ChristmasExpo

It's here! The 2019 schedule has been posted with a total of 80 class sessions, PLUS our Holiday Entertaining classes on Saturday. Your Expo pass gives you access to all classes (as long as they are on the day of your pass). Class reservations are only needed for the Hands-On Workshops and the Business track of classes. The sign up forms for those classes will be available within a few days, as will the class descriptions. See you at the Expo! https://www.christmasexpo.com/files/2019/2019_Education_Schedule.pdf The Christmas Expo Holiday Lighting & Decorating Conference is July 18-20, 2019 with pre-show workshops July 15-17. The conference is being held this year in Daytona Beach, FL at the Plaza Resort & Spa Conference Center (did I mention it's right on the beach?!). Learn more and register at https://www.ChristmasExpo.com

The first list of approved classes has been posted and, WOW! what a list. We've had more classes submitted this year than ever before with new topics and many new instructors. There are currently close to 70 class sessions for holiday decorators from the best talent in the industry. But wait, there are still more being reviewed! Christmas Expo is the only holiday decorating event offering this many classes included in the cost of your conference pass. A pass includes access to all classes, vendor hall admission and any available events. View the preliminary list at https://www.christmasexpo.com/classes-seminars/. We look forward to seeing you in Daytona Beach!

@Shawn M. & @Stephen Blue- we are still finalizing some class topics and information; however, I believe you will both find your topics well covered. As far as the pre-show workshops, Drew takes everyone's needs in to account and the vote " before" class happens well before Expo even occurs. And LOR developers will also be teaching during Expo itself so you will have options. However, give me a few more days and we'll have more information that should help you a bit more with decisions. Janice

Expo is 3 days of non-stop classes, presented in easy 1-hour sessions. But if you're looking for more in-depth instruction, consider attending our 1 and 2-full day pre-show workshops. Light-O-Rama (LOR) Immersion (2-day) July 16-17, 2019 Learn how to use Light-O-Rama software and equipment to animate your display from hardware to show design, software and programming design and techniques. Drew Hickman from Holiday Technologies presents this workshop. https://www.christmasexpo.com/light-o-rama-2-day-workshop/ Spotlight on RGB (1-day) July 15, 2019 Are you new to RGB lighting or confused about all the options, configurations and terminology? Drew Hickman from Holiday Technologies is teaching this popular workshop that will provide a balanced approach to the wide range of available RGB technologies (independent of brand or manufacturer). https://www.christmasexpo.com/spotlight-rgb-1-day-workshop/ xLights Immersion (2-day) July 16-17, 2019 Join in this unique and exclusive opportunity to spend 2 uninterrupted days learning xLights from the ground up from developers, Sean Meighan and Keith Westley. https://www.christmasexpo.com/xlights-2-day-pre-show-works…/ See you at the Expo! Janice

Hi Shawn! Sending you a pm so we can talk about the classes, dinner, etc.

Join Christmas Expo for Dinner at Joe's Crab Shack on the Daytona Beach Pier Friday, July 19, 2019 We have reserved the entire top deck at the flagship Joe's Crab Shack restaurant on the Daytona Beach pier for a fun get together for Conference Pass holders on Friday evening, July 19. You'll enjoy a buffet-style Joe's seafood dinner, along with dessert, music, a cash bar and an opportunity to relax, network and get your Ho-Ho-Ho on! Thanks to our Daytona Beach partners, it's all included in your Conference Pass registration. Additional passes for spouses/partners of Pass holders will be available for purchase. See the full details at https://www.christmasexpo.com/joes-crab-shack-2019/ We look forward to seeing everyone in Daytona Beach! Christmas Expo is July 18-20, 2019 with Pre-Show Workshops July 15-17, 2019 The Plaza Resort & Spa on the beach in Daytona Beach, FL Janice www.ChristmasExpo.com

