[0:01] This is the Farmington feed, bringing you information from the city of Farmington. Hi [0:05] and welcome back to the Farmington feed. I'm Caryn Hojnicki, the city's communications specialist, [0:09] and I'm hungry for another episode of The Feed. I have two guests with me today. Today we'll [0:14] be talking a little bit about Farmington's Halloween Havoc Tour and the Holiday Lights [0:18] Tour. One of our participants, Chad Johnston, is here along with recreation supervisor Emily [0:22] Shear. Hi guys. How you doing today? Good. Um, so welcome to the feed. Nothing like November [0:27] to start talking about holiday lights, right? Oh, of course. You're allowed to start decorating. Oh, [0:31] yes. All year. Yeah. Yeah. So, I guess my first question for you, Chad, is how long have you lived [0:36] in Farmington? I've lived here for 5 years. Moved to Farmington in 2020. And have you been doing [0:42] the lights since then? Started in 2012. Okay. So, wherever you lived, you were decorating. So, did [0:49] you start decorating your house for Halloween and Christmas, or did it just start with one? Mostly [0:53] just Christmas to start with. did a few minor things for Halloween, but not a show until the [1:00] Halloween Havoc Tour actually started. That was the first year I did Halloween. Okay, cool. So, [1:04] Emily, remind us when did that one start? So, the Halloween Havoc Tour started in 2022. And then the [1:11] Holiday Lights Tour actually started in 2021. And the feedback was so great for the holiday lights [1:17] tour and people wanted like they were requesting to have the Halloween decorations out. So, [1:24] we were like, "Well, let's do a Halloween tour, too." So, did you join both tours the first year [1:28] they happened? I joined the holiday tour the first year it happened. That just happened to [1:34] be the first year that I was doing a show here as well. So, it fit perfectly. The I didn't do [1:39] the Halloween one the first year, but I did it the second started doing that the second year. [1:43] Yeah. So, tell me a little bit about your process. Like, how did you come up with your display? Does [1:47] your family help? Like what what's the uh Well, it basically like I'll start planning for next year [1:55] probably in January. Wow. Wow. So, I mean, really? That Yeah, that's Oh, yeah. Okay. So, basically, [2:02] it's because there's a group in Minnesota for light show enthusiasts and everybody gets [2:07] together and does a big group buy of lights. So, you kind of have to know what your plans are for [2:12] the year to be able to get in on that. So, you get a little discount when you do the Oh, that's [2:17] actually really cool. I did no idea. No idea that was going on. Minnesota light show enthusiasts. [2:22] Okay. So that's like a group and they like meet and chat about your light display. Do a convention [2:27] every year. Wow. A convention. It's a it's a small convention. I mean but it's like that's kind of [2:32] cool. When's that convention happen? Usually April and May around around Easter time actually. Okay. [2:38] You said 2012 you started like when what was the like spurring event like oh I'm gonna do this? [2:44] I've always liked Christmas lights from when I was a little kid driving around with my family [2:50] to go see them. Some of my favorite memories of the holidays. So, when I had my own house, [2:55] it was I'm going to decorate it as much as I can. Um, even before that, my younger brother and I had [3:02] started decorating our family house. And it was just super fun to watch people drive by, [3:08] slow down, watch for a while, just to see just static lights and drive on. was like, "Hey, [3:14] we're part of their memories now." Yeah. So, when I had my own house, I decorated that and found out [3:20] the neighbor across the street did a light show. Okay. And I was like, "That has to be way too [3:25] difficult." And uh he showed me what was needed and how to use the software. And then I was like, [3:32] "Well, I'm going to do this myself, too, then." That's awesome. So, you do it by yourself? No one [3:35] helps you? No. I mean, I'll have my adult kids come over and help put up some of the heavier, [3:42] bigger things, or I have super awesome neighbors that will come over and help with, "Hey, I'm going [3:49] to put this big tree up, and if you can just hold this for while I do that," and they're like, "Oh, [3:56] yeah. Anytime you need help, we'll be right over." Yeah. Perfect. Live in the best community. Yeah, [4:01] that's awesome. So, it's like a it's actual community effort. Yep. So you said you mentioned [4:06] software like so you have to learn how to do this software so then the music times right because [4:11] you have the flashing Yep music so there's a a program called lighterama that I use another one [4:16] that a lot of people use is called Xlights if you think of it like a big spreadsheet and the [4:22] time of the song goes