Many long-standing holiday light displays may be found around the state of Oregon, and Portland’s Peacock Lane is a popular classic.
One home’s light show, Schilling Lights on Larkin Milwaukie, offers something unique, though: 50,000 lights that dance in time with holiday music that guests can request.
Ask for Frank Sinatra’s version of Jingle Bells, for example, and watch as glowing candy canes flash red and white stripes in time with the song.
On top of the garage, a lighted Santa hat is personified with eyes and a moving mouth that seems to be singing along.
The enormous garage grid is the display’s main attraction. It uses 19,000 lights to cover the front of a two-car garage and displays hypnotic images, dancing cartoon characters, and scenes from films like National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
On December 9, 2024, the Schilling Lights on Lark Christmas light show took place at 15909 S.E. Lark Ave. in Milwaukie, Oregon.OregonLive/The Oregonian | Teresa Mahoney
On December 9, 2024, the Schilling Lights on Lark Christmas light show took place at 15909 S.E. Lark Ave. in Milwaukie, Oregon.OregonLive/The Oregonian | Teresa Mahoney
According to Matt Schilling, the homeowner and mastermind behind the show at 5909 S.E. Lark Ave., it has just been an obsession.
Schilling claimed to have enjoyed Christmas lights all of his life and to have been grateful to his parents for fostering his passion. He was raised in the small eastern Oregon town of Hermiston, where he would assist his parents in lighting their home as a child and return to do the same while attending college.
“I’m going to go all out once I have my own house,” he stated.
Schilling stated that he had been purchasing 10,000 bulbs year since purchasing his house in 2017.
He never looked back after discovering lights in 2019 that he could program to music.
To learn how to set up all the electrical components and how to utilize free software called xLights to sync the lights to music, he spent time studying YouTube videos and participating in online communities for Christmas lights.
Free software called xLights is used by Schilling Lights on Lark in Milwaukie to synchronize the lights with music.With thanks to Matt Schilling
Schilling stated that the process involves selecting a song, loading it, and then applying various effects to various objects or props in your yard to make them move in time with the music. I love playing around with things like this since technology simply seems to click with me.
Visitors can tune to 88.1 FM and listen to the same synchronized tunes from the comfort of their car in addition to hearing music playing loudly at the show.
In my garage, I have an FM transmitter that I can control to broadcast to the appropriate station. It is only permitted within a mile or two of the neighborhood due of its short-term radio frequency. Schilling added, “So you can’t go very far and it’s gone.”
Additionally, guests can request a song by scanning a QR code displayed on a TV screen at the main gate. Over 100 tracks are available for selection.
What about Schilling’s power bill?
He answered, “It’s not that bad.” Yes, it does increase somewhat given the number of lights I have—50,000—but they are only about 10% bright. They would consume a lot of electricity and power if they were operating at 100%.
Schilling claimed that although he works in accounting for the supermarket chain New Seasons, he can’t stop thinking about the lights.
How much time does the display occupy his thoughts? He laughed all the while he was awake. It is in the mind all the time. I repair songs or add things that people would like to see whenever I have free time.
In addition, Schilling participates in a number of community events and has light displays for Halloween, New Year’s, and Veterans Day.
He sponsors fundraising events for LoveOne, an organization that helps homeless people in Clackamas County, and his lights have been in the Portland Starlight Parade, Milwaukie Porchfest concert series, and Milwaukie Bing in the New Year’s Cherry Drop event.
Schilling remarked, “I love when people tag and share what they’re viewing.” Observing the happiness on people’s faces is the reason I do it.
Lark’s Schilling Lights: 5909 S.E. Lark Ave., Milwaukie, 5–10 p.m. every night until December 25. Dec. 26 marks the start of the New Year’s light spectacular. Requests for songs are accepted through January 12.
Follow all of the holiday light displays on Instagram. In a recent Instagram post, Schilling provides some tips to maintain traffic flow:
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