | ★★☆☆☆ |
| 13 | **Icicle Drops** | Coro panels creating vertical "icicle" strips hanging from gutterline. | 50–100 per panel | $60–$100/set | ★★☆☆☆ |
| 14 | **Window Displays** | Pixel strip framing windows + interior coro props (candle, wreath, snowflake). | 30–60 per window | $30–$60 each | ★★☆☆☆ |
| 15 | **Fence Toppers** | Pixel strip or bullet string running along fence top with mounting channel. | 3 pixels/ft | $2–$4 per ft | ★★☆☆☆ |

### Feature Props

| # | Prop | Description | Pixel Count | Est. Cost (AUD) | Difficulty |
|---|------|-------------|-------------|------------------|------------|
| 16 | **Mega Tree (4–6m)** | Centrepiece cone tree. 16–48 strings radiating from central pole. The king of props. | 1,600–4,800 | $2,000–$8,000 | ★★★★★ |
| 17 | **Singing Faces** | Flat coro faces with separate pixel zones for eyes, nose, mouth. Lip-sync via Papagayo/xLights. | 100–200 per face | $150–$300 each | ★★★★☆ |
| 18 | **Pixel Matrix / Video Wall** | Grid of pixels acting as a low-res video screen. P10 panels or custom pixel grid. | 500–40,000 | $500–$5,000 | ★★★★★ |
| 19 | **Spinners** | Rotating props (candy cane spinners, star spinners) — mechanical + pixel. | 50–100 | $80–$150 each | ★★★☆☆ |
| 20 | **Pixel Wreath** | Large circular wreath prop, often 1–1.5m diameter. Coro or custom build. | 50–150 | $60–$150 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| 21 | **Pixel Cross / Religious** | Illuminated cross for faith-based displays, often placed prominently. | 50–200 | $60–$200 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| 22 | **Moving Heads** | DMX-controlled moving head spot/wash lights adding sweeping beams to the display. | N/A (DMX) | $150–$500 each | ★★★★☆ |
| 23 | **Laser Projector** | Garden laser projecting patterns onto house/trees, synced to show. | N/A | $50–$300 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| 24 | **Fog Machine** | Ground fogger or atmospheric hazer adding atmosphere to the display, especially tunnels. | N/A | $80–$200 | ★★☆☆☆ |
| 25 | **Coro Presents / Gift Boxes** | Illuminated gift box props in various sizes, stacked or scattered. | 30–80 per box | $30–$60 each | ★★☆☆☆ |
| 26 | **Selfie Wings** | Angel wing cutouts sized for visitors to stand in front of for photos. | 100–200 | $100–$250 | ★★★☆☆ |

---

## xLights Effect Showcase

xLights ships with 50+ built-in effects. Here are the 20 most popular for Christmas displays, with descriptions of what they actually look like.

### 1. Chase (Single Strand)

- **Visual**: A band of lit pixels travels along a model like a train of light — left to right, right to left, or bouncing. The classic "running lights" effect.
- **Best On**: Rooflines, arches, fence lines, candy canes — any single-strand model
- **Settings**: Chase size (% of strand lit), direction, speed, 3D fade for depth
- **Tip**: Layer a white chase over a static blue base for a classy look

### 2. Rainbow

- **Visual**: A smooth cycling of all hue colours across the model — red → orange → yellow → green → blue → purple and back. Creates a continuous flowing rainbow.
- **Best On**: Any model — universally popular
- **Tip**: Adjust speed and direction for variety; slow rainbow on a mega tree is mesmerising

### 3. Twinkle

- **Visual**: Individual pixels randomly turn on and off with a gentle fade, simulating traditional twinkling fairy lights. Warm and organic-looking.
- **Best On**: Mini trees, rooflines, snowflakes — anything that benefits from a soft, sparkly look
- **Settings**: Number of twinkling lights, twinkle steps (fade speed), strobe mode, re-randomize colours
- **Tip**: Single warm white with slow twinkle = elegant; multi-colour with fast twinkle = festive

### 4. Fire

- **Visual**: Realistic flickering flame effect with licks of fire rising from the bottom (or any edge). Orange/red/yellow colour palette with random intensity variation.
- **Best On**: Mega trees, matrices, any tall model where flames can "rise"
- **Settings**: Height, growth cycles, location (bottom/top/left/right), grow with music
- **Tip**: Set to "grow with music" for flames that surge with bass hits

