We've moved to an apartment, so the display is over for now.  Thanks to everyone who stopped by the past few years and made the show a great success.  We will miss putting up the display for everyone, but stay tuned for updates!  The show may be back in a couple years when we have a suitable space again. 

The laser was upgraded from analog to digital RGB, which is now capable of producing 16.7 million colors.  The previous laser could only produce 7 colors.  In other news, a majority of the firework strobes (sparkle effect) were irreparably damaged during the flooding.  More have been ordered, but since a majority of them were hand painted, there may not be as many colors this year.  With display preparation and setup around the corner, there may not be time to paint the new ones.   Also, I purchased a video projector for the display.  Instead of having a tiny TV in the window, the video will be projected on the 5' x 5' screen.  This was a much needed upgrade, as many people never saw the video playing in the window last year.  Finally, the yard grid has changed significantly from mini lights to C9s.  This should provide a much brighter spectacle for yard effects. 

The classics from 2009 will be back including "Thiller" by Michael Jackson, "This is Halloween" from The Nightmare Before Christmas, "Tubular Bells" from the movie The Exorcist, and "Fantasmic!" from Disney.  In addition, the laser pieces will run again including Ghostbusters, Monster Mash, and Purple People Eater.

Fantasmic is a 20 minute sequence where Mickey Mouse uses his vivid imagination to create magical imagery for all to enjoy.  Sorcerer Mickey appears in the opening sequence where Mickey uses his Fantasia skills to call up powerful jets of water.  As Mickey progresses through his imagination, he travels through many scenes including the Fantasmic! theme, Fantasia, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Best.   There are many familiar themes as well as new ones.  As Mickey dives deeper through his imagination, it becomes more treacherous. Evil eyes invade his imagination and stare. Ghosts and spirits appear and fly around.  Even a witch manages to penetrate Mickey's mind and appear.  As she works her brew and magic (and consults her magic mirror for advice), she does everything in her power to take over Mickey's mind and turn his dreams into an overwhelming nightmare!  Is Mickey's imagination powerful enough and strong enough to overcome the evil forces that invade his mind?  The sequence features many simulated special effects including fire, smoke, water jets, fireworks, specialized theater lighting, projections, video, laser, and an atomic strobe.

Synchronized Video

A giant green eye ball, spiders, and flaming pumpkins are just a few of things you will projected in the window.  While video is used predominately for the announcement portions of the display, it also is used during Fantasmic! to project a floating image for the magic mirror. 

Fireworks / Water Jets

The display features three 10 foot poles wrapped with 1400 lights each. The poles are used to simulate water jets as well as firework launches during the Fantasmic! piece.  The fireworks on the roof were built with coroplast and Christmas lights, and they simulate the firework burst.   

Strobes

Over 200 strobes adorn the roof producing the wow sparkle for the fireworks.  In addition, the martin atomic strobe in the yard throws an impressive 3,000 watts of light on the house for a frightening effect.  (A standard light bulb is 60 watts.)

Fog

Periodically, fog is randomly sprayed in the display, but the Fantasmic! piece uses fog strategically.  From creating a creepy atmosphere to capturing light beams from moving light projections, fog greatly enhances the display effects. 

Projections

The display features 8 moving head light fixtures.  6 provide RGB color mixing capable of bathing the house in over 16.7 million unique colors.  They also swing wildly during portions of Fantasmic! to create a spooky light beam in fog effect.  The other lights are loaded with images and project moving images and messages on the house using 500 watts and 250 watts of light respectively. 

Laser

The display features laser shows for portions of some songs including Ghostbusters, Purple People Eater, and Fantasmic!.  These songs occur periodically in the show cycle, and they can also be requested on demand using the phone request line. 

Request Line

One of the new features this year is the addition of a song request hotline.  Patrons viewing the display can call the request phone number and choose the next song!  It's automated and easy.  Just call in and follow the voice prompts to pick the song you want to hear.  Don't remember what songs we have this year?  Our automated attendant Gus the Ghost will answer your call, and he will be happy to tell you all about the songs we have.   Come by the display and try it out!

FM Broadcast

The show’s synchronized audio occurs through speakers in the front yard which shut down at 9pm.  The display is also simulcast on 99.1FM from a transmitter inside the house.  Patrons within 2 blocks of the house can tune into 99.1FM to pick up the display audio 24/7.    

Live Broadcast

Our website has live webcams of the display as well song history and other information.  In addition, the audio is streamed live on the web.  Check it out at http://ForestParkLights.com/component/option,com_wrapper/Itemid,43/

• All Lights On Photo Opportunity
  Option 1 on Request Line 
  ~ 30 Seconds
  They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so why not take a picture home with you?  This 30 second sequence gives you a golden opportunity to take the perfect picture of the display.  Say cheese!

•  Thriller by Michael Jackson  
  Option 2 on Request Line
  ~ 6 Minutes
  Having its debut in 2007, this piece plays with color and color combinations both in the graveyard and on the house.   This song gets heavy play during the show and occurs more frequently than other pieces.    

