The Magical Lights of Malcolm

A home isn’t a home without Christmas lights, according to Vinny Bittinger of Malcolm.

He and his wife, Maggie, have created the Magical Lights of Malcolm for the last three years, using both static displays and pixels to brighten their yard.

“It’s something we do together,” Vinny said.

The Bittingers’ display, located west of Malcolm on Bluff Road, is open to visitors. It’s hard to miss—especially at night.

“Christmas lights are my hobby,” Vinny said.

Maggie said this hobby first began when the couple lived in an apartment. Vinny came home with Christmas lights to decorate.

Once the couple moved into their first house, Vinny’s light collection expanded. Then he decided he wanted to learn how to animate them.

At the time, only a few people around Lincoln animated their lights. Vinny said he sent letters to all of them. He proposed an exchange: he’d help them take down their lights if they taught him how to create light shows like theirs.

One person accepted the exchange, Vinny said, adding he spent about a year learning from the man.

Now, Vinny and Maggie belong to an international community of light enthusiasts. Maggie said they have friends across the U.S. and Canada and friends from Austria, Germany, England and Australia, to name a few places.

“We talk to them constantly,” Vinny said.

Vinny said he started a Facebook group last year to network with others who share the hobby. It quickly became the largest and most active group for Christmas light enthusiasts.

This online community shares information, ideas and assistance. They even network to create and improve software specifically for creating light shows.

There are several components to the light displays. The Bittingers have static displays that use typical Christmas lights with an alternating current.

They also have pixel displays, which use a direct current. Each bulb is controlled by a computer chip, which means the pixels need a computer signal to work.

In addition to the lights, the Bittingers’ have an FM transmitter. Visitors can set their car radios to the station indicated on a sign on the Bittingers’ property. The lights and music are synced for the show.

For this year’s show, Vinny said he likely put more than 1,000 hours into planning, designing, building and programming everything.

He said there were an additional 120 man hours setting up the lights with the help of two Malcolm High School students.

Maggie said the Christmas light community is competitive, but it’s all for fun.

Vinny said some of their friends have been featured on ABC’s Great Christmas Light Fight. He and his friends try to out-do each other to get on the show.

But if one friend is chosen, Vinny said others are quick to help with final set-up and testing so the show is pristine for recording.

“It’s a big group, but a very close group of Christmas light fanatics,” Vinny said.

He said the competitive camaraderie doesn’t overshadow the reason why he and his friends work on their displays.

Maggie said that reason is helping the community. Their family and other light enthusiasts collect donations from visitors who come to see the displays.

“Most people have their community and want to better their community,” Maggie said.

This year, the Bittingers have a donation box to collect funds for Malcolm’s Field of Dreams project, which aims to build a second ball field in town.

For Vinny, he said he wants to help create memories for area kids the same way he has childhood memories of traveling with his family to see the lights.

The Bittingers have two sons, Abel, 8, and Ian, 6.

Vinny said their kids like to help as much as they can. When they get older, he expects Abel will have an interest in the computer side of the shows, while Ian, who likes to get dirty, may enjoy the building and mechanics of the lights.

Overall, Vinny said their boys enjoy the light displays. In fact, when Abel’s class was learning their home addresses, Abel said he didn’t need to because he can just tell people he lives in the Christmas light house.

“They’re growing into it and they appreciate how special it is,” Vinny said.

Vinny said his friends’ wives usually act as a control valve, but Maggie is more like a nitro-boost.

“She always thinks we can go bigger and better,” Vinny said.

Because the Christmas lights are a year-round hobby, Vinny said it makes an impact on his family.

“It gives us something special that’s us,” Vinny said. “It’s like Christmas is a part of us.”

In addition to their home show and networking with others, Vinny and Maggie attend conventions on Christmas lights. In March, Vinny will teach others at a convention in St. Louis, Missouri.

Vinny also serves on the board of directors for TransWorld.

In the past, TransWorld was a commercial Halloween vendor show for theme parks, haunted houses and those involved with animatronics and makeup.

Vinny said TransWorld is adding a Christmas show and asked him to be on the board to represent the Christmas light do-it-yourselfers.

Maggie said they will see more than 60,000 people at that convention.

With his Christmas light knowledge, Vinny started his own business to help others set up lights. And recently, he hosted and officiated a wedding in the middle of his light display.

“I just really love Christmas,” Vinny said. “I want to spread that joy as much as possible.”

When visitors come to view the Bittingers’ light show, the family often runs out to cars to hand out candy canes. He says kids are often awestruck, and that motivates him to have an impact on the community.

“That’s what I love seeing,” Vinny said.

amanda@sewardindependent.com