Christmas in the City

Have you checked out Buckhead Church‘s (in Atlanta, Georgia) stages yet? You really should. I’m working on getting in contact with the people who make these stage designs to see if they’re willing to share their techniques. Until then though I must admire their designs from afar like this one.

Carlos Whittaker was kind enough to post these pictures on his blog. If you’d like to share the techniques you’ve used to create something like this…please do so in a comment below. If you’re the guy responsible for this design…let’s chat! :)

Thanks to Jared for posting the how-to in a comment:
My name is Jared, and I am the Lighting and Scenic Director at Buckhead Church. Just to give you a quick rundown of this stage design. The city skyline was cut out of 4′ x 8′ sheets of a foam-core type material. We had a company with a CNC machine cut it for us (over 12,000 windows). We then glued vellum paper to the back side of the cutouts and lit that with LED strip lights. The backdrop was a fiber-optic star drop that was rented. Since we were going for a “Christmas in the City” feel we didn’t want to use christmas trees. Instead we purchased different sized trees from a local nursery that were all dormant.

The scale of this production demonstrates what’s possible when combining professional fabrication techniques with creative vision. The CNC-cut foam-core approach allowed for incredible detail—over 12,000 individual windows—that would be impossible to achieve by hand. For churches without access to CNC equipment, consider partnering with local makerspaces, vocational schools, or signage companies that may have routing capabilities and be willing to donate or discount their services for the project.

The vellum paper technique creates a stunning diffused glow when backlit with LED strips. Vellum was an excellent choice because it provides uniform light diffusion while being durable enough to withstand installation and removal. The warm color temperature of the LEDs likely created a welcoming glow that contrasted beautifully with the fiber-optic star backdrop, establishing depth and atmosphere.

The use of dormant nursery trees rather than traditional Christmas decorations was a brilliant design choice. These bare-branched trees created a winter-in-the-city aesthetic that felt authentic rather than kitschy. Dormant trees are often available at reduced prices from nurseries during winter months, and they can be returned or planted after the production concludes, making this an environmentally friendly option.

Related Designs

• Skyline – Styrofoam city skyline with velum windows and triangular supports
• New York Skyline – NYC skyline created with insulation foam and duct tape windows for a Christmas musical
• Free Christmas Cheer – Budget-friendly Christmas stage design ideas
• 12 Strands of Christmas – Creative Christmas lighting design using string lights
• Stretch Fabric Options for Christmas – Versatile fabric backdrop ideas for holiday services

Pro Tips for Christmas City Stage Design

CNC Routing Alternatives: If professional CNC routing isn’t available, consider using a jigsaw or scroll saw for simpler window patterns. Create templates from cardboard to ensure consistency. For small windows, a drill with various sized bits can create circular “windows” quickly. Remember that simpler designs often read better from a distance than overly detailed work.

LED Strip Installation: When backlighting foam-core with LEDs, space the strips evenly to prevent hot spots. Use aluminum channels to mount the strips straight and provide heat dissipation. Test your lighting before final installation—LED color temperature significantly impacts the mood, with warm white (2700K-3000K) creating a cozy feel while cool white (4000K+) reads as more modern and urban.

Working with Foam-Core: Foam-core board is rigid but fragile. Handle carefully to prevent corner damage. When joining multiple 4’x8′ sheets, use a straight edge and utility knife to ensure clean edges that butt together seamlessly. Reinforce joints on the backside with gaffer’s tape or thin wood strips glued in place.

Star Drop Budget Alternative: If renting a fiber-optic star drop isn’t feasible, create a similar effect with dark blue or black fabric and white Christmas lights poked through from behind. Random spacing creates a more natural starfield than uniform grids. Add a few “twinkle” bulbs that randomly flash for extra realism.