UPDATES WILL BE POSTED HERE ABOUT OUR 2019 CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW to music located in Harker Heights, Texas (Fort Hood area) as well as on our Facebook page. Make sure to bookmark this page and like our Facebook page to keep up with the latest news.
FACEBOOK PAGE: Carlson Light Display
FACEBOOK EVENT: 2019 Carlson Christmas Light Show
YOUTUBE CHANNEL: Carlson Light Display
LATEST NEWS:
ABOUT:
Feel free to walk or drive by! Our Christmas light show is roughly 45 minutes long this year and repeats on the hour every hour during showtimes. Between showtimes, we have an intermission where the lights are steady on with no music. To listen to the music during the show, please read the FAQ below.
Christmas Light Show Dates:
December 1 – 25, 2019
Christmas Light Show Times:
Dec 1 – 23: 6pm-10pm (last show starts at 9pm)
Dec 24 & 25: 6pm-Midnight (last show starts at 11pm)
Where:
428 Winter Sun Drive in Harker Heights, Texas
Cost:
We keep getting asked how much it cost to attend. Guys, we are just a house in a regular ole’ subdivision who loves Christmas lights and try to be the Griswold’s every year. It’s FREE y’all =)
Music Lineup:
This year we allowed our neighborhood to pick out the surprise song since they have to listen to this over and over again for 25 days and put up with all the traffic every year! We hope you enjoy!
THX Intro
* 30-second Intermission*
Let’s Get Ready to Rumble
* 30-second Intermission*
Griswold Intro
Christmas Vacation Theme Song
*30-Second Intermission*
Carol of the Bells
*30-Second Intermission*
<<SUPRISE SONG, NEIGHBORHOOD PICK>>
*30-Second Intermission*
House on Christmas Street
*30-Second Intermission*
Baby, It’s Cold Outside
*30-Second Intermission*
I Want a Hippopotamus For Christmas
*30-Second Intermission*
Christmas Can-Can
*30-Second Intermission*
Wizards in Winter
*30-Second Intermission*
Frosty The Snowman
*30-Second Intermission*
Soldier’s Night Before Christmas (this is a modified version of Merry Christmas, My Friend by Marine Corporal James M. Schmidt, we did not modify it, but this was the only soundtrack we could find, for the unmodified version, please see below)
*10 Minute Intermission (Lights steady on, NO MUSIC)*
Radio Station For Music: 88.1 FM
FAQ’S
How do I hear the Music?
Tune into FM Station 88.1 from your car to hear the music (or with a handheld radio). We no longer have a speaker outside as it is hard to hear over the cars. Make sure you bring a handheld radio if you are walking up to the show so you can hear the music.
What songs are in this year’s show?
Please see the music lineup section above.
How long is the light show?
The show this year lasts about 45 minutes with an end of show intermission of approximately 15 minutes. The best time for video is anytime during the show and the best time for pictures is the end of show intermission between shows when the lights are steady on (there will be no music being played during intermission).
Will you post a video?
Yes, we will update this post with a video in January, so if you are not in the area make sure to subscribe to my updates on Facebook as I will announce it there when the video is up or on YouTube. We also have a Facebook page set up as well that you can follow!
How many lights are there?
This year we have about 25,000 lights up that are part of the show. We have decided to “clean it up” a bit and have removed about 10,000 lights from the show for a cleaner look.
How long did it take to put together?
It took about 300 man-hours to put everything together this year! Which is quicker than in past years. I think we are finally getting a routine down, lol!
Is there anything else we should be aware of?
Yes! Feel free to take pictures or video from the street, but do not park/walk in the driveway or walk into the yard. We have surveillance cameras set up to protect our property and we will notify Santa if you are caught being naughty! =) Also, please be mindful of our neighbors and do not block driveways or the flow of traffic, cops have no issue writing tickets and they do patrol our neighborhood frequently!
Is there somewhere to park?
Yes, park along the side of the street, but do not park directly in front of the house (you could receive a ticket from the police department for parking within 30 feet of a stop sign if you do), so others can enjoy the show as well, and do not block driveways. You can also park at the school and walk down (make sure you bring a handheld radio to listen to the music if you do this). You can actually see our house from Skipcha Elementary.
Can we walk into the yard or driveway?
No. Please be respectful of our hard work and stay out of the yard and driveway areas. In past years we have had lights damaged causing us to shell out even more money and several man-hours to repair! We have cameras up and will call the police department to have those caught damaging our property arrested for destruction of property and trespassing (sorry to sound grinchy but we just don’t have the extra $500-$1000 that we have to shell out for repairs each season due to damage from others).
Can we take pictures?
Absolutely, from the road only though! Do not walk into the yard or the driveway. There will be about a 15-minute intermission between shows, where the lights will be steady on to allow for pictures.
How/What can we donate?
We have been asked this a lot lately! Believe it or not, our electric bill does not go up that much thanks to using 95% LED lights. The LED lights are what is so expensive and we are constantly having to repair/replace them due to either animals chewing on them or people walking through the display and kids yanking on them.
If you would like to donate, we are always looking for solid colored LED lights (all sizes in the following colors; red, blue, cool white, and green) and LED rope lights (solid colors except warm white). Feel free to drop them off anytime (just leave them on the porch if we are not here).
If you are wanting to make a monetary donation instead, you can donate through PayPal:
Merry Christmas My Friend (The real version)
by Cpl. James M. Schmidt, USMC
This is the original version, unlike the one(s) that have been circulating the net.
Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
in a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone.
I had come down the chimney with presents to give
and to see just who in this home did live.
As I looked all about, a strange sight did I did see…
No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand.
On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.
With medals and badges, awards of all kind,
a sobering thought soon came to my mind.
For this house was different, unlike any I’d seen.
This was the home of a U.S. Marine.
I’d heard stories about them, I had to see more,
so I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.
And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone.
Curled up on the floor of his one bedroom home.
He seemed so gentle, his face so serene.
Not how I pictured a U.S. Marine.
Was this the hero of whom I’d just read?
Curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?
His head was clean shaven, his face weathered tan.
I soon understood this was more than a man.
For I realized the families that I saw that night,
owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight.
Soon around the nation, the children would play,
and grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year,
because of Marines like this one lying here.
I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas eve in a land far from home.
Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye.
I dropped to my knees and I started to cry.
He must have awoken, for I heard a rough voice,
“Santa, don’t cry. This is my choice.
I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more.
My life is my God, my Country, my Corps.”
With that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep.
I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.
I watched him for hours, so silent and still.
I noticed he shivered from the cold night’s chill.
So I took off my jacket, the one made of red,
and covered this Marine from his toes to his head.
Then I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold,
with an eagle, globe and anchor emblazoned so bold.
And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride,
and for one shining moment, I was Marine Corps deep inside.
I didn’t want to leave him, so quiet in the night,
this guardian of honor so willing to fight.
But half asleep he rolled over, and in a voice clean and pure,
said, “Carry on Santa. It’s Christmas Day, all secure.”
One look at my watch and I knew he was right.
Merry Christmas my friend, Semper Fi, and goodnight.
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