Greg Anderson, the man behind "Christmas in Wadena" for the last several years, has combined an aptitude for computers and an ear for music to create the light show in front of his home.
There are more than 100,000 lights in the display, 2.5 miles of extension cords and close to 400 amps of power in the show that runs from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 5:30 to 10 p.m. Friday.
Anderson's home was hit by the 2010 tornado, and they had to fix the roof and chimney. He said concentrating on repairs made it harder to be creative this time around.
He said for every five seconds of music, it takes 10 to 12 hours to program.
"Wizards in Winter" by Transsiberian Orchestra plays with nine dancing trees and 20,000 lights and the large tree with 15,000 lights.
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The computer code tells the decorative angels when to move their mouths to the music and other details.
This year, the striped candy canes and angels on the roof are new.
"You don't just plug in power strips," he said.
Anderson said people always ask about the electric bill, but he never tells anyone.
He has sponsors, which can show on the video in the 14-foot-wide giant wreath built in 2010.
"It has 27,000 lights on it," he said. "We have to get a crane to lift it up and drop it in here ... Everything that you see, I've had to build."
People tune into his FM station, 88.1, on their car radios. Anderson said it can be picked up around six to eight blocks, and a good half mile when there is snow.
The week of Christmas, it is so busy that he has to direct traffic.
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Anderson started writing code in 2007. This is the fourth year of full computerization.
"First I saw on a Superbowl commercial that one of the national sponsors had computerized lights," he said. "I researched and found out who had the software."
He found out there were a few other people in the United States and one from China, and they started writing code and creating light shows.
"You have to have some feeling for music," he said.
Anderson played music all through college and high school. He is a 1974 Wadena-Deer Creek graduate.
"Back in the day I took the tuba parts and we wrote it to bass guitar," he said. "We were always pushing the envelope for music."
Donations to Christmas in Wadena go to Project Share of Wadena County. In 2010, $1,600 and 440 pounds of food were contributed.
Anderson was vandalized in 2009 and 2010, but he said that with the extremely high voltage, trespassing on the yard is not safe. He has had to get more video security with a sponsor, West Central.
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Before their yard was a yearly computerized production, the Andersons had decorated their home and won the Wadena lighting contest.
More information can be found at www.christmasinwadena.com
