Christmas show lights up Prior Lake

Prior Lake American

Most people have seen a Christmas light show set to music at some point in their lifetimes. What most don’t know, however, is how much work goes into creating the show.

For instance, Mark Pexa ordered many of the lights for his show this year in the spring. Come summer, he began work on the show and planned the sequencing of lights. In October, he started putting up the lights.

“This year was probably the biggest year to add,” Mark Pexa said. “I think we added 1,400 (lights) or something.”

And now, it’s ready.

Mark and Jessica Pexa run “Lights at the Cove,” a Christmas light show at their home at 3490 Cove Point Circle NW in Prior Lake, complete with its own Facebook page.

The family, including the kids and Jessica Pexa’s father, work together to help set up the show.

“It’s really nice to see it even bring our family together,” Jessica Pexa said. “It seems to bring out the happiness in people.”

The family moved to Prior Lake last fall and did a smaller show then. Now, the 16-minute spectacle features “Let It Go,” “Linus and Lucy,” “Snoopy’s Christmas,” “Jingle Bell Rock” and “We Need a Little Christmas” as well as a message from Santa to end the show.

“I love people coming by and watching it,” Mark Pexa said. “Hopefully they like it.”

Mark Pexa utilizes screen displays as well as the lights on his house and a light tree to time the lights to the music. The light tree can even display images like a flying Snoopy or ringing bells.

“About three years ago I saw another light display ... that’s what got me interested,” Mark Pexa said. “I didn’t know you could do it. I watched it and watched it.”

He uses a program called xLights which allows him to import music and time lights based off of sections. The lights themselves are equipped with computer chips to receive the necessary instructions.

“It’s not like each individual light, but it groups it into separate parts of the house and I have to figure out if I’m doing something specific with that element or I can do whole house effects,” Mark Pexa said. “I love Christmas lights though, so it’s kind of fun.”

Mark Pexa is even part of a Facebook group with others who do light shows around this time of year.

“People are talking about this stuff all year and preparing all year,” Mark Pexa said. “It never works 100 percent — that’s probably been the hardest part.”

The end of Christmas won’t be the end of the light show this year. Last year, the Pexas did a tribute to Prince around New Year’s Eve and will likely do another themed show this year, too.

“After Christmas, it’s like, OK, people kind of get sick of Christmas music,” Mark Pexa said. “It’s something different and it makes an impression on them. It just brings happiness to the season.”

Jessica Pexa said the show represents what Christmas is about.

“I just think that it’s a physical manifestation of the spirit of Christmas — lights and happiness and families coming together to enjoy something simple,” she said.

The family plans to do the show again next year, though there are no concrete plans yet. For now, head out to the home on Cove Point Circle, tune to 89.1 FM and enjoy.