### 5. Meteors

- **Visual**: Streaks of light fall (or fly in any direction) like shooting stars or meteor shower. Each meteor has a bright head and a fading tail.
- **Best On**: Mega trees (falling rain effect), matrices, rooflines
- **Settings**: Direction (down, up, left, right, implode, explode, icicles), count, trail length, swirl, speed
- **Tip**: "Icicles" mode creates a dripping icicle effect perfect for winter scenes; "Explode" creates a starburst

### 6. Fireworks

- **Visual**: Bursts of coloured light exploding outward from random points, simulating a fireworks display. Particles fly out and fade.
- **Best On**: Matrices, mega trees — needs a 2D surface for full impact
- **Settings**: Number of explosions, particle count, velocity, fade speed
- **Tip**: Use with music sync on loud moments (chorus hits, cymbal crashes)

### 7. Butterfly

- **Visual**: Seemingly random swirling patterns of colour that morph and flow organically. Psychedelic and mesmerising — looks different every time based on parameters.
- **Best On**: Mega trees, matrices — any 2D model
- **Settings**: Multiple style algorithms, colours, speed, direction
- **Tip**: Hard to predict visually from settings — experiment heavily and preview

### 8. Spirals

- **Visual**: Bands of colour that wrap around a model in a spiral/helix pattern, rotating either clockwise or counterclockwise. Like a barber pole in motion.
- **Best On**: Mega trees (the classic spiral tree look), candy canes, spiral trees
- **Settings**: Rotation speed, number of spirals, thickness, direction, blend
- **Tip**: Two opposing spirals layered create a DNA helix / weaving effect

### 9. Galaxy

- **Visual**: A spiral galaxy-like pattern that expands outward from the centre, rotating as it grows. Think spiral arms of light radiating outward.
- **Best On**: Mega trees, matrices, round models
- **Settings**: Clockwise/counter-clockwise, number of arms, speed, centre position
- **Tip**: Looks stunning on mega trees viewed from above (drone footage)

### 10. Pinwheel

- **Visual**: Rotating blades of colour spinning around a central point, like a windmill or pinwheel toy. Sharp-edged wedges of colour.
- **Best On**: Mega trees (viewed from front), matrices, round props
- **Settings**: Number of arms, rotation speed, twist, thickness, new/old render method
- **Tip**: 3 arms with thick blades at medium speed = classic pinwheel; many thin arms at high speed = hypnotic

### 11. Fan

- **Visual**: Similar to pinwheel but with blade-like objects that can spiral and curve. More organic than pinwheel's sharp wedges.
- **Best On**: Mega trees, matrices
- **Settings**: Blade count, rotation, element size, duration
- **Tip**: Combine with colour wash on a second layer for rich depth

### 12. Color Wash

- **Visual**: A smooth gradient wash of selected colours that sweeps across the entire model. Like a slow tide of colour flowing in one direction.
- **Best On**: Any model — it's the universal "base layer" effect
- **Settings**: Horizontal/vertical, colour cycle speed, shimmer option
- **Tip**: Use as a base layer under more complex effects for richness

### 13. Curtain

- **Visual**: A colour transition sweeps across the model like a curtain opening or closing — from centre outward, edges inward, or one side to the other.
- **Best On**: Mega trees, matrices, grouped arches, whole-house models
- **Settings**: Open/close direction, speed, repeat, edge style
- **Tip**: "Curtain open" from centre on a mega tree looks like the tree is blooming

### 14. Bars

- **Visual**: Straight-edged bands of colour moving across the model in one direction. Clean, geometric, and bold.
- **Best On**: Rooflines, matrices, any model needing a structured look
- **Settings**: Direction (up/down/left/right/diagonal), bar count, highlight/3D edge style, gradient
- **Tip**: 3D bars with highlight edges look like scrolling neon signs

### 15. Circles

- **Visual**: Solid sphere-like objects that move in seemingly random paths across the model, bouncing off edges. Like coloured balls rolling around.
- **Best On**: Matrices, mega trees
- **Settings**: Number of circles, size, speed, bounce/collide, radial fade
- **Tip**: Fun and playful — great for children's songs in the show

### 16. Marquee

- **Visual**: Bands of lit pixels scroll around the outer edge of a model, like a theatre marquee with chasing bulbs. The classic "Broadway" look.
- **Best On**: Arches, window frames, prop outlines — any model with a defined edge
- **Settings**: Band size, skip size, speed, reverse, stacker
- **Tip**: White marquee around window frames = timeless elegance

### 17. Morph

- **Visual**: A shape of one colour smoothly transforms/morphs into another shape and colour. Start and end points can be positioned anywhere on the model.
- **Best On**: Mega trees (interleaving fingers effect), matrices
- **Settings**: Start/end position (x,y), start/end colour, head/tail length, repeat
- **Tip**: Multiple morphs on different layers of a mega tree = spectacular interleaving fingers

