How to Get More People to Come See Your Light Show

You have spent countless hours designing props, running wire, sequencing songs, troubleshooting controllers, and getting every effect timed just right. Now comes the next challenge: getting people to actually come see your show.

Whether your display has a few thousand pixels or tens of thousands, promoting your show can make a huge difference in turnout. The good news is that you do not need a large advertising budget. Most successful holiday light shows grow through a combination of local community promotion, social media, light-show directories, word of mouth, and consistent communication.

This guide is designed specifically for animated RGB and WS2811-style holiday light shows and can be used by show owners anywhere in the world.

1. Start With Your Local Community

Your local community is usually the best place to find your first and most loyal viewers.

Look for Facebook groups and online communities based around:

• Your city or town

• Nearby cities

• Your county or region

• Neighborhood groups

• Local parenting groups

• Community event groups

• Christmas and holiday event groups

• Halloween event groups

• Local “things to do” groups

Instead of simply posting your address, make the post feel like an invitation.

Tell people what makes your display different. Mention that the lights are synchronized to music, how viewers can listen, your operating dates and hours, whether the show is free, and anything especially fun or unique about the display.

Photos and short videos are extremely helpful. A 10- to 20-second video showing your best effects can often attract much more attention than a text-only post.

2. Get Your Show Listed on Holiday Light Maps and Directories

People actively search online for Christmas lights and Halloween displays every year.

Getting your show onto light-show maps and directories can put your display in front of viewers who are already looking for somewhere to go.

Depending on your country and region, look for:

• Christmas light maps

• Holiday light directories

• Halloween display maps

• Local newspaper light-show guides

• Tourism websites

• City event calendars

• Radio station holiday guides

• Community calendars

• Parenting websites

• Local blogs

Some examples we identified included:

• AusChristmasLighting

• Light Up Christmas New Zealand

• Christmas Light Search Australia

• Pacific NW Christmas Lights

Do not limit yourself to dedicated Christmas-light websites. Search for phrases like:

Christmas lights near me

Best Christmas lights in [city]

Holiday light displays in [region]

Christmas light map [city]

Halloween displays near me

Then look at which websites consistently appear near the top of the results.

Many of those websites accept submissions.

3. Look for Major-City and Regional Holiday Guides

One of the most overlooked ways to promote a display is getting included in articles such as:

The Best Christmas Lights in [City]

or

Where to See Holiday Lights This Weekend

These pages often receive significant search traffic during the holiday season.

Search nearby major cities even if you do not live directly inside them. Regional guides frequently include displays from surrounding suburbs and communities.

Contact the writer, publication, tourism organization, or website owner and provide everything they need to add your display.

Include:

• Show name

• Location

• Dates

• Hours

• Radio frequency if applicable

• Website or Facebook page

• Short description

• High-quality photo

• Short video link

• Whether the show is free

• Any charity information

Make their job easy. The easier it is for someone to add your show, the more likely they are to do it.

4. Create a Facebook Page for Your Show

A dedicated Facebook page gives viewers somewhere to follow your display year after year.

Use it to announce:

• Opening night

• New songs

• Schedule changes

• Weather cancellations

• Special events

• Charity updates

• Behind-the-scenes progress

• New props

• Videos from the show

One of the biggest benefits is that previous visitors remain connected to your display.

When next season arrives, you already have an audience waiting.

5. Post Short Videos Throughout the Season

Video is one of the easiest ways to demonstrate why someone should visit.

Instead of posting an entire song every time, consider sharing short clips of particularly impressive moments.

Good clips might include:

• A large matrix effect

• Singing faces

• Mega tree effects

• Whole-house sweeps

• Dramatic musical hits

• Unique props

• Funny moments

• Audience reactions

Short clips are easier for people to watch and share.

Always include your show information somewhere in the caption.

6. Encourage Visitors to Share the Show

Word of mouth remains one of the strongest forms of promotion.

Give visitors an easy way to find and share your page.

You can place a sign near the viewing area with:

• Your Facebook page

• Website

• QR code

• Show name

• Hashtag

You can also occasionally ask followers to share your posts with friends or tag someone who would enjoy the show.

Avoid making every post promotional. The goal is to create something people genuinely want to share.

7. Contact Local Media

Local television stations, newspapers, radio stations, community blogs, and online news outlets are often looking for seasonal stories.

Your display may be especially interesting if it has:

• A large number of lights

• Animated RGB pixels

• Music synchronization

• A charity component

• An unusual theme

• A unique story

• Home-built props

• Community involvement

Send a short media pitch explaining what makes the show interesting.

Do not send a huge life story.

Give them the most interesting information first, then provide contact information and links to photos or video.

8. Promote the Show Before Opening Night

Do not wait until the show is already running.

Start building awareness several weeks beforehand.

4–6 Weeks Before Opening

Start sharing construction progress, new props, behind-the-scenes photos, and teasers.

Submit the show to directories and event calendars.

2–3 Weeks Before Opening

Announce the official opening date and schedule.

Begin posting preview videos.

Contact local media and regional holiday-guide websites.

Opening Week

Post frequently.

Share videos, opening-night reminders, schedules, and directions.

During the Season

Continue sharing new songs, visitor photos, schedule reminders, charity updates, and special events.

9. Keep Your Information Consistent Everywhere

Make sure the basic information about your show is identical wherever possible.

Use the same:

• Show name

• Address or location

• Hours

• Dates

• Website

• Facebook page

• Radio frequency

Conflicting information can frustrate visitors and create unnecessary messages asking whether the show is actually running.

10. Think About Traffic Before Promotion Takes Off

More visitors are exciting, but increased traffic can quickly create problems.

Before aggressively promoting your show, consider:

• Where cars will park

• Whether vehicles can safely turn around

• Whether viewers should keep moving

• Nearby intersections

• Neighbor driveways

• Emergency access

• Pedestrian safety

If necessary, post viewing instructions on your Facebook page or website.

For example, you may ask visitors to:

• Turn off headlights while parked

• Avoid blocking driveways

• Keep music inside their vehicles

• Follow a preferred traffic direction

• Limit viewing time during busy nights

A successful show should be enjoyable for visitors without becoming a problem for the neighborhood.

11. Protect Your Privacy

Publicly promoting a residential display means deciding how much information you are comfortable sharing.

Some show owners publish their exact home address.

Others provide an intersection or approximate location until visitors reach the area.

Choose what works for you.

If your display collects donations, uses outdoor donation boxes, or attracts large crowds, also think about cameras, lighting, and general property security.

12. Make the Show Easy to Find Online

Search engines can bring visitors to your show without you actively promoting it every day.

If you have a website, create a dedicated page containing phrases people are likely to search for.

Examples include:

• Christmas light show in [city]

• Animated Christmas lights in [region]

• RGB Christmas light display

• Christmas lights synchronized to music

• Halloween light show in [city]

Include your location naturally throughout the page rather than stuffing keywords into every sentence.

13. Give People a Reason to Come Back

Repeat visitors can become some of your biggest promoters.

Add new content during the season when possible.

That could include:

• New songs

• Special theme nights

• A Christmas Eve playlist

• Halloween weekend programming

• Viewer-request nights

• Charity events

When something changes, announce it.

People who already visited may return and bring someone else.

14. Build Your Audience Year After Year

A great show does not need to become famous overnight.

The strongest displays often build their audience gradually.

One family visits.

They tell another family.

Someone shares a video.

A local Facebook group picks it up.

A holiday guide adds the display.

A local news station runs a story.

Eventually the display becomes part of the community's holiday tradition.

Consistency matters.

Keep your pages active, make your show information easy to find, interact with viewers, and continue giving people a reason to share your display.

Light Show Promotion Checklist

Before opening night, make sure you have:

• Created or updated your show Facebook page

• Confirmed your dates and hours

• Submitted your display to local light maps

• Submitted it to regional directories

• Contacted relevant holiday-guide websites

• Added it to community calendars

• Prepared several short promotional videos

• Created a shareable opening-night post

• Contacted local media

• Confirmed traffic and parking plans

• Updated your website

• Tested any QR codes

• Made your show information consistent everywhere

Make Your Show Something People Remember

The biggest advantage you have is the show itself.

Promotion gets someone there once.

A memorable show gets them to tell everyone else.

Creative effects, great music, strong sequencing, and good timing turn visitors into repeat visitors.

If you are looking for new music for your display, browse the Christmas and Halloween xLights sequences available from Around the World Sequences.

Spend less time sequencing and more time building a show your audience will remember.