A dream to inspire others
/Jamie Harris lights up the neighborhood with 4500 LED lights set to music
One of several control boxes that manages the output from the laptop to the led lights.
IF YOU GO
Where
4075 Collier Lane
Klamath Falls
When
Through December 30
5:00 PM - 11:00 PM
December 31
5:00 PM - 12:00 AM
January 1
5:00 PM - 11:00 PM
How to listen
Tune to 94.5 FM
“I just wanted to bring joy to others, and it almost did not happen,” said Harris.
Located at 4075 Collier Lane in Klamath Falls is the most magnificent light display the basin has ever seen and it is all thanks to the creative mind of the homeowner, Jaime Harris.
Harris has been working on her display since November 2018 and has totaled 4,730 hand-assembled custom-built LED lights totaling over $5000 in parts and equipment.
“I have spent upwards of $5000. I kind of lost track,” said Harris. “It’s all the incidental pieces, more solder, more shrink wrap, more lights, more electrical cables, more CAT5, more this or that. That is where it all added up.
“I had a lot of trips to Harbor Freight and many-many-many trips to Home Depot. They probably thought I lived there,” chuckled Harris.
Jaime Harris HP laptop runs the software that powers the control boxes that power the 4730 LED lights. The laptop also outputs the audio to a small FM transmitter that plays on 94.5 FM.
Inspiration
For Harris, the fascination for having her own display began nine years ago in Hermiston, Oregon. “I have always had a lot of lights on my house,” said Harris. “When I saw that animated show, I decided I was going to do that someday.”
Harris has always liked the Christmas season; the lights, the smells, the people. “We used to drive around and look at the lights a lot when I was little. I have always just liked lights,” continued Harris.
It almost didn’t happen
During the holiday season, times can be tough for many families. For Harris, this was also true. Harris has had a rough couple of months leading up to the end of the year and the display nearly did not happen.
Editors note: out of privacy and respect for Jaime we have decided not to address the specifics she has been facing. However, below is what she said in her own words.
“I have had a pretty rough few months personally. Christmas has always been a joyful thing for me and this year its been kind of tough. [With tears] Just to see the joy on their faces has kind of made my Christmas better. I don’t know how to explain it but – it has always been a really happy time and this year has been tough. To be able to see other people enjoying it – because it almost didn’t happen. I had put so much work into it that my parents and I decided that I needed to go ahead and finish what I had started,” said Harris.
Harris is not on Facebook often, but from the feedback and comments she has seen makes her feel good about completing the display.
“They comment about how it has changed their Christmas or their life but they do not understand how it has changed mine to watch it change theirs,” expressed Harris.
A close up look at a one of the custom made light systems created by Jaime Harris for installation on her home at 4075 Collier Lane.
The Show
The custom-built display is unique to Harris’s home. “A lot of people think that I just bought a kit,” said Harris. The only thing that I bought as a kit was the big tree, but I still had to assemble and solder and connect it and make all that come back to the laptop.”
Harris credits her friends and family for helping her construct the display especially the large tree. However, her friends say, it was Harris’s inspiration that got them interested in the first place and that Harris has done 90% of the work herself. Including: cutting wires, soldering connections, programming code, building displays, research, and so much more.
“The sequencing of the songs is 20-30 hours per song from scratch,” said Harris. “I have no idea how many hours I have spent on everything else. My dining room was converted into a workshop for months.”
The neighbors have all been supportive and according to Harris, they like it and think it is a lot of fun.
“My biggest fear with the neighbors is the traffic, said Harris. “If they can’t get home or can’t get out that is a problem. Christmas Eve was insane.”
Harris’s show playlist includes 19 songs (listed below) and the entire show runs about 50 minutes.
Harris will continue the holiday light display nightly through New Year’s Day. 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM December 29 through January 1, with an extended showing on December 31 until midnight.
The Playlist
MegaTree THX
Hey, Come Look at my House!
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
Sleigh Bells
2019 The Git Up
Carol of the Bells
Hallelujhah
Little Drummer Boy - For King and Country
I heard the Bells on Christmas Day
The Christmas Can Can
Let if Go
Old Town Road
Light of Christmas
Most Wonderful Time of the year
Go Henley Cheer
Thunder
Amazing Grace
All I want for Christmas
The Greatest Showman