xLights Intensive Workshop
Learn xLights from the ground up! These workshops are unique to Christmas Expo.
xLights Intensive – Build Your Show with Structure and Confidence, July 20-21, 2026, Dallas, TX
This 2-day hands-on workshop is designed to help you build a clean, scalable xLights layout from the ground up—without the confusion that slows most people down.
This is not just about placing models on a screen. It’s about building a layout that actually works for sequencing.
Over two days, you’ll learn how to:
✔ Design a layout that supports clean sequencing
✔ Avoid the most common mistakes that create long-term problems
✔ Build and manage models in both 2D and 3D
✔ Create submodels and groups that make sense (and actually get used)
✔ Configure controllers and test your layout with confidence
✔ Set yourself up for efficient mapping and sequencing
This is a hands-on class. You’ll be working in xLights the entire time, building your own layout step-by-step.
By the end of this workshop, you won’t just “have a layout”— you’ll have a layout that is ready to sequence.
💡 Best paired with the 2-Day Sequencing Intensive for a complete start-to-finish workflow.
Cost: $450.00 for 2 full days, includes lunch both days.
💡 OPTIONAL ADD-ON (Highly Recommended)
👉 Bundle Offer:
Register for both 2-Day Intensives and receive a $25 discount.
🎵 xLights Sequencing Intensive – From Blank Timeline to Controlled Results
2-Day Workshop, July 22-23, 2026, Dallas, TX
Most people don’t struggle with effects. They struggle with where to start and what to do next. This 2-day intensive is built around a process-driven approach to sequencing—so you can stop guessing and start creating with intention.
This is not a class about learning more effects. This is a class about learning how to build a sequence.
Day 1 – Foundation & Workflow
You’ll learn how to:
✔ Approach a song with a clear plan
✔ Create timing tracks that actually guide your sequence
✔ Understand what to listen for (and what to ignore)
✔ Use color and movement with purpose
✔ Build a repeatable sequencing workflow
Day 2 – Execution & Refinement
We take it further:
✔ Apply structure across your layout
✔ Improve mapping and adapt sequences to your props
✔ Use layer blending and settings with intention (not guessing)
✔ Use bulk edit and tools to speed up your process
✔ Build and refine a polished sequence section
You will actively build sequences during the class—not just watch.
By the end:
👉 You will have a process you can use for every song
👉 You will understand why things work
👉 You will be able to create or improve sequences with confidence
Requirements:
- Bring your own laptop with xLights installed
Cost: $450.00 for 2 full days, includes lunch both days.
Software Notice
Any additional enhancements to the software between now and Christmas Expo will be covered in the class.
Instructor
Ron Howard of xTreme Sequences is a recognized leader in the xLights community, known for his highly detailed sequencing and practical, process-driven teaching style. Rather than focusing on features or effects alone, Ron teaches a structured approach to building and sequencing a show—helping students move beyond guesswork and develop repeatable techniques that produce clean, musical results.
With years of experience in both residential and large-scale commercial projects, Ron has developed a reputation for creating sequences that balance precision, storytelling, and visual impact. Through his hands-on workshops, Ron has helped hundreds of lighting enthusiasts gain confidence in xLights by simplifying complex concepts and focusing on what actually works in real-world displays.
Ron continues to stay at the forefront of xLights development and is actively involved in advancing sequencing techniques within the community.
xLights developer, Sean Meighan, has endorsed Ron Howard from xTreme Sequences to teach these in-depth workshops at Christmas Expo.
