News : Computerized Blue Creek Christmas light show to continue through Jan. 4

It takes 2,700 lights to create images like the drummer boy and Nutcracker soldier at Blue Creek.

Almost every day in December, someone called Vinton Today or sent us a message on Facebook to ask about the Kersten/Koopman light display northwest of Vinton.

Although Heidi Koopman has turned off those lights for the final time of 2014, there is another display of Christmas lights in the area that is bringing traffic from all over Iowa and beyond.

The display is located northeast of Vinton, near where Benton, Linn and Buchanan Counties meet, a few miles north of Center Point (or a few miles south of Walker, for those more familiar with the northern part of Benton County). At the intersection of Highway 920 (Center Point Road) and Fee Road, about four miles north of Center Point, Aaron Maue and his family (with the cooperation of their neighbors) have set up a computerized, synchronized musical Christmas light display. (4942 Blue Creek Ct., Walker, IA 52352 is the actual address, but many GPS units substitute "Road" for "Court"... however, 4942 Blue Creek Rd is about 5 miles away from here. See the Facebook page for a map)

This is the fourth year for the display that bears the name Blue Creek Christmas on Blue Creek Court. Although technically in rural Walker, the Maues are also involved in Center Point and the Center Point-Urbana School District. Each year, the donations accepted for the display go toward a specific project; this year's recipient is the Center Point library expansion project.

The full display includes several songs and last around 30 minutes, although Maue shortened it for several days before Christmas because the display's popularity led to long lines on that two-lane highway. The display includes Christmas favorites, holiday comedy, some contemporary Christian Christmas songs and even a parody of a Beach Boys favorite called "Good Decorations." It also includes a tribute to soldiers, from the perspective of Santa Claus.

The lights will continue through Sunday, Jan. 4. They go on at 5:30 p.m. and continue through 10 p.m. on weekdays and 11 p.m. on weekends.

See the Blue Creek Christmas Facebook page HERE.