By Chelsey Hinsenkamp
SLN Staff
A local family man and volunteer firefighter has taken on a time-consuming, pet project for the community’s enjoyment and to benefit the Elkhorn Fire Department.
Rich Schroeder, who works a day-job as an insurance underwriter, has put his extra time and money into turning his front yard into a holiday-themed lightshow.
“We started this last year when we saw a video on the Internet,” Schroeder explained. “I thought, well I could do that.”
With about 35,000 lights and numerous decorations, Schroeder began his display last Christmas.
“It took us a whole year to really prep for everything,” Schroeder said.
The idea is that the lights and decorations are synchronized with music that can be tuned in on an onlooker’s car radio through computer programming and the use of an FM transmitter.
“Each song takes about 8-10 hours of programming,” Schroeder explained. “That’s for a two minute song.”
The music is uploaded into the computer program and then each beat is broken down and matched to lighting effects creating the illusion that the lights are dancing along to each song.
Schroeder said having a musical background helps.
“I can’t imagine not knowing anything about music and trying to do this,” he said.
Schroeder decided to take on Halloween this year in addition to Christmas, and has adapted a new lighting effect that has made the process even more involved.
He calls them “talking faces.”
Schroeder has programmed the faces, which are made up of rope lights, to appear as if they are singing along to the music.
“Songs with a lot of talking take me probably 20 hours to do,” Schroeder said of the programming process. He has to break the song down by each word to create the effect.
In addition to his hours logged, the expense of his live light show is a relatively costly one.
Hesitant to admit it in front of his wife Kari, Schroeder said the total cost has reached about $5,000, including décor, lighting and computer equipment.
The family does try to make smart purchases though, in order to keep the cost down.
“We tend to visit garage sales,” Schroeder said.
“And Craigslist,” Kari added.
Schroeder is collecting donations from those that come to view his show, and doesn’t keep a dime of the proceeds – not even to offset his expenses.
All of the money donated to the show gets passed right on to the Elkhorn Fire Department, he said.
“It’s customary with these shows to put out a donation box, so it just seemed like a natural progression (to donate it to the fire department),” Schroeder explained, citing his volunteer work.
Last year, he raised $500, and he said he hopes to raise even more this year.
In addition to the donation box set up in the front yard, Schroeder recently set up an account with WePay.com a site that onlookers can go to donate with a credit card.
He even posted signs with QR codes in the front yard that visitors can scan with their smartphones to be directed to the website.
Schroeder said that of course people have asked him why he didn’t just donate the $5,000 he spent on the show directly to the fire department.
His response is that the show is just a way to make the money go a little further, by spreading it to others in the community as well.
“It’s satisfying to see people come and watch the faces on the children as they come and see the lights and hear the music,” Schroeder explained.
He said his two boys, 3-year-old Zack and 5-year-old Varick, also get a kick out of it.
The show runs seven days a week, starting at dusk at the Schroeder’s Elkhorn home at 843 Chelsea Drive. It runs Sunday through Thursday from about 7 to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m. Visitors can tune in to the broadcast on 88.5 FM.
The Halloween show will end Oct. 31. Once the spooky display comes down, Schroeder will get busy decorating for Christmas.
Set up takes about a month, he said.
For more information on the Elkhorn Light Show, visit www.facebook.com/elkhornlightshow.
To donate, visit www.wepay.com/donations/elkhorn-light-show-donations-to-benefit-the-elkhorn-area-fire-department.