### 18. Garlands

- **Visual**: Wavy, garland-shaped bands of colour draped across the model, like physical garlands or bunting. Sine-wave pattern.
- **Best On**: Matrices, mega trees, any model where you want a decorative drape look
- **Settings**: Garland type, spacing, movement speed, cycles
- **Tip**: Slow-moving garlands in warm gold = classic Christmas elegance

### 19. Shockwave

- **Visual**: A ring of light that expands outward from a central point like a ripple in water or a shockwave blast. Concentric circles of energy.
- **Best On**: Matrices, mega trees — needs 2D space
- **Settings**: Centre position, start/end radius, width, acceleration, blend edges
- **Tip**: Perfect for syncing with drum hits or bass drops in music

### 20. Ripple

- **Visual**: Similar to shockwave but with multiple concurrent rings creating an interference pattern, like raindrops on a pond.
- **Best On**: Matrices, mega trees
- **Settings**: Shape (circle, square, diamond, triangle), rotation, thickness, cycle count
- **Tip**: Multi-colour ripple with slow speed = hypnotic water effect

### Bonus Effects Worth Knowing

| Effect | Quick Description |
|--------|-------------------|
| **Faces** | Lip-sync animation — drives singing face props via Papagayo phoneme data |
| **Glediator** | Import effects from the Glediator matrix-design tool |
| **Tree** | Zigzag branch pattern against coloured background — purpose-built for tree models |
| **Fill** | Floods a model with colour from one edge — great for dramatic reveals |
| **VU Meter** | Music-reactive bars/levels that bounce with audio intensity |
| **Wave** | Oscillating sine-wave patterns of colour |
| **Strobe** | Rapid on-off flashing — use sparingly (epilepsy consideration) |
| **Shimmer** | Rapid brightness variation across all pixels — sparkle effect |
| **Candle** | Flickering candle flame simulation — softer than Fire |
| **DMX** | Direct DMX channel control for non-pixel devices (moving heads, floods) |
| **State** | Static model states — useful for props with defined positions (e.g., nativity figures) |
| **Servo** | Controls servo motors for mechanical props (waving Santa, moving reindeer) |
| **Video** | Plays actual video files mapped onto pixel matrices |
| **Pictures** | Displays static images mapped onto models |
| **Text** | Scrolling or static text display — "Merry Christmas", "Tune to 87.9 FM" |

---

## Quick Reference: Cost Tiers (AUD)

| Tier | Pixel Count | Typical Cost | What You Get |
|------|-------------|--------------|--------------|
| **Starter** | 200–500 | $350–$600 | Roofline only, basic effects |
| **Foundation** | 500–2,000 | $600–$2,500 | Roofline + 2–3 ground props, simple music sync |
| **Intermediate** | 2,000–5,000 | $2,500–$6,000 | Full house outline, mega tree, multiple props, full show |
| **Advanced** | 5,000–15,000 | $6,000–$15,000 | Multi-element show, matrix, complex sequencing |
| **Epic** | 15,000–50,000+ | $15,000–$50,000+ | Whole-property coverage, video mapping, walk-through elements |

**Rule of thumb**: ~$1.50–$1.75 AUD per finished pixel (including controller, PSU, wiring, props).

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## Resources

- **AusChristmasLighting**: [auschristmaslighting.com](https://auschristmaslighting.com/) — Australian community, forums, wiki, 101 manual
- **Christmas Light Search Australia**: [christmaslightsearch.com.au](http://christmaslightsearch.com.au/) — find displays near you
- **Learn Christmas Lighting**: [learnchristmaslighting.com](https://www.learnchristmaslighting.com/) — tutorials, cost breakdowns, video guides
- **xLights Manual**: [manual.xlights.org](https://manual.xlights.org/) — complete effect documentation
- **Your Pixel Store**: [yourpixelstore.com](https://yourpixelstore.com/) — buyer's guides and starter kits
- **Extreme Lighting Displays (ELD)**: Australian coro prop supplier
- **Boscoyo Studio**: [boscoyostudio.com](https://boscoyostudio.com/) — USA coro prop supplier (ships to AU)
- **Planet Christmas**: [planetchristmas.com](https://planetchristmas.com/) — build guides and community
- **DIY Christmas**: [diychristmas.org](https://diychristmas.org/) — wiki with arch/prop build documentation

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*This gallery is a living document. Add your own finds and display photos as you discover them.*