Submitted photo by Lacey Clark Jeff Bartsch’s house is decorated for the holidays.

Each year when the holidays start, the house on 215 Central Ave., Warren, goes above and beyond.

Jeff Bartsch, former teacher, businessman, and coach, known for his Halloween and Christmas display, lights up his house and yard with a breathtaking display. The light show, which people travel hundreds of miles to see, is a combination of sequences which incorporate music and coordinated lights that accompany the music.

One year he had a couple get married under the Christmas lights.

He explains the lights are Pixel Based Lights created through a program called XLights. Every year during Halloween and Christmas he sets up lights and runs these outstanding shows. The Halloween show runs from the beginning to end of October. He then sets up to display his Christmas show from early December through Jan 1.

Warren appreciates Bartsch for his hard work, dedication, and willingness to discuss how he makes the celebrated annual light show happen.

“I’ve been decorating with lights long before light shows were a thing,” he says. He starts planning the sequencing in January because “it takes a lot of time setting up the sequences on the computer.”

Bartsch explains that for the Halloween show, he starts setting up the lights during Labor Day through early October. On Nov. 1, he removes the Halloween props and replaces them with the Christmas props.

Bartsch says he started using LEDs in 2009. “I started off with two controllers.” Bartsch uses pixels, which are safer wiring, less costly lights, and easier to pick any color you want. Bartsch hears “Why?” from adults, but says the kids understand it. He explains how you must like the holidays and the feeling you get when listening to those songs.

“You have to have an appreciation for the holidays on which you can create the show for your passion,” Bartsch explains.

He also says it is a gift to the community that lightens the life of just one or two folks who come visit the lightshow. “I grew up here, raised a family, conducted business and I am appreciative of Warren, and this is one way I can give back.”

There’s always something new at Bartsch’s display. “Several new props have been added,” Bartsch says. One of the new additions added to his yard is a giant singing teddy bear, a smaller gummy bear, more reindeer, and a 10-foot wide by 7-foot tall video screen. “I love the props that sing,” Bartsch states.

He explains that he has a medium size set up for his lights, and that no matter where you look at the setup, something is always happening. There are props singing, videos playing, and lights flashing.

“I love the holidays and want to make people happy,” Bartsch said. “I want people to come to my house. They can be in any mood, but as long as they leave happy, that is the goal.” Furthermore, he thinks it is a great hobby to have and enjoys setting up the lights and synchronizing them.

He hopes to encourage and teach other people, especially the younger generation, to keep showing the holiday spirit through lighting displays.