Dancing lights brighten holiday

Belleville News-Democrat

December 23, 2007

THERE ARE a lot of beautiful, brightly colored lights lining the houses and lawns of Aviston, but the home of Rick and Barb Nelson in the 800 block east of First Street still manages to stand out.

They have the only house where the Christmas decorations -- at least the lights on the decorations -- dance to the music. They even supply the music via the FM radio in your vehicle.

When you drive by the house and tune to 93.5 FM, Christmas music plays and the lights flash on and off in time with the music. That way the neighbors aren't disturbed by loud noise, said Rick Nelson, owner of the display.

'The station only reaches a few blocks,' he said. 'This is just our second year, but it's been pretty popular with the kids. Parents tell me their kids make them come this way on their way out of town.'

Their house is just west of Schumacher Road, which connects to Old U.S. 50 just east of Aviston.

He said he hasn't seen many such displays locally, but it is becoming a popular thing around the country.

'You see it a lot on the Internet,' he said.

His display gets a little bigger every year, with animals, snowflakes and lights lining the house.

Getting the display up is sort of like getting any display assembled.

His wife, Barb, said their kids are older and out of the home, but luckily come back to do the climbing and heavy lifting.

Rick Nelson said there probably are more than 60 heavy-duty extension cords connecting an unknown number of lights.

Planning the show takes a lot more time than assembling the hardware. Nelson said he has to listen to pieces of the songs then go back and figure out what lights are going to be on and off.

'It takes three or four hours to do one song,' he said.

The station rotates a play list of about 15 or 16 songs, all Christmas related. 'Wizards in Winter' by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra is one of the liveliest selections with lights dancing on and off all over the yard.

Barb Nelson said they also used the radio station during a Fourth of July party.

Wally Spiers' column runs five days a week. Have a column idea? Call Wally at 239-2506 or (800) 642-3878; or e-mail: wspiers@bnd.com

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