from left to right and you plunk in for your different decorations [4:28] what you want to have that thing happen or doing at that point in the song. So it's it's not as [4:34] hard as you would think. Okay. Sounds hard. It still sounds hard. It's time consuming, [4:40] but yeah. Okay. So based on a radio station, correct? Right. So like how do you know what [4:46] songs they're going to play? Cuz it's my radio station. Oh. So I have a an FM transmitter that [4:52] transmits the music from my computer out to cars. That makes sense. It's all the songs I choose. So [4:58] you pick the songs and you have to set up the song with the light thing. and Okay. Okay. Wow. That [5:04] does take a lot of time. Yeah, it's it's a year- round hobby. So, if someone else in, for example, [5:10] Farmington wanted to do the same exact thing, they would just have a different radio station. Yeah. [5:16] Or, you know, it's it's not a huge broadcast area. So, there's people on the holiday tour [5:21] that have the same radio station I use. They're just using their own uh transmitter to transmit [5:27] cuz mine wouldn't go that far. Oh, that makes sense. Yeah, that totally makes sense. Okay, so [5:33] I know you're one of the few that do that. I mean, how do you even know, Emily, how many are doing [5:39] this? Like music light? I know of a cul-de-sac that also does the 12 homes of Christmas. Yes, [5:46] that also does the music. And look, what's the name of that street? 198th Court West. Okay. So, [5:53] it's a cul-de-sac and then like a couple houses right outside that cul-de-sac that And they do [5:57] that, too. Yes. Okay. Yeah. They actually asked me how I do it, so I ran them through everything. Oh, [6:02] and I love that. They went from there. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Once you have a song done, if you make a lot [6:10] of changes and you're just moving things around, a lot of times you can use that song for years [6:14] to come. So, I'll add a few songs throughout the year and it's more you hear something, it's like, [6:19] "Yo, that's a good one to do next year. That's a good one to do next year." And then it's more as [6:26] I'm vegging on the chair in the evening with the laptop in the lap going, "All right, I'll do a [6:31] little bit now. All right, I'm fed up with that. I've heard that song too many times when you have [6:36] to hear over and over again." So try to have that done before spring and summer hits cuz that's when [6:42] I start building stuff if I have to make new props or wiring things. And Okay. You change the light [6:47] colors for Halloween versus the holiday tour. Do you have to change bulbs or does that the type [6:53] of bulb you buy? Yeah, the the lights I have are RGB so they can be whatever color I want whenever [6:59] I want them to be that color. So, I was going to say if you have to change all those bulbs. Well, [7:03] and I also know that like there are like one of your Christmas songs has white, red, [7:09] and green colors and then another song has rainbow colors. Oh, yeah. Okay. So, [7:14] you just you're also telling the software what to do with the lights. Yeah. Lights, colors. Timing. [7:20] Okay. All of it. Wow. You know, one thing that we have that I don't think many others have is we get [7:27] a direct feed from Santa's village in the North Pole. So, during the show, every five songs or so, [7:34] we'll have a news break where the North Pole news comes in and gives us the updates on everything [7:41] happening up in Santa's Village, what the weather's like, any funny stories of things that [7:46] have gone on over the last week. And there's a a new episode every week. And then on Christmas Eve, [7:53] we get to track and see what uh Santa's doing on his uh journey through the world. And you [7:58] said this happens in between songs. Yep. Yep. So, usually it runs five songs or so, [8:04] and then you'll have a break that comes in with the North Pole News. And I also post those clips [8:10] on YouTube and Facebook and stuff like that, too. So if people aren't out there every single week, [8:16] they can keep along with what the news articles are and stuff. Oh, for sure. And then so that's [8:21] even more reason to stay a little bit longer. Yeah. To get the news update. All right. So, [8:26] how long does it take you to actually set up the stuff outside and or take down? Like how long does [8:32] that take? I usually take the end of September, early October, that week off to set everything up [8:40] for Halloween. And then I take the first week of November off for setting or changing everything [8:45] over from Halloween to Christmas. Okay. Tear down is a lot faster. Like the Halloween stuff that [8:50] comes down, I'll have that torn down in probably a day. Yeah. For Christmas, by the time the season's [8:56] over, usually everything's under ice and snow, so it sits there till the spring. Makes sense. Yeah. [9:02] And then I then