Holiday Light Display Rocks Iowa

DES MOINES, Iowa -- Simply looking at Christmas lights was so two years ago. Now, central Iowans hope people will drive by and listen to their light displays.

Last Christmas, a homeowner in Ohio wowed the country by synching up his lights with music. Now, a few central Iowans are wowing their hometowns with elaborate light displays set to music.

When Eric Rodemeyer, of Marshalltown, Iowa, saw the video last year out from Ohio, he recalled thinking he could do the same thing. After a year in the making, he did. Rodemeyer insists that Christmas light decorating is not a competition.

"It's just always been a small work of art," he said.

Last January, he decided that driving by and looking at light displays was not enough. He wanted to add a sound component.

Ninety-six separate channels in his computer flip on and off 14,500 bulbs.

"It's very time-consuming. A lot of planning," he said.

The planning took him up to 150 hours for each of his seven songs. Onlookers can hear the sounds on their FM radios.

"It's just so much fun. It's a big thing for me, personally. So yeah, I find myself out there watching," he said.

Rodemeyer's display is at 611 S. Seventh Ave. in Marshalltown. He runs his display each night from 5 to 10 p.m., and his street gets busy.

Another homeowner in Ankeny, Iowa, synchronized his Christmas lights to music. He explained a bit about the display in the recording.

The recording said they used 40,000 lights for the display and involves using 176 individual timers. The display is at 222 N.E. 16 St. in Ankeny.