SAFETY FIRST
Here are tips for staying safe while building a residential holiday wonderland.
* Before beginning, sketch out where you'll use lights and how you're planning to use your power.
* When hanging lights by yourself, make sure all ladders are sturdy and secured with a sandbag. On the roof, consider using a tether.
* Shut off lights at night or set them on a timer to do so automatically. This will save money and lower the risk of a fire from overheating. Do a practice run to ensure all timers are working.
* Check all wires for fraying before starting to decorate and purchase new wires every few years, regardless.
* Even though outdoor wiring can get wet, make sure all extension cords are suspended to keep them out of standing water.
Source: Christmas Decor professional Christmas decorators
BY THE NUMBERS
* 25 -- percentage of Rock City's annual energy bill that comes from the period when the Enchanted Garden of Lights is aglow.
* 67 -- number of days until Christmas
* 3,797 -- miles from Chattanooga to the North Pole
* 30,000 -- number of LED lights used to decorate the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center in New York City
KA-CHINGLE BELLS
Here's a sample budget for filling your kit with tools the pros recommend.
* Twist ties (2,000 count) -- $2.99
* Sticky tack (5.3 oz) -- $3.99
* Needle-nose pliers -- $22.99
* Bulb and fuse tester -- $19.99
* Extra bulbs (300 clear/200 colored) -- $34.97
* Indoor/outdoor automatic timer -- $13.52
* Total -- $98.45
Source: Prices based on listings at www.HomeDepot.com and www.walmart.com>
For some people, holiday decorating is a frantic rush of rifling through boxes in the attic, cursing serpentine tangles of wires and trying to find that one mutinous dead bulb in the strand.
Just think how much easier it could be with a few extra months to prepare.
Work on Rock City's annual holiday celebration, Enchanted Garden of Lights, begins in July with an inventory of some 1 million lights and components for 27 themed scenes stored in a 2,000-square-foot warehouse, said Rock City President Andrew Kean.
For an attraction seen by about 50,000 guests annually, taking the time to do it right is important, said Jeff Raabe, director of operations.
"Each scene needs not only to be put in place but trouble-shot to make sure it's going to operate for the entire six to seven weeks," Mr. Raabe said. "It's a lot more complex than you would think."
Beginning in early October, Rock City hires eight additional seasonal workers to help with setting up the displays. Working at a steady pace, they should have everything ready by Nov. 18, two days before the attraction officially starts.
This year, the park begins its three-year transition to an all-LED light display. About a third of the scenes this year will use the brighter, energy-efficient bulbs, Mr. Kean said.
Even for those with smaller light displays, starting early has its benefits.
Jerry Webb said his annual grand Christmas decoration has made his home on St. Elmo Avenue a popular stop for seasonal gawkers for 15 years now.
Celebrations, and decorations, start early in the Webb home. He's almost finished decking out every interior room in his home and said he plans to move outside when the weather dries out to have everything ready by Halloween, though he won't actually light the display until Thanksgiving.
Even if other people can't decorate as early or on the same level of extravagance as he does, Mr. Webb said he would like to see more participation in the holiday.
"I'm just hoping other people will get interested in Christmas," he said. "It doesn't have to be as much as ours, as long as they're getting into the spirit."
Casey Phillips has worked as a features reporter in the Life department for three years. He writes about entertainment, young adults, animals and people of interest. Casey hails from Knoxville and earned a bachelor of science degree in journalism and a bachelor of arts in German. He previously worked as the features editor for Sidelines at Middle Tennessee State University. Casey received the East Tennessee Society of Professional Journalists Award of Excellence for Reviewing/Criticism in ...
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