West Seattle holidays: Date set, website up for Charlestown lights

| Holidays | West Seattle news

With just seven weeks to go till Christmas, we have an update on the Charlestown lights-synched-to-music show, officially the Helmstetler Family Christmas Spectacular: The family friend who created the show, Jim Winder, says its new website, at westseattlelights.com, is now up and running, so a banner’s up at the house too – and they’ve been working to install the display as well:

On Friday, a crew from KING 5’s Evening Magazine came over to cover the installation process; no exact date is set yet for the feature to be on TV, but the date IS set for the Opening Night Ceremony: 7 pm Saturday, November 27th. Zach Lystedt will be the special guest who turns on the lights. He’s a high-school student who survived a sports injury and now campaigns for safety:

A charity chosen by Zach’s family, Pushing Boundaries, will be the beneficiary of any donations showgoers care to make on night 1; other nonprofits that’ll benefit from donations are listed here, along with donation button. Something else new this year: Some nights they’ll do Christmas-music karaoke! More info on this page – including how to sign up in advance via e-mail.

Val Vashon November 8, 2010 (2:35 am)

All we need now is an address…

miws November 8, 2010 (5:28 am)

Val, It’s up near, and in fact right across from IIRC, the Charlestown water tower.

Mike

Carson November 8, 2010 (5:57 am)

Charlestown and I think 39th. You won’t miss it even if you are just close, plus the next street, 40th I think, is also lit up as well.

David Williams November 8, 2010 (6:16 am)

Is the control system VSA software controlling DMX devices ?

CB November 8, 2010 (7:24 am)

They’re giving City Light a Merry Christmas, that’s for sure.

WSB November 8, 2010 (7:33 am)

There’s a “directions” button on the website to which we linked repeatedly through the blurb.
The map’s not coming up for me at the moment but here’s the exact address from that page:
3908 SW Charlestown
.
Here’s a shortlink to a Google map: http://is.gd/gPZh0

sun*e November 8, 2010 (8:56 am)

Greatest Christmas light show ever! We’ll be up to watch again this year. We live in the best neighborhood – 1st The Skeleton Theatre on 36th & Hanford and 2nd The Light/Music show on Charlestown. I can’t even imagine how much work goes into making these shows for us to enjoy… for FREE! You all are the best! Thanks so much for sharing your talents with us. :)

ROCKERGIRL5678 November 8, 2010 (9:15 am)

So cool that they’ve choosen Pushing Boundaries as one of there beneficiaries – Addie Killam also a West Seattle girl who was injured in Hawaii has been doing rehab at Pushing Boundaries. It is an amazing place and our community is lucky to have such an organization available.

Diane November 8, 2010 (12:25 pm)

ditto what sun*e said
~
I always prefer an address and cross streets instead of maps; google maps and videos REALLY slow down opening these pages, especially for those of us still on dial up (Hi Mike); fortunately this is in my neighborhood, so already knew location, didn’t notice til question came up that address wasn’t listed; this display and the music are phenomenal; so glad to hear he’s getting all the great media attention; fun fun fun; lights and music are my favorite part of the holidays

dingleberry November 8, 2010 (4:22 pm)

glad i dont live on that block! lol. Cant wait to see, though.

W.S. mavrick November 8, 2010 (5:35 pm)

keep up the great work, it always looks awesome

Santa November 9, 2010 (9:06 am)

To answer a few questions:
”
Is the control system VSA software controlling DMX devices? – Comment by David Williams
”
The control system is by Light-O-Rama. We will have about 528 Channels operating almost 50,000 lights. No DMX…yet.
”
They’re giving City Light a Merry Christmas, that’s for sure. – Comment by CB
”
Actually, we run 100% LED lights, so the extra cost of electricity will be well below $50 for the 5 weeks of the shows.
”
glad i don’t live on that block! lol. Cant wait to see, though. – Comment by dingleberry
”
Traffic probably will be a problem this year…especially on the weekends. So I encourage all of those who do use Charlestown as a thoroughfare, PLEASE slow down…there will be lots of cars and even more people/kids walking about and crossing the street.

Peggy November 10, 2010 (4:45 pm)

From the link I found above, thanks WSB, here is the basic address information:

“We are located at 3908 SW Charlestown in beautiful West Seattle.

For the folks familiar with West Seattle,
we are right across the street from the Water Tower on Charlestown.”

If you click on this link (or copy and paste it to your browser): http://westseattlelights.com/directions.htm

you will find more specific directions on driving to the home.

S&C and JW: Awesome of you all to do this again this year. I just love that you are carrying on a tradition started by the Gai Family oh so many years ago in that neighborhood. It reminds of my family making that drive from Pigeon Point into West Seattle every Christmas back in the 70s (which always seemed a long ways away, but really isn’t).

Debi November 15, 2010 (12:56 am)

Truly looking forward to watching the “West Seattle Lights” again, last year was amazing and this year is even bigger/brighter….Two years in a row it’s now a Tradition!! LOL I also remember the Gais display as a child then I was able to share that tradition with my son. Now again so many new memories are getting ready to become a family tradition at the West Seattle Lights on Charleston!!! Thanks Jim, Mr. West Seattle Lights Guy!!!

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