Brandon Whitehead has been setting up a computer-controlled Christmas light show at his home for the past three years. It all started in 2007, when he talked his parents into coming up to Vancouver for Christmas.
“It’s my mom’s favorite time of the year,” he said, adding that he wanted to do something special because they were making the trip from California.
He’s been setting up shows ever since.
He started building this year’s display in the middle of October.
He’s using 48 outlets for light controllers, around 10,000 feet of extension cords and has 41,500 lights.
What’s more, you can tune in to his show when nearby. Whitehead broadcasts on a low power radio transmitter set to 88.5 FM.
He lit it the display for the first time on Nov. 28, the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Whitehead also uses his display to collect money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Oregon. Last year, he collected about $1,500 in a donation box in his driveway.
Whitehead’s home at 16304 N.E. 63rd St. in Vancouver is on display starting at 5 p.m. each evening. If you want to check things out before making the visit, you can point your computer’s browser to his holiday website: www.magicallightson63rdst.com.
Here is a list of other decorated homes that were submitted by Columbian readers:
Central Vancouver, Minnehaha and The Heights
Road’s End: Marilyn Freimuth has around 40 lighted figurines and lights decorating her yard and home, which is located at 4009 N.E. 65th Ave. in Vancouver. She does all the set-up work herself and will light her display from 5 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 5 to 11:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
East Vancouver, Cascade Park, Fisher’s Landing and Evergreen
Fisher-Mill Plain: The Holloway home at 2517 N.E. 176th Ave. in Vancouver will be lit with more than 60,000 lights from 5 to 10 p.m. through Christmas. A 200-foot fence lining a private road is lit with a big arrow to lead you to the home.
Fisher-Mill Plain: You’ll find the Hibdon/Strickland family home just down the street from the Holloway home. This house is decorated with thousands of lights in a candy cane theme, said resident Jody Strickland. It also features a blow-up Santa and reindeer, giant candy canes, icicle lights and a few more seasonal selections. Strickland says the family will hand out candy canes to kids on some of the weekend nights closer to Christmas. Their home will be on display from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. on weeknights and a little later on the weekends.
Riveridge: Randy Peppers and his daughters have worked hard to cover their roof in lights at 11806 S.E. Riverridge Drive. Other decorations include Santa and his sleigh, giant candy canes, gifts, reindeer, a snowman and lights on the trees. The lights are on from 6 to 10 p.m. daily.
Maple Tree: Stan and Bobbi Kay Kirschenmann have a display of 30,000 lights, as well as a Nativity and sleigh-ride scene. Lights will be on from 5 to 10 p.m. each night until Dec. 30 at 7207 N.E. 92nd Ave.
Kevanna Park: Denis Porter II and Amy Hubbard have more 10,000 lights highlighting candy canes, Santa, deer and gingerbread. The lights are on daily from 5 to 10 p.m. at 4506 N.E. 106th Ave.
Orchards, Sifton and Brush Prairie
Sifton: Mila and Richard Gertz have been decorating their house at 13210 N.E. 93rd St. for the past nine years. Every year, they add more decorations to the mix. This year the theme is “The Joy of Christmas Decorating.” There are close to 20,000 lights and also offer a train bridge, a Christmas tree and numerous blow-up characters including Santa, a snowman, a nutcracker and more. The lights will be on from around 5 p.m. to midnight through Jan. 2.
Proebstel: The lights are shining at Swede and Joyce Livingston’s home at 20306 N.E. 68th St. They have numerous inflatables and figurines. Of the approximate 30,000 lights, more than 8,000 of them are on the roof blinking to Christmas carols. Lights are on daily from 4:45 to 9:30 p.m. through New Year’s Eve.
Sunnyside: Brad and Shelley Burnett have 25,000 lights, plus a Ferris wheel, candy canes, lollipops and a skiing polar bear in their front yard. Lights will be shining from 6 to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6 to midnight Friday and Saturday at 9109 N.E. 109th Ave.
Hazel Dell: Steve Blanca and Mia Moore have between 10,000 and 15,000 lights synced to a 35-minute music and light show at 11212 N.W. Ninth Ave. In the yard, there is a life-sized gingerbread house, a 4-foot-by-8-foot replica of a mouse trap baited with milk and cookies for Santa, a carousel, Santa in a hot air balloon and a Ferris wheel. You can also see that Santa’s sleigh has crashed and you can see his legs sticking out of the roof. In the garage, there is a large Christmas village with a train. Lights are on from dusk to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and dusk to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
Felida: Bobbie Kay, 11111 N.W. 19th Ave., has her house lighted up and a display of candy canes. The lights are on from 5 to 11 p.m. nightly.
Central Vancouver
Central Park: The Russell family lives at 1601 X St. and has an array of white lights, with red highlights, on the white picket fence surrounding their property. The lights are on from 4:30 to midnight daily.
East Clark County: Camas and Washougal
Camas: Kevin and Kim Giel’s house at 2707 N.W. Leadbetter Parkway is once again done up for Christmas in a red, white and green theme, with icicle lights on the house, three reindeer pulling a sled, reindeer grazing, candy canes along the driveway, wreaths, Christmas figures and ornaments along the porch and the roof of the garage covered in lights. The lights are on from 4:30 to 11 p.m. daily.
Washougal: More than a dozen homes in the Sunset Ridge subdivision along 51st Street are decorated for the holidays. Neighbors are calling it “Miracle on 51st Street,” according to resident Rudy Ramirez. Folks have been trying to outdo their neighbors for several years, resulting in a community light show. Lights are on from about 7 to 11 p.m., according to Ramirez. They will be on through the new year.
Camas: The Pfeiffer home at 4430 N.W. Crystal Court in Camas is decorated with 44,000 lights. Home-owner John Pfeiffer said the lights are sequenced to 12 different songs using 256 channels of computer animation. Music is broadcast on 87.9 FM. The show runs from 5 to 9:30 p,m. on weeknights and 5 to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The home also includes a “mega tree” with 9,600 lights, leaping arches, four exploding stars and eight mini trees. “It is a quality light show,” that neighbors call a “must see,” Pfeiffer said in an e-mail.
