Dillon Holiday House

House 1: approximately 25,000 lights synchronized to 25 songs. 39 Buffalo Dr.

House 2: 832 E Center St in Dillon and featuring new technology! Location: 39 Buffalo Dr., Dillon, MT 59725

When I was a kid, one of the highlights of each year was when my family would get in the car and drive through town. Dad would watch the newspaper ahead of time to learn where all the best displays could be fo

und and we'd visit them all. I always thought it would be wonderful to be one of "those houses". We tended to live well out of town, though, so it was never practical. But now that I'm grown...

Somehow, my dreams might have run away with me a bit. Technology has made some remarkable advances over the last couple of decades. Computer technology now exists to control the lights and make them play along with music. Short-range FM transmitters make it possible to pipe that music right into your car so that you can sit in toasty warmth while the show plays. Even more important in some ways is that LED lights are now available so that it is possible to power some 15,000 lights without needing to have your own power plant in the backyard! (In fact, the cost of actually running the display comes to about $1 a night.) My display has grown a little bit each year. What started with a mere 32 channels (think of a channel as a light switch that's controlled by the computer) and nine songs in 2010 turned into 196 channels and 14 songs in 2011. Now, for 2013 the display is up to 24 songs and 2810 channels -- a project that has taken a month to set up and program. Bring your family and your holiday cheer. Park on the street (please don't block the neighbors' driveways!), turn off your headlights, tune your radio to 106.9 FM and settle in for an event unlike anything else in Dillon!