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How Gurnee man sets up his amazing Christmas display

For the fourth year in a row, residents of a quiet Gurnee neighborhood, and those that drive through it, will be wowed by the sights and sounds of Adam Germann's Christmas light display.

Germann, a 20-year-old video programming student at Chicago's TriBeCa Flashpoint Academy in Chicago, uses 15,000 lights, a half-mile of extension cords and four light control boxes for his display on Prairie Oak Road near Milwaukee Avenue. It takes Germann around 10 hours to set up the display which he can operate from any computer with wireless access.

“I just like decorating for Christmas, period! My dad got me started on the whole thing,” Germann said. “It means a lot to me. How the people will react to it makes all the difference.”

Germann also wants to give a boost to the Northern Illinois Food Bank by taking food or money donations. “It's a way to give back to the community. Bring people together to help out with the food bank,” Germann said. He has a box for the food bank donations

The display is synchronized to music and is currently running now through January 8. He has a sign posted indicating where to turn your radio so that you can hear the music.

Times of the display are 5-10 p.m. on weekdays and 5-11 p.m. on weekends.

Images: Behind the scenes with a suburban Christmas light fanatic

  Germann unpacks his Christmas lights from his storage area in the basement. Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
  Germann makes a final inspection of his light show from the roof of his Prairie Oak Road residence before opening night on Thursday, Dec. 1. Germann takes food and money collections for the Northern Illinois Food Bank. Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
  Germann uses around 15,000 lights for his display. Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
  Four control boxes are used to run Adam GermannÂ’s annual holiday light show. Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com
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