PICKERING - A couple of years ago, a light bulb went on for Colin Bates.
Now, there are tens of thousands of them.
Bates is behind Rigby Lights — possibly the coolest Christmas light display in the country, if not the geekiest.
Four consecutive Pickering houses on Rigby Dr., at Liverpool Rd. north of Finch Ave., are linked together for a light show synchronized to holiday music. It’s the only light show of its kind in Canada, in that it involves multiple homes.
“A few years back, I was watching some really amazing light displays on YouTube with my kids and we said to ourselves, ‘Hey, we can do that,’ so we did,” Bates said.
He started with his own house in 2010, then expanded to include three neighbouring homes last year. As soon as the Halloween decorations come down, Bates — who owns a commercial cleaning company and does this as a hobby — starts work on the Christmas display.
The lights are connected to controllers which receive instructions from a computer that runs the synchronization. The music is broadcast through a low-power radio frequency — 104.9 FM — that transmits only to the immediate area. There are also speakers outside the homes.
“Those are not very loud, as we like and respect our neighbours,” Bates said.
more/video:
Pickering Christmas lights one of a kind in Canada | Toronto & GTA | News | Toronto Sun
Now, there are tens of thousands of them.
Bates is behind Rigby Lights — possibly the coolest Christmas light display in the country, if not the geekiest.
Four consecutive Pickering houses on Rigby Dr., at Liverpool Rd. north of Finch Ave., are linked together for a light show synchronized to holiday music. It’s the only light show of its kind in Canada, in that it involves multiple homes.
“A few years back, I was watching some really amazing light displays on YouTube with my kids and we said to ourselves, ‘Hey, we can do that,’ so we did,” Bates said.
He started with his own house in 2010, then expanded to include three neighbouring homes last year. As soon as the Halloween decorations come down, Bates — who owns a commercial cleaning company and does this as a hobby — starts work on the Christmas display.
The lights are connected to controllers which receive instructions from a computer that runs the synchronization. The music is broadcast through a low-power radio frequency — 104.9 FM — that transmits only to the immediate area. There are also speakers outside the homes.
“Those are not very loud, as we like and respect our neighbours,” Bates said.
more/video:
Pickering Christmas lights one of a kind in Canada | Toronto & GTA | News | Toronto Sun