The elves are busy planning the Christmas Expo Holiday Lighting and Decorating Conference in Daytona Beach, FL this year! The conference is July 18-20, 2019 with pre-show workshops July 15-17. For those new to Expo, here are some of the details. Christmas Expo features over 60 Christmas-focused class sessions and hands-on workshops that are included at no extra charge in the cost of your conference pass. With the exception of the hands-on workshops which will have limited space, you will not need to sign up in advance for classes. Your pass will allow you to pick and choose - and change your mind! - to make sure you get the best mix of information to create or fine-tune your display. The Education Team (Mark, Jackie and Walter and I) plan the schedule to allow for something of interest for every level of decorator in each time slot. We will start posting our first round of class topics soon. If you are looking for more education, you can attend our pre-show "immersion" style workshops July 17-19 where you receive uninterrupted, in-depth instruction in several topics: Light-O-Rama Immersion (July 16-17) is a deep dive in to the LOR hardware and software starting with understanding the hardware, learning all aspects of the software, then ending with loading your show for opening night. This workshop is presented by Christmas veteran, Drew Hickman from Holiday Technologies. Drew is the creator of the first commercially available hardware and software (Christmas Cave and Dasher) for music-synchronized displays and is an official LOR dealer and training partner. xLights In-Depth (July 16-17) is a unique and exclusive opportunity to learn xLights from those who know it best, developers Sean Meighan and Keith Westley. In this workshop, you will learn xLights from the ground up, from installation through scheduling your show. The workshop will have both a beginner and an advanced user track and users can move between tracks. Sean authored the Nutcracker software in 2012 and leads the xLights team. In addition to xLights, Keith also developed xSchedule and is joining us from Australia to teach at Expo. Spotlight on RGB (July 15) will take you from start to finish with understanding RGB technology and how to use it in your display. Drew Hickman leads this workshop and has a wealth of information to share. Our vendor hall may seem a bit smaller than some, but we only accept vendors who sell products or services that holiday decorators use so you won't have to bypass booths that aren't Christmas related. And we already have a great list of vendors signed up, including new folks you haven't seen at Christmas Expo before! A fun addition to Expo is always The Great Christmas Light Fight Discussion Panel. Each year, several families from the previous year's competition on ABC join us, along with a casting agent from the show, to answer questions and share their experience on what it's like to be a part of this amazing experience. Oh, the stories we've heard! And speaking of casting, if you think you have what it takes to win $50,000 (and that fabulous trophy!), a casting agent will be on site to talk to attendees. As a PLUS (the pre-cursor to Christmas Expo) attendee way back in 2005, I remember how excited I was to learn so much about decorating as well as making new friends who shared my passion. I left that event with a head full of ideas and a car full of wireframes, inflatables and a receipt for animation equipment. Christmas seemed too far away at that point - I wanted to decorate NOW! Joyce wasn't there but she kept saying "get me stuff for my house too!" Christmas Expo is now an extension of our family and our goal is to give you the same experience I had so many years ago. There's more to come, so stay tuned! In the meantime, feel free to let me know if you have any questions. You can learn more and register online at ChristmasExpo.com. Janice Sister Elf at Christmas Expo July 18-20, 2019 (Pre-Show Workshop July 15-17) The Plaza Resort & Spa Conference Center Daytona Beach FL (bring your flip-flops!)

I've heard from a lot of Floridians who are coming Christmas Carl. I'm even a Floridian myself! Janice

Happy to help! I'll post it today. Janice

Hey xmasliteman - we want to help you get there! If you haven't received any responses here yet, I'd be happy to make a post on our Facebook page for you. I wouldn't included your personal info publicly, but would ask folks to contact me directly and I could then pass along your info that way. Let me know if you'd like me to do that. We hope to see you in Mesquite! Janice

Hi Mingo - yes, we are expecting LOR to be there this year. See you in Mesquite! Janice

Hi! The link is still active because people do cancel and rooms will pop in on our block when that happens. On the backup hotel, it was our understanding that they were going to run the price Sunday - Sunday so we'll check with their business office on Monday. It usually takes them 24-48 hours to update the system so you should be able to check with them again by the middle of next week. Janice

Hi timdks! Zman is correct that the main hotel sold out fairly quickly. The back up hotel is the TownePlace Suites and is right across the street so it's very convenient as well and the rate is the same. You can book online with them to get our rate. See you in Mesquite! Janice

As most have heard already, Christmas Expo will be held in Biloxi this year. We're excited about the location - the city offers lots of options for family entertainment, history buffs, water sports, beaches, casinos and, now, Christmas Expo! I will be pushing out information as soon as it's available - we are setting up a new registration system which should be open in the next couple of weeks and our class lineup is already looking exciting. I tend to post updates on Facebook first, then send out emails to our mailing list so if you're looking for up to date info, follow us on FB at https://www.facebook.com/ChristmasExpo or visit our website at www.ChristmasExpo.com to sign up for the mailing list. We look forward to seeing everyone at the Expo!

Here's a first batch of photos...