PlanetChristmas Worldwide Decorating Contest 2009

PlanetChristmas started it all with original World Wide decorating contest and we did it again in 2009. The competition was stiff but being crowned "Best in the World" is pretty darn impressive.

2009 had winners in four major categories.

Computerized display category
House on Christmas Street category
Most Creative display category
Over-The-Top display category

Here are the 2009 winners:

1		Computerized Displays take the normally static Christmas light display and flashes those lights in some sort of pre-defined sequence. This was one of the toughest categories for our judges to come to a decision because the competition was incredibly stiff. Jeff Ostroff of www.LauderdaleChristmas.com is our 2009 winner. The judges were most impressed with the elegance of the display and how he was able to do so much in a confined space. Start by watching the video! http://vimeo.com/8268745 Here's just a small piece of what Jeff submitted: I enjoy lighting up Christmas and bringing joy to others, and to glorify God by collecting canned food and financial donations for the mercy outreach ministries of our church, and seeing the awe of inspiration in our visitor’s eyes. See my web site that I setup for our house display with photos and YouTube videos. It's called LauderdaleChristmas.com: http://www.lauderdalechristmas.com
2		House on Christmas Street. Surely you've heard the official PlanetChristmas theme song called "The House on Christmas Street" performed by Judy Pancoast. "It's got 47,000 twinkling lights and Santa Claus up on the roof..." The judges struggled with all these entries and finally decided on David Brown's home. Here's a little from his entry: This song was passed over last year because we felt it was too boastful and self-promoting for our show. However after careful consideration and soul-searching, we decided to add it this year, and have been very pleased with the response from our visitors. As you watch the video you will notice that our Chipmunks (built for another song in the display) are featured as the choir, and that we have a soloist angel that actually flies. These are both new items in our display this year, and we felt it was fitting to showcase them using this song. See the video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihedvIFVST4 Most I have spoken to had not heard of this song until seeing our display, and yet claim that it is the most catchy tune they have heard in a long time, and that they were going to Google for the song as soon as they get home. Have a blessed Christmas season, David & Lisa Brown www.lakeparklights.com The music can be found at Judy's website, iTunes, CDBaby or just about anywhere else you can think of.
3		Most Creative Displays usually make you say something like "That's so incredibly cool!", "I would have never thought of that!" or "This is truly unique." Ric Turner understood and submitted an incredible video where he included his son, the Christmas Guitar Hero, into his display. You should have scene the judges dancing to the video! Here's a bit of what Ric submitted: I would like to enter the "most creative" category. This year we combined our computer animated Christmas Light show with Guitar Hero to make a light display you can really play like a video game! We posted a YouTube video a few days ago and it seems to be spreading around the internet very quickly. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXjbMIZzAgs Our neighbors like the displays, they say it gives all their friends and families a big reason to come over and visit. This year on Christmas Day, our family is gathering at our house for the first time ever. Here are some of the comments on YouTube... i think your video is awesome. anyone to do this for their child is an awesome parent. Good job! That was amazing. I wish I could see that in RL. Great job! :D I think we can shut down the Internet now. The apex of epic has been reached—it can only go downhill from here. I'm in awe and I wish I had a dad who was this awesome when I was a kid. THANKS WORLD'S COOLEST DAD This is why I don't bother with Christmas lights, I'll never be this awesome...that and I'm lazy. - Ric Turner kumbaric@ca.rr.com
4		Over-the-Top Displays have more lights and special effects than you can count. When the Judges saw Steel City Christmas the unanimous consensus was... "incredible but wow am I glad I don't live next to that house!" Start by watching the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylnjZwfvvyA This year we have just over 265,000 lights controlled by 128 channels of LOR. Also included in the display are 35 strobe lights, 170 blowmolds and a Galaxia Lighting LED video wall. It takes twenty--20 amp breakers to run it, all connected with six miles of extension cord. It usually takes us a little over three months to hang the lights, but this year because of filming for a TV show, we had to complete our entire display in just under two months!!! This is our sixth Christmas decorating and our fourth year using computer control. We first started decorating for our daughter because she loved to drive around and look at the lights. So we hung a few strings up and it progressed through the season and continued to progress over the last couple years. Almost all of our the work is for the house is done by my wife and I, with help from about 10 of the neighborhood children. It has become a tradition for the little ones to help carry and setup all of the blowmolds. We have also been raising money for Children's hospital since 2005 and have raised over $14,000. Our display has also turned into a Christmas season hot spot with thousands coming every year and it has become their tradition to bring their family to come see the lights. I hope you enjoy our pictures and video as much as we do. See a little more video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vj4xUzC4LkE The Cox Family Pittsburgh Pa 15227 www.steelcitychristmas.com

PlanetChristmas and the Worldwide Christmas Decorating Contest would like to thank everyone for entering!

PlanetChristmas Worldwide Decorating Contest Winners for 2009

Here are the 2009 winners: