A behind-the-scenes look at holiday lights on the boardwalk

If I were to ask you the most cumbersome task during the holidays, what would you say? Shopping? Holiday entertaining? Well, I may have a good answer.

How about hanging the outdoor holiday lights? I know this is a daunting chore because there are many companies that profit from offering this service.

It’s dangerous getting on a ladder while stringing those pretty glittering lights. Also, it takes great effort and a good eye to make your house look like a winter wonderland.

If you think that’s hard, have you ever thought about what goes into a major production like the annual Holiday Lights Merry Mile on the Boardwalk? Well, I did.

So I contacted John Lesko, senior production manager. Having enjoyed the boardwalk light show for many years, I wanted to learn what goes on behind the scenes.

Lesko said a crew of four to five people start in early September prepping the displays prior to installation. They look for electrical shorts and burnt-out bulbs and make sure the displays will look their best when installed.

A final layout for the show is completed by Sept. 15. Lesko said mapping out the arrangement of the displays is a yearlong process.

“The city is a great partner on this project each year,” he said. “Beach operations assists us with building all the dunes to install the beach displays, and traffic operations helps with the installation of the larger displays along the Boardwalk.”

The installation of the show starts Oct. 1 and is completed by Nov. 10. It takes another 10 days to wire and power up the light show. The whole process takes 45 days and then 30 days to break down.

Over the years, the biggest challenge has been the weather. The wind, rain, salt air, fog and occasional nor’easter storm all cause problems with the displays and production of the show.

“Another challenge that we face each year is the creativity of the show,” Lesko said. “We don’t have trees or much natural vegetation that we can string lights from.”

He said the biggest draw of the show is being able to drive on the boardwalk to enjoy the lights, so they try to avoid bare spots by strategically placing displays.

Now, when you drive through the magical Merry Mile filled with musical crabs, jumping fish and sandcastles, you’ll have a greater appreciation for all of Santa’s helpers (production staff) that work all year to bring our city this luminous gift.

Lee Belote, jlbelote@verizon.net

5 facts about the show

More than 200 cars travel through the show per hour.

More than 100,000 people view the show each year.

More than 3 miles of wire and 2,000 bulbs are used to illuminate the Boardwalk railing.

In 2008, the light show went green by converting all bulbs from incandescent to LED.

The show stretches from Second to 22nd Street and requires more than a quarter-million bulbs.

if you go

What: Holiday Lights Merry Mile, boardwalk light show

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Where: Enter at Second Street and exit at 22nd Street.

When: Nov. 22-Dec. 31

Cost: $10

Hours: 5:30-10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 5:30-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Special events: Sneak preview: $5 special Nov. 22-26

Conte’s Bike Night: Bike the lights from 5:30-7:30 p.m. Nov. 24. Bike riders will be released in waves and must be off the boardwalk by 7:30; starts at Second Street entrance.

For more info, go to liveonatlantic.com.