Christmas Expo
Location to be announced
July 18-20, 2019
2019-7-18 08:00:00
 
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Christmas Expo News

August 17, 2018
Cranberry Meatballs

Cranberries and holidays just go together. This recipe for Cranberry Meatballs will be a hit at any holiday party or dinner table.

  • One 2-pound bag of frozen, pre-cooked cocktail meatballs (or make your own and bake them before adding to sauce)
  • One 14-ounce can Jellied Cranberry Sauce
  • One Bottle Chili Sauce
  • Whole Cranberry Sauce
  • Sliced Green Onions to garnish

Combine the Jellied Cranberry Sauce and Chili Sauce in large skillet over medium heat. Add several tablespoons of the whole cranberry sauce so that you have cranberries distributed throughout the sauce. Add your cooked meatballs to warm and toss to coat each meatball. Transfer to a serving platter and garnish with green onions. Add cocktail forks or toothpicks for serving.

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August 14, 2018
Grinch Punch

This holiday cocktail was featured in our “Culinary Creations Even a Grinch Would Love” class:

Ingredients

  • 3 bottles of champagne
  • 2 bottles of ginger ale
  • 1 carton of lime sorbet

Instructions

In a large punch bowl, scoop out all of the sorbet and place in the bottom. Alternate adding one full bottle of champagne, then one full bottle of ginger ale, then one bottle of champagne, one bottle of ginger ale, and the last bottle of champagne.  If you do it in this order, it will mix together nicely.  If you do all of the champagne at one time it gets too bubbly

Chef Joe Patrick, Eat Cake Productions
Dallas, TX

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August 14, 2018
Pecan Pie Cookies

These cookies were featured in our “Straight from Mrs. Claus’ Recipe Box” class

Chef Joe Patrick at Christmas Expo 2018Pecan Pie Cookies have a thin flaky crust with a layer of the amazing, nutty, caramel-y pecan pie filling we love so much! These are the perfect cookies for any occasion.

Ingredients

  • 1 prepared single pie crust (homemade or purchased)
  • 2 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup pecans chopped
  • 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup corn syrup
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • OPTIONAL: 1/4 cup semi sweet or milk chocolate chip for decorating

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Combine butter, pecans, brown sugar, corn syrup, salt and eggs. While constantly stirring, cook on the stove-top over medium-low heat just until thickened. (You don’t want it dry, just slightly thickened, about the consistency of pudding). Remove from heat and set aside.
  • Unroll dough and using a 3″ cookie cutter, cut out circles. Gently fold about 1/8-1/4″ up on the edges.
  • Spoon 1 tablespoon of the pecan mixture into each circle.
  • Place on a parchment lined pan (it’s important to line it) and bake 8 minutes or until filling is just set. Remove from oven and cool on a wire rack.
  • OPTIONAL:  Place chocolate chips in a small Ziploc bag. Microwave about 15 seconds or until mostly melted. Snip off a tiny corner of the baggie and drizzle chocolate over the cookies. Cool until set.

Chef Joe Patrick, Eat Cake Productions
Dallas, TX

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August 12, 2018
Apple Pie Cookies

These yummy cookies were featured in our “Culinary Creations Even a Grinch Would Love” class:

Ingredients

  • 1 box ready to use pie crust 2 crusts total
  • 1 can apple pie filling or homemade apple pie filling
  • 1 egg white
  • 1-2 tablespoons either large sugar crystals, or regular sugar (optional)
  • Whipped cream for serving (optional)

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  • Remove pie crusts and let sit 15 minutes per box instructions. Lay out parchment paper and unroll pie crusts. Using a 2.75″ circle cutter, cut circles out of one of the crusts (I made 14 and then at the end I made a couple more with leftovers). You can re-roll the scraps to make more circles. Our reader Julie suggested using the can from the pie filling as a cutter!! What an awesome idea!
  • Cut strips (approx 1/4″ or as thick as you’d like) out of the second pie crust. (I used a pastry wheel to make them pretty).
  • Open the can of pie filling and pour it onto a cutting board. Dice the apples into small chunks.
  • Place 1 heaping tablespoon of pie filling on each circle (you may have some left over). Using the strips of pastry you cut, weave them on top of each circle to create a lattice
  • Brush each cookie crust with egg white and sprinkle with sugar.
  • Place on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and bake 12-16 minutes or until browned.
  • RECIPE NOTES: My cutter was 2.75″ but if you have one close (2.5-3″) it should work just fine!

Chef Joe Patrick, Eat Cake Productions
Dallas, TX

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August 12, 2018
Cranberry, Chicken and Brie Tartlets

These delicious tartlets were featured in our “Culinary Creations Even a Grinch Would Love” class:

Chef Joe Patrick at Christmas Expo 2018The Chicken, Cranberry & Brie Tartlets combine all the best flavors of the season in one delicious little bite. Perfect for all your holiday parties, these tartlets are sure to become a new favorite!

  • Prep Time 15 minutes
  • Cook Time 15 minutes
  • Total Time 30 minutes
  • Servings 48

Ingredients

  • 2 packages 17 oz. each puff pastry
  • 1 chicken breast cooked and cut into 1/2 inch pieces
  • 1 1/2 c. fresh cranberries
  • 1/3 c. honey
  • 3 tbsp. water
  • 1 tsp. mustard powder
  • 4 oz. brie cheese cut into 48 pieces
  • 1/4 c. finely chopped pecans
  • 2 Tbsp. minced fresh sage

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Thaw puff pastry sheets according to package instructions. Once thawed, unfold into thirds.
  • Cut each third into 12 equal squares to make 48 squares. (*You will not use entire second package) Grease 2 mini muffin tins; press each puff pastry square into a muffin cup.
  • Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes; remove from oven and press the center of each cup in with the end of a wooden spoon.
  • While puff pastry is baking, prepare cranberry sauce by combining fresh cranberries, honey, water, and mustard powder in a small saucepan.
  • Bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring, 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside to cool slightly.
  • Fill the center of each puff pastry cup with 1 piece of chicken, 1/2 tsp cranberry sauce, and 1 piece brie cheese.
  • Return to oven for 5-7 minutes, until brie is nicely melted.
  • Top with minced sage and chopped pecans.
  • Serve warm.