•  This is Halloween from the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas 
  Option 3 on Request Line
  ~ 3 Minutes
  Having its debut in 2007, this "flashy" piece often uses the floods for the vocals and produces great contrast and very bright flashes on the house.  Originally programmed for regular flood lights, the flashing was greatly limited due in 2007 due to the amount of time incandescent floods take to turn off.  This is the first time this piece was used with my LED fixtures (instant on/off), and the flashing effect is phenomenal.  The LED units are fast enough they could be used for strobing effects.  This song gets heavy play during the show and occurs more frequently than other pieces.      

•  Tubular Bells from the movie The Exorcist 
  Option 4 on Request Line
  ~ 4 Minutes
  Having its debut in 2007, this piece was designed to follow and mimic the rapid flow of this piece.  If you're paying close attention, you'll notice this piece drifts towards the end.  This song gets heavy play during the show and occurs more frequently than other pieces. 

•  Darkness Descends by Midnight Syndicate 
  Options 5 on Request Line
  ~ 2 Minutes
  Having its debut in 2007, this piece was designed to provide a spooky Halloween ambience for the yard.  Watch the color mixes and flows that occur throughout the display which produces the eerie ambience of Halloween.  This song gets light play during the show and occurs half as often as more popular songs.
  

•  Footsteps in the Dust by Midnight Syndicate
  Option 6 on Request Line
  ~ 2 Minutes
  Having its debut in 2007, this piece was designed to provide a spooky Halloween ambience for the yard.  Watch and see the true feeling of Halloween as eerie lighting turns the display into a haunted house ending with heart beats.  This song gets light play during the show and occurs half as often as more popular songs. 

• Disney's Fantasmic! 
  Option 7 on Request Line
  ~ 19 Minutes
  Debuting this year, Fantasmic! is a cutting from Disney's famous Fantasmic! show which took over two years to program.  This monstrous, 19 minute sequence pulls out all the stops and pushes the envelope of Holiday lighting.  Watch as Mickey uses his vivid imagination to create magical imagery for all to enjoy.  Over the course of the journey, Mickey plays with powerful water jets, encounters a dragon, a witch, and a magic mirror.  However, when the evil witch Magnificent tries to take over Mickey's dreams, it quickly becomes a battle between good and evil.  The sequence features many simulated special effects including fire, smoke, water jets, fireworks, specialized theater lighting, projections, video, laser, motion lights, and an atomic strobe.  Because of the song length and smoke effects, this song gets very low play.  However, you can request this song anytime on demand by calling the request line.  Click here for additional Fantasmic! promo description.

• Ghostbusters Theme from the movie Ghostbusters
  Option 8 on Request Line
  ~ 4 Minutes
  Debuting this year, Ghostbusters is a classic not to be missed!  This piece is not much but beat flashers on the Halloween display, because this piece is designed to feature laser animations.  A late addition this year, this song is one of the few which features synchronized laser.  It's a must see and a hit with the kids.  
  
  

• Purple People Eater by Sheb Wooley
  Option 9 on Request Line
  ~ 2 Minutes
  Debuting this year, Purple People Eater is a classic not to be missed!  This beat flasher is light on display features to showcase synchronized laser animation.  Watch the laser show and enjoy the story told in laser animation.  It's a must see and a hit with the kids.  
  
  
  
  
• Monster Mash by Bobby "Boris" Pickett 
  Option 0 on Request Line
  ~ 3 Minutes
  Debuting this year, this piece is also lighter weight to feature laser animation.  Watch the laser animations of the lab complete with Frankenstein doing the Monster Mash!  
  

Click here for a printer friendly version.

Definitions:

• Song Name - The song title
• Request Number - The number required to request the song using the request line.  When you call the request line, you can press your desired song number immediately instead of listening to the entire phone menu.
• Laser Animation - Some songs feature a 5'x5' animated laser graphic show to go along with the lights. 
• Video - Does the sequence make use of rear projected video?  If so, a synchronized video will play with the sequence. 
  
• Fog - Is fog used during this sequence?
  
• DMX Q-Spot - Are the large moving head fixtures used to project images on the house? 
• Strobes - Are strobe lights used during this song?
  
• Fireworks - Are the fireworks activated during this song?
  
• Approximate Length - The approximate length in minutes.  This is useful if you need to know how long before the current song ends.
  

The request line is back!  Patrons viewing the display can call the request number from their cell phone and choose the next song.  It's automated and easy.  Just call in and follow the voice prompts to pick the song you want to hear.  Don't remember what songs we have this year?  Our automated attendant Gus the Ghost will answer your call, and he will be happy to tell you all about the songs we have.   So don't be shy and sit there waiting for your favorite song to come on.  Just call in, sit back, relax, and enjoy as your favorites are played on the display. 

To get the phone number, just watch the LED sign or listen for the number in the announcements.  If the LED sign says "Call Line Busy," then another caller is currently making a request or the system is busy and not ready to accept phone calls.  Wait a few minutes and the system usually frees up.