A Step-by-Step Guide to Planning a Holiday Light Show

A holiday light show is a great way to celebrate the spirit of the season. When businesses host light shows, they draw people in. They also establish their company as one that wants to go that extra mile for the community.

However, it’s not easy to plan a holiday light show. You must ensure the electrical components are configured safely. Planners must also choreograph the lighting to create a stunning effect.

This article will outline the steps you must take to put on a light show that impresses your community. 

There are several reasons why you should plan a holiday light show. Here are some to consider.

1. Good for Businesses: Businesses that plan a holiday light show can use the event as a marketing tool. It will get their name out to the community and attract customers.
2. Employees Appreciate It: Employees may appreciate getting involved. They will also enjoy the celebration itself. It may increase loyalty, advocacy, and retention rates.
3. It’s Fun: A light show is a fun way to gather with community members, get to know each other, and understand what this special season is all about.

Here’s why holiday decor matters:

1. Good for Company Reputation: Imagine going to great lengths to plan your holiday light show. People come and gather, but they are disappointed by the results. It can look bad for your company. The right decor, on the other hand, will ensure you put your best foot forward.
2. Can Align with Your Brand Image: When a business hosts a light show, it wants to remind people who is behind it. You can incorporate your company colors, logo, and mascots into your decor to ensure people remember your company name.
3. Can Be Targeted to Customer Segments: Consider your target audience. Ensure your decor suits their tastes. Doing so will ensure the success of your marketing efforts.

A holiday light show requires a lot of planning. Here are some things to keep in mind. 

First, you must consider your light show aesthetics in terms of color, theme, and overall style. Considerations include:

• Brand Voice: Choose a color, theme, and style that expresses your brand voice. For example, if your business caters to children, be sure your light show is family-friendly. If you own a luxury company, your light show should be upscale and elegant. You may also include your company colors in your color scheme.
• Target Audience: Consider your target audience. What themes and styles do they enjoy? Ensure your light show caters to their tastes.
• Trends: Think about current trends. For example, maybe everyone is raving about a new movie that just came out. Determine if you can include it in your light show theme. You should also consider lighting trends that guide the color and light types to incorporate.

Your holiday light design plans must suit your budget. Here are some holiday decor budgeting tips to keep in mind:

• Venue: Where will the holiday light event take place? If you plan to host it inside your business, you won’t have to be concerned about venue expenses. However, if you plan to host it outdoors, consider rental fees, permitting, and more.
• Decor: A light event requires plenty of lights and other holiday decorations. Consider these fees when you budget for the holiday light show.
• Workers: Likely, you will need workers to work the event and ensure things go as planned. They will handle the installation and work the lights at the event. Determine how much they will charge.
• Marketing: Ensure your event is well attended by launching a marketing campaign. Consider how much you will spend on paid ads, physical marketing materials, and marketing staff fees.
• Food, Drinks, and Other Entertainment: if you plan to serve food or drinks at your event or have entertainers perform, it will increase expenses.
• Barriers and Seating: You may need to erect barriers to ensure no one comes too close to dangerous or fragile elements. Seating for your guests can also add to costs.

Determine how much you can spend on the event. Then, estimate the cost of your necessities. If you think you might go over budget, consider ways to reduce expenses, such as minimizing decoration and labor costs. 

Next, map out a design to decide where everything will go. This can be as easy as making a rough sketch on a piece of paper. However, you must eventually talk to a professional to determine how to wire and place the decorations.

With so much going on, knowing where to put everything can be challenging. Professionals advise going slow and gradually building out your design. Experience will also help you determine which elements complement each other best.

A professional can guide you, ensuring you choose the right materials and decorations. They may even provide decorations for the display. However, if you are tasked with gathering materials, here are a few things to remember. 

• More is Better: You can always use more lights for your display. Extension chords are also often at a premium. Determine how much you will need- then buy more.
• Purchase Individual LED Pixels Instead of Light Strips: Pixels are easier to move around, allowing you to achieve a customized aesthetic.
• Purchase a Controller: A controller will allow you to customize light movements. There are several on the market. Shop around to determine which is suited to your needs.
• Prop Selection: Will you have a main prop surrounded by smaller components? Or will you focus more on individual elements? Determine your focus and ensure a suitable prop selection.

Installation should take place close to the event date. After all, you don’t want your decorations sitting out where they can get damaged. 

Plan your installation near the event date, but give yourself enough time for testing. Do a mock run-through of the lighting event. Address issues before the show begins.

A music-synched holiday light show is optional, but it will add a dramatic effect and make it more impressive. There are several software tools you can use to sync your show to music. A professional can also help.

You must also consider your main options for amplifying music. They include:

• Speakers: Buy outdoor speakers that are dust and water-resistant to ensure they will hold up well throughout the holiday season.
• FM Broadcast: You can also broadcast your music over an FM station that isn’t used in your area. You must buy an FM transmitter and set it to the frequency you want to use. Be aware that the Federal Communication Commission will not allow you to broadcast music more than 200 feet from the transmitter without a license. 

Other considerations:

• If you plan to play music, consult the neighbors to agree on a suitable volume and cut-off time. If neighbors are disturbed, they could call the police and shut down your event.
• Consider the number of songs to queue up. You can typically play nine songs in 30 minutes. Determine how many you should add to your playlist based on the event start and end time.

Promoting your event will ensure attendance. It also helps market your business. Here are some strategies for marketing your holiday light show.

• Social Media: Design a flier to post on social media to advertise your event. Create an online event and invite your followers. Use both paid and unpaid ads to increase your reach.
• Physical Advertising: Use physical advertising to attract a local crowd. Hang fliers in nearby shops and community centers. Give out fliers in your business and invite people who come in.
• Emails: Email your contact list to ensure a good turnout and promote customer loyalty.

Crowd management should be an essential part of your holiday light event planning. If crowds get out of control, your event could get shut down. If injuries or incidents occur, it could damage your brand reputation.

Here are some ways to keep the crowd under control:

1. Use Barriers: Set up barriers to ensure your crowd stays away from dangerous and fragile display components while avoiding spillover into sidewalks and walkways.
2. Hire Security: Hire security to ensure people stay within barriers. They can also help if an incident occurs.
3. Use Signage: Use signage to show where your crowd should stand and to ensure a smooth exit strategy if necessary.

A Christmas light show is a fun holiday project, and it will help market your business. However, it is a huge endeavor. Dekra Lite can be there for all your planning needs.

We can handle most aspects of your event, including sourcing decorations and equipment, installation, operation, and removal. Our years of experience prepare us for unforeseen circumstances. We will ensure you capture the spirit of the season.

Contact us to ensure your holiday light event is a success. 

The cost of planning a light show will vary depending on the amount of lights and decorations you require, your marketing needs, and other necessities like food, drinks, and barriers. However, one experienced light show designer estimates costs at $1 per pixel.

Classic themes for holiday light shows include Under the Theme, Candy Cane Lane, Polar Express, Winter Forest, Starry Night, Victorian Era, and Neon Holiday. The popular movies, shows, and artists of the year can further influence themes. 

Ensure safety while installing holiday lights by:

• Inspecting lights for signs of damage before hanging them.
• Hang outdoor rated lights in outdoor environments.
• Use GFCI outlets that will automatically turn off if moisture is detected.
• Avoid overloading sockets.
• Never attempt to hang lights in inclement weather.

If you work with professionals, setting up a holiday light show should take less than a day.

You may need a holiday light show permit if you plan to host in a public venue like a park. Talk to city officials to find out what’s required.