Christmas Light Show Gearing Up For 8th Season In Wall

It’s a holiday-themed light show, a concert, and a charity event, with a little bit of block party thrown in for good measure. And it’s coming to Woolley Road in Wall again this holiday season.

For the 8th year, brothers Brian and Dan Brateris, along with a growing army of helpers, are putting on an 18-minute light show extravaganza at the home of Bill Epp at 2702 Woolley road.

The event is free and the public is encouraged to attend. Arriving early might be a good idea, Brian Brateris said. Last year, the show attracted nearly 10,000 spectators.

Assembling the massive show – which includes between 40- and 50,000 Christmas lights, as well as 20 robotic theater lights and pyrotechnics – begins in October, Brateris said.

 “We’ve been working weekends since about mid-October,’’ Brateris has said. “There may have been a few weekdays thrown in there too.’’

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Showtimes for the 2013 season are:  

• 7:00 PM and 8:30 PM on Friday, Dec. 13
• 7:00 PM and 8:30 PM on Saturday, Dec. 14
• 7:00 PM and 8:30 PM on Sunday, Dec. 22

Inside the house, special electrical panels have been erected to handle the miles of electrical cords and switches to pull off the show. A computer program is behind timing the lights just right, Brateris said.

The light show, timed with the music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, gets just slightly bigger and more intricate each year.

“Something like this has never been done on a residential home display,’’ he has said.

The annual display, which Brateris promised would be brighter and louder, also will raise money for Challenged Youth Sports, a nonprofit based in Middletown.

Models dressed as Santa’s elves will circulate through the crowd asking for donations, Brateris said. Last year, the event was raised $10,000 for the organization, which provides sports leagues for area children with disabilities.

The house owner also is erecting a tent and serving refreshments – corn, hot chocolate, chili, and baked goods -- also free.

 “We’re getting ready for something huge this year,’’ he said.

The event grew from a display the brothers, who own the deejay company DJ Dan Productions, made with unused lights from their company. A father a friend saw it and offered his more expansive property for the display. It has grown on Wooley Road ever since, Brateris said.

“I’m tying to be a little bit humble here,’’ Brateris has said. “But it’s pretty cool.’’