Families will be able to enjoy the warm glow of over 100,000 lights and a variety of designs in the front garden of a home on Sidney Road in Southport, specially created by enthusiastic local engineer Steve Henshall.
The biggest and best Sidney Road Lights Show is coming to Southport this Christmas!
Families will be able to enjoy the warm glow of over 100,000 lights and a variety of designs in the front garden of a home on Sidney Road in Southport, specially created by enthusiastic local engineer Steve Henshall.
Money raised from the spectacular display will go towards the Freshfields Animal Rescue charity.
People are invited to a special Lighting Up Party hosted by Sandgrounder Radio on Saturday 17th December 2022 at 6pm.
The displays will then run from 4.30pm to 9pmevery night with the last shows on New Year's Day.
Having run a very successful Halloween Show in October the team at Sidney Road Lights consisting of Steve, Jan and Tim (not to mention Jaffa the cat) have been mad busy redesigning the show into “the biggest and best Christmas light show to date”.
This year there are many new props most of which are high density, ie lots of lights in a small area able to display complex patterns.
They include a nutcracker, a new much larger screen and a 5m long steam train which whilst it doesn't move, requires careful programming of the lights to bring it to life.
Designer Steve Henshall said: “We're not entirely sure how many lights there are this year as we've not had time to count them, but I estimate there to be around 35,000 excluding the three matrix panels. Add those in and you'd be well over 100,000.”
Steve's son Tim has been working into the night programming all the lights and making sure all the computerised elements work together.
He said: “The whole show is controlled by one Raspberry Pi4b which streams the data to the bespoke controllers over a LAN network. The main challenge is keeping everything dry outside in the winter weather.”
This year the show is sponsored by Chocolate Whirled, the artisan chocolate shop on Manchester Road in Southport by the traffic lights.
Owners Simon and Laura are donating a truckload of sweets to hand out alongside hot chocolate, Santa hats and many other goodies to be given out during the shows. Chocolate Whirled has a gorgeous dessert cafe and workshop and a superb range of delicious chocolates for your Christmas gifts.
Since its inception Sidney Road Lights has always supported Freshfields Animal Rescue and this year is no exception.
Jan who organises the many helpers and loves dressing up in the dog costume said: “Freshfields is facing a triple threat this year. Donations are down, expenses are up and there are more abandoned animals than ever before.
“Freshfields needs our help now more than ever.”
Sandgrounder Radio is hosting the Lighting Up Party on Saturday 17th December 2022 at 6pm, thereafter the shows will run every hour and half hour from 4:30 to 9pm every night with the last shows on New Year's Day. Everyone is welcome.
The event is free to attend, no booking required but please be considerate to the neighbours.
For more details please visit: www.sidneyroadlights.co.uk or Like the Sidney Road Lights Facebook page www.facebook.com/sidneyroadlights