Holiday Light Displays Around Greensboro, NC

Many people enjoy walking or riding around looking at flashy, bright, and festive Christmas light displays. Around the general Greensboro area, there are three light displays that really stand out, which, I think, you should not miss out on!

Control The Show
ControlTheShow.com

In 2004, BJ Sintay had a thought. He wanted to design a website where people from around the world could visit and control his estimated 40,000-light Christmas display in Winston-Salem, NC from their own homes.

"Control the Show in its present state allows visitors the opportunity to decide exactly how my Christmas display is lit," Mr. Sintay states on the project's website. BJ uses very complex computer programming which basically does this: you at home on the Internet click which lights on BJ's house to light, that command travels to Texas for permission then straight on to BJ's controller in his garage. That command signal is decoded by a chip which in turn flips on the relay switch for the lights. This only takes milliseconds to complete and voila!

The webcam for BJ's house is located across the street so you get a clear shot of his home and the light display you chose. His home and yard is fully decorated with tons and tons of decor and lights! Last year, his house was outlined in ice-cicle lights, the bushes were covered in light bulbs, and there were light-up animated reindeer and spiral trees.

Since it's first launch in 2005, ControlTheShow.com has gotten over 25 million hits and has been featured on CNN and FOX. BJ Sintay's display is free for everyone to use, but they do allow visitors to send donations to their charity of choice: Ronald McDonald House.

Greensboro Festival of Lights
Elm Street, Hamburger Park

The 19th Annual Festival of Lights is holding its official holiday lighting ceremony on November 30, 2007 from 6pm until 9pm at Hamburger Park. Take a nice walk down Elm Street to see the beautiful, cheerful holiday lighting and decorations. You'll also hear music playing and see strolling carolers as you walk around downtown. Handbell choirs, UNC-G's tuba band, and local church choirs are some of the melodic entertainers. The Nutcracker on stilts, holiday characters and Santa should be there! Last year, in 2006, kids were given free holiday antlers!

Children's activities are in the park, and many businesses are going to be open after hours, so bring the family and enjoy a night of exciting, spirited entertainment and fun.

Christmas at Blandwood
Blandwood Mansion

Blandwood Mansion is a historic landmark in Greensboro. The Italian-style mansion was built in 1795 and later bought and expanded by two-time North Carolina Governor John Morehead.

At Christmas time each year, the Blandwood mansion staff ask for volunteers and community members to help decorate the home. This year, the decorating will take place on November 9-11 from 10-4 on Saturday and 1 to 5 on Sunday. The decorations are not just outside; the entire inside of the home is also adorned in holiday decor reminiscent of the 1840s when Gov. Morehead and his family lived there.

The holiday light display at Blandwood can be seen from November through the end of December.

Sources: www.controltheshow.com, www.ncfestivals.com/events/eventdetails.asp?event=147, http://www.aroundthepiedmonttriad.com/gsofestivals/festoflights/index.htm, www.blandwood.org/events.html