Thousands are flocking to a Bay Area home that mixes Star Wars and Christmas in a delightful way, as you can see in the video below.
This is the second year that Tom BetGeorge, a music teacher and director at COVA Conservatory in Oakland and Centerville Presbyterian Church in Fremont has decked out his Newark home for the holidays as a tribute to both the season and, BetGeorge says, "my favorite songs on Star Wars."
"I built all the props using wood, metal, acrylic and corrugated plastic," BetGeorge says, including "the massive instruments."
"The guitar is 17', the piano is 19' and the drums are standard...If you look closely (especially during the Cantina song) the instruments are playing the real notes," BetGeorge says.
He says he has about 12,500 channels running around 100,000 lights, but since "99% of the lights are LEDs, the electricity to run the show for the entire month is about $100...The beams can be seen for miles but I went out of my way to avoid shining the beams on houses and flight paths."
BetGeorge says that, as opposed to being irritated, "the neighbors are very supportive especially since I use the display to raise money for the poor and homeless through my church."
According to ABC7, since BetGeorge's video of the display in action was posted last week, the crowds who travel to see the show have grown. About 3,000 visitors arrived Saturday night, many of whom made donations to Centerville Presbyterian Church Free Dining program for the homeless and needy, which is BetGeorge's charity of choice.
"I find it funny that people say things like, 'what does this have to do with Christmas?'" BetGeorge muses. "In all reality, what do any of our traditions have to really do with Christmas?...I do this because it brings families together to enjoy something for free while raising thousands of dollars for those who are need."
And you can join that crowd, if you wish! Head to the corner of Lafayette and Ruschin Streets in Newark for the light and music show, which runs from 6-10 p.m. every night, unless it's raining.
Here's a complete list of the tracks used in the show:
- “Star Wars Main Title and the Arrival at Naboo” (Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace)
- “Duel of the Fates” (Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace)
- “Across the Stars (Love Theme)” (Star Wars Episode II - The Phantom Menace)
- “Battle of the Heroes” (Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith)
- “The Hologram; Binary Sunset” (Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope)
- “Cantina Band” (Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope)
- “Ben Kenobi’s Death/TIE Fighter Attack” (Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope)
- “The Imperial March (Darth Vader’s Theme)” (Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back)
- “Victory Celebration, End Title” (Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi)