A neighborhood light show that started off as a cheerful pick-me-up during lockdown is back for a third year.

The Christmas display’s designer and creator, Mike Lauth, said his wife has always loved light shows, so when Lauth pitched the idea of doing one at their house at 284 Black Pine Ct. in Lexington, the family was all for it. Lauth then added a Halloween light show two years ago.

Lauth’s Christmas show includes 7,680 lights and 15-20 minutes of music. Despite all that, he said it only takes a weekend to set up, though that’s just scratching the surface of what it takes to put on.

Lauth said it takes an average of 30 hours of programming per song to synchronize it with the lights, a process he does on an application called xLights. The most time-consuming song in the program is “Carol of the Bells,” which he said took him more than 50 hours.

Other songs featured in this year’s show are “Here Comes Santa Claus” and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” as well as the intro song to “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” Lauth said he tries to appeal to all ages with the songs he chooses, mentioning the inclusion of rapper Snoop Dogg in the soundtrack.

Crafting the show is a year-round process. Lauth told the Chronicle that he “dribs and drabs” on programming throughout the year and tends to do a light check around July to ensure that everything is operating correctly. 

Coming from the world of IT security, he said the knowledge he has gained has helped him in his lighting endeavor, and the large community around Christmas lighting has provided guidance.

As to the cost, Lauth said he has spent $8,000-$10,000 on equipment, including $1,500 spent this year to expand the Halloween display. He uses a smart plug to track the electricity used, which he said was about .31 kilowatt hours the night before he spoke with the Chronicle.

During the first year, Lauth said he had about 400 light failures, which he then had to repair. Upkeep on the lights has become an annual task, with Lauth soldering and repairing them himself.

“Sometimes you get a lot of good ones and sometimes you get a lot of bad ones,” he said.