I take things down as the snow melts and I can get it out of the ground. Yeah. [9:08] That's the That's one thing I I really forget about. I'm from Michigan, so but the southern [9:13] part of the lower peninsula, we didn't get as much snow and it would whenever we got snow, [9:18] it would melt. Like the the enormity of snow here, which we haven't had as much the last two years, [9:23] but the first year I moved here, I was like, you're like, "What is this? It's not going away." [9:28] Like Yeah. You're not going to take it down. You're not going to take that stuff down when [9:32] there's that much snow out there. You're just going to leave it. Mhm. Yeah. Oh my gosh. Um, [9:36] so Chad, tell us what makes your display so special. Um, you know, I think everybody's display [9:43] is an extension of what they like and who they are. I love all different aspects of Christmas [9:50] lighting. From the classical white house that just looks magical and peaceful to somebody that [9:56] has 40,000 inflatables in their yard. I I love it all. What I think makes mine is it's the music. [10:05] I like I've got a lot of old Christmas songs. I've got some new stuff. Mhm. It's a a mix of [10:11] what I enjoy and hope others enjoy. Yeah. Um and the the best part for me is if I'm sitting in my [10:20] chair watching TV or something and cuz I can't see the light show going outside, right? And all [10:25] of a sudden I hear some kid cheering from their car or whatever. I'm like, "Yes, that's what it's [10:31] all about. That's what it's for is other people's memories, other people's joy. And if I can turn [10:37] somebody's frown upside down because they were having a tough day and they enjoy it. That's what [10:42] I like out about it. That's what I get out of it. Yeah. And you don't always see or hear that joy, [10:46] but you know it's happening, right? I mean, I took my kids around a couple times and we get [10:51] our little hot chocolate and get our PJs on and get all warm and cozy in the car. And it's kind [10:56] of cool to go to ones that are like yours because you you you sit there for a little bit. say you [11:01] can sit there for many songs. Yeah. And you can sing along with the songs too in the car and [11:05] that makes it fun as well. Right. For Halloween it's kind of fun because the kids come up to your [11:10] house and they get candy and there were a couple Ghostbusters and they happen to be going back down [11:16] the driveway as the song Ghostbusters started and then they're standing out front dancing to [11:21] the Ghostbusters song who you going to call and shouting and stuff like that's awesome. That's [11:26] so you probably get a little bit more feedback on Halloween night. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Cuz that's [11:31] going and they're triggering and everything. So, Emily, can you remind our listeners a little bit [11:36] about where they can find tour information if they can still register when they want to know [11:40] where the houses are and all that good stuff? Yeah, so you can still register through November [11:45] 17th. Uh you can find the link to register uh on our Facebook page as well as Instagram and on the [11:54] website. You can either go under latest news or you can go to uh farmingtonmn.gov/lights. [12:02] tour. Lights with a plural s tour. Mhm. And when the list does come out, I know we changed a little [12:10] bit recently like with the havoc tour not making a picture image of all the street addresses. I [12:17] mean there's two reasons for that. One is there's just so many. Yes. And the graphic was crazy. this [12:24] the house addresses would be so small. Yeah. And and and for accessibility reasons as well, [12:29] it's just easier if they can go to that fabulous map that our GIS girl Danny made, [12:33] right? Like it gets what's on there? I forget. Um so usually it always includes obviously the [12:39] addresses and then it'll include notes. We did include the notes on the graphic, but again there [12:44] was a lot of information on that one graphic. Uh and so it was just very crowded. But uh so [12:50] under each house address, if there's a note like tune to a certain radio station like Chad or the [12:57] Culdeac that I mentioned on 198th Court West or if they're collecting non-p perishable food items [13:05] or I know the Culdeac is also collecting for Toys for Town, so they'll have a bin outside there. So, [13:12] the notes will be there of and there's a map and you can see the map of what everybody is doing or [13:17] collecting or um I know there's another house that has something about like some someone's singing [13:23] to songs. I can't remember exactly, but yeah, lots of fun little things. Yes. And I know one [13:27] of them was passing out candy canes or something last year. Oh, I think the 12 homes of Christmas [13:33] did candy canes. That's what it was. Yeah. And the the other cool part about the map is you can [13:38] see what's near you for sure. if you don't have all night to just drive around the whole town, [13:42] right? Uh being that I'm not I haven't been here for 400 years or anything, I don't know where all [13:48] the addresses are. So, for me to look up each one, I have no idea if I'm going from one end of town [13:52] to or the other. And the map is so cool to go, okay, I'm going to hit this one, then that one, [13:56] then that one, then that one, and then the next night I'm going to go hit these other ones. Yeah. [14:00] You can break it up, too. Yeah. Exactly. And there's literal lines connecting like what the [14:04] best route. Yeah. Be on the lookout for that. We still need people to sign up. Um, how many [14:09] you have right now for Holiday Lights? 14. So, we can do better than that, right? Right. Especially [14:15] cuz we had 33 houses for the Halloween. 33. Was that a That was the most the record-breaking [14:21] year yet or record-breaking season. So far. Yeah. So far. So far. So far. Okay, Chad. So, [14:26] listeners and Emily really want to know. Yes. How many lights total are on your display? So, I don't [14:33] count for Halloween, but for for Christmas, it's between 15,000 and 16,000 lights. Wow. Wow. And [14:41] this has been a culmination over years that you've been buying them and all that. I mean, cuz it's [14:45] probably not cheap. I wish it was. Yeah. Right. I'm sure you have to retire some things, too. Oh, [14:51] yeah. Oh, yeah. Things change all the time. Y I've got a garage and basement full of stuff I don't [14:56] use anymore. Well, and those things that you don't use that anymore that are broken, they we have a [15:01] holiday lights recycling collection, too. And that starts I think the same time the tour registration [15:08] ends. I want to say November 17th. Yeah. They'll have the bins. And you probably utilize those. [15:13] Yes, I do. Oh, I forgot to mention the map will be released on December 1st. Oh, yep. Cuz that's the [15:20] first day the houses will be ready, right? Yes. Okay. One more question, Chad. your electricity [15:25] bill. Like, does it get ridiculous? Surprisingly not. Okay. Uh because all of the lights are LED [15:31] and if you think about it, they're not on all at the same time. So, they come on and off. So, [15:36] it's, you know, I think I calculated one year for Halloween it cost me $7 and I think it was 20 or [15:43] 30 for the whole Christmas season. No, that's not bad at all. I mean, that's Yeah, I mean, and yeah, [15:48] you don't have them on on noon on Christmas or noon on not like throughout the whole holidays, [15:53] you know? That's not No. No. And I don't run them at 100% brightness. Okay. Ever. Yeah. And [16:00] I'm sure the neighbors the neighbors probably would appreciate. They might be mad about that. [16:04] Okay. Well, thank you so much for joining me today, uh, Chad and Emily. And listeners, make [16:08] sure you go out to see Chad's late display. Uh, what's your address for the listeners? 609 Park [16:13] Drive. Okay. And that's the fun one with the radio station and the lights. Yes. So, all the other [16:20] holiday lights tour um houses will be ready to go December 1st. And get out there and enjoy these [16:26] holiday lights. And don't forget that the holiday lights collection does start on November 17th. So, [16:31] if you find any broken ones, you can drop that stuff off or at the end of the season when you [16:36] take them take them down. We we still have that pickup available through Saturday, January 31st, [16:41] and it'll be at City Hall, Farmington Liquors, and the Rambling River Center. Just a couple other [16:46] uh recreation reminders. Trains and Treats is coming up on Saturday, November 29th with [16:51] trains from 9 to noon and Santa will be arriving around 10:30. So, it's free to enter that event, [16:56] but $5 to do the Twinkie train craft. And then our favorite secret holiday shop will be Saturday, [17:03] December 6th from 9:00 to noon, and it's back at the Rambling River Center. So, kids can shop and [17:07] wrap without their parents. They'll have help from volunteers. Gifts can range from $2 to $17. And [17:13] then speaking of lights, the second annual holiday lighted parade will be that same day, Saturday, [17:19] December 6th at 7 p.m. in downtown Farmington. So check out that as well. And there will be a [17:24] whole day of events that day in general. Be all over Farmington. Yeah. Yeah. Yep. There's going [17:29] to be a carnival at Homestead Church and it's just it's just going to be a fun festive day. [17:35] Yeah. So this concludes this month's episode of the Farmington Feed. Thank you for listening. We [17:40] look forward to connecting with residents with this podcast. If you have feedback, [17:43] guest requests, or ideas, email me at communications@faringtonmn.gov. Don't [17:48] forget to subscribe to the Farmington feed wherever you like to get your podcasts.