Chef Joe Patrick, Eat Cake Productions
Dallas, TX

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December 15, 2017
Location for 2018

Christmas Expo is heading back to Dallas, TX!

After looking at numerous cities, it was that great Texas hospitality that was the deciding factor. We’ve just returned from Dallas where contracts were signed and Christmas cookies were eaten (yes, they baked Christmas cookies for us!) and we know you’re going to LOVE the new location – it couldn’t be any better if Santa had picked it himself.

The Mesquite Convention Center, just northeast of Dallas, is a perfect facility for us. Offering easy parking and easy access, the vendor hall and the classrooms are within steps of each other. No more running up and down stairs!

In addition, the facility is attached via a short, enclosed walkway to the Hampton Inn & Suites, Mesquite. It boasts a large lobby and a large pool deck, perfect for meeting up with friends old and new, as well as that all-important networking. If you haven’t been able to snag a reservation in the Hampton, our backup hotel is the TownePlace Suites Dallas/Mesquite and it’s right across the street!

See you in Mesquite!

 

 

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July 14, 2017
Nashville News on Christmas Expo

Thank you Nashville!

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December 30, 2015
ABC’s The Great Christmas Light Fight 2016

The Great Christmas Light Fight

ABC’s The Great Christmas Light Fight is casting now for 2016. If you’ve been watching the show, you’ve seen many of our Christmas Expo family compete and a few have even won the $50,000!

The producers of The Great Christmas Light Fight are looking right now for over the top displays for their 4th annual televised competition – 24 homes will be chosen to compete for a 1 in 4 chance to win $50,000 and the coveted trophy.

If you think you have what it takes, don’t take down your Christmas decorations this year until you’ve taken a video of your display.
• Videos should not exceed 10 minutes
• Introduce your team on camera and then walk with the camera through your display
• Make sure everything can be seen and heard clearly – hold the camera steady and move it slowly
• Include wide shots of your entire display and close ups of the details that make it special
• State the names, ages of all your teammates and name your hometown in your video

Once you have your video, go to www.lightfightcasting.com to submit the video and apply to be on the show. You only have a few weeks before the first round of casting ends so don’t delay, apply now!

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June 25, 2015
Roundtable Discussions – 2015

This year’s Roundtable Discussions will be on the following topics:

  • The Art of Sequencing
  • General Discussion
  • Christmas Lights Business
  • Future of RGB
  • Over the Top Displays
  • Future of the Industry

Roundtable discussions are informal meetups where the table topic remains the same and you simply wander from table to table to either listen to or join in the discussion.

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January 31, 2015
Christmas Expo dates

Planning ahead? As we announced at the 2013 Expo, Christmas Expo will always be held the third week of July from Thursday to Saturday of that week. While locations may change, the dates will allow you to put Expo on your schedule. We know we’ll be there – we ho-ho-hope you will be too!

July 14-16, 2016
July 13-15, 2017
July 19-21, 2018
July 18-20, 2019
July 16-18, 2020

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Christmas Expo Conference

July 18-20, 2019
Location to be announced

Vendor Hall Hours:
Thu: 12–5 | Fri: 9:30–4:30 | Sat: 9:30–4

• The Expo is Open to the public
• Vendor Hall Only: $8pp/day at the door
• Children under 12 free to vendor hall
• If you wish to attend classes, you must purchase a Conference Registration

Pre-Show Workshops

LOR Immersion

Ready to jump into animated lighting with Light-O-Rama products? This workshop is for you.
Get full details about this workshop

xLights Immersion

An exclusive opportunity to learn xLights from the developers.
Get full details about this workshop

1- Day Spotlight on RGB

An RGB lighting technology workshop designed for newcomers and veterans who are looking to add RGB lighting into their display.
Get full details about this workshop

Sponsors

Light-O-Rama

Christmas Light Emporium - sponsor of Christmas Expo

Policies

Cancellation Policy

Children:
Children under 12 are admitted free to the vendor hall. Must be at least 16 years old to attend a seminar. See management for more information or special requests. Anyone with a stroller must sign a liability waiver. See front desk for details.

Rights Reserved:
Management, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to refuse entry or participation to any person or business or remove anyone from the Expo who may be disruptive, threatening or who may violate procedures and/or policies.

Schedule: Education schedules are subject to change without notice.

Suitcase sales: Sales or solicitations of products or services by anyone who is not a paid vendor of the Expo are not permitted. This includes, but is not limited to, verbal communication, product giveaways, handouts, digital items and printed materials. Failure to comply will result in immediate removal.

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Christmas Expo is owned and produced by:
ProShow, Inc.
PO Box 369
Monroeville, PA  15146
412-372-8130

Solicitation Policy

Christmas Expo does not permit sales or solicitations of products or services by anyone who is not a paid vendor of the Expo. This includes, but is not limited to, verbal communication, business cards, product giveaways, handouts, digital items and printed materials. Failure to comply will result in immediate removal.

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