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Mini Location

August 29th, 2026 · 9 AM
South Branch Reformed Church
870 River Rd, Hillsborough Township, NJ 08844
Map of South Branch Reformed Church
Click to open in Google Maps

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Mini Schedule

(subject to change)
Friday August 28
6 PM
Welcome Dinner
Opening Evening
2 hr
Kick off the weekend with a welcome dinner at an industrial-style gastropub featuring several bars, gas fireplaces, and a covered porch. A great spot to connect with fellow attendees over craft beers, wines, and an elevated twist on pub food before the full day of sessions on Saturday. ( Cost not included in mini registration )

📍 22 West Tap and Grill, Bound Brook, NJ
Saturday August 29
Social Events
9 AM
Coffee, Meet & Greet
ERLE Team
60 min
Let's be honest — no one is ready to talk lighting at 9 AM without coffee first. ☕ Fuel up with bagels and donuts, meet the team, and mingle with fellow attendees. Conversations optional until the second cup.
12:05 PM
Lunch & Mingle
Catered Break
60 min
We're thinking big. Last year's BBQ set the bar high and we have no intention of disappointing — expect something just as delicious, if not better. 🍖 Take a break, load up your plate, and connect with instructors and fellow attendees. Come hungry.
4:30 PM
Raffles
Thank you to our sponsors
30 min
Get ready for some seriously amazing prizes! From premium lighting gear to incredible industry items — our sponsors go all out and so do we. 🎁

If you were at last year's Mini, you already know we don't play around when it comes to raffles. If you weren't... let's just say you'll want to stick around for this one. Big thank you to all our incredible sponsors who make this possible!
5 PM
Q&A & Mingle
Community
60 min
Have a question you haven't found an answer to? A specific problem you've been stuck on? This is your time — ask away! Our instructors and fellow attendees are here to help. No question is too big or too small.

🧹 P.S. Many hands make light work — if you can spare a few minutes to help tidy up, we promise the venue won't judge your cable management skills.
7:00 PM
Saturday Dinner
Evening Social
Join us at Norz Hill Farm — bring your own alcoholic drinks.

There's plenty to do while you're there — play a round of laser shooting, hit the line dancing floor, or check out the behind-the-scenes of a working farm. Have a good time, and stay as long as you like — we'll wrap up whenever you're ready to call it a night.

📍 120 S Branch Rd, Hillsborough Township, NJ 08844

🌅 And good news — tomorrow, you can sleep in!
Presentation Topics
10 AM
New xLights Features
Alex
30 min
Stay up to date with the latest additions and improvements in xLights! This session will highlight new features, workflow enhancements, and useful tools introduced in recent releases. Learn how these updates can make designing, sequencing, and managing your holiday light show easier and more efficient.
10:40 AM
FPP Pipewire
Patrick
20 min
Discover how PipeWire in FPP can simplify audio management and expand your show's capabilities. This session covers what PipeWire is, how it works within Falcon Player (FPP), common use cases, setup basics, and tips for routing and managing audio across your display.
11:15 AM
Projection Mapping
Sal
40 min
Explore the world of projection mapping and learn how to transform ordinary surfaces into dynamic visual experiences. This session covers the basics of projector selection, content creation, setup, alignment, and techniques for integrating projection with your holiday light display.
1:05 PM
New States
Jacky
30 min
Explore the newest State features in xLights, including updated tools for defining, managing, and sequencing custom model states. See practical examples and learn how to use them to simplify complex prop animations and displays.
1:50 PM
Sequence Import and Mapping
Alex
20 min
Learn how to use Sequence Import and Mapping tools in xLights to efficiently bring existing sequences into your layout. This session covers mapping models, handling layout differences, importing sequences, and tips for making shared sequences work with your own display.
2:25 PM
Letters to Santa
Nick
30 min
Learn how to create a festive Letters to Santa mailbox for your holiday display. This session covers design ideas, materials, construction techniques, lighting integration, and tips for adding interactive elements that make your mailbox a memorable part of your Christmas show.
3:25 PM
xLights on iPad & The Future of xLights/FPP
Dan
30 min
Get a first look at xLights running on iPad and hear what's on the horizon for xLights and FPP development. This session covers upcoming features, platform expansion, and the future direction of the tools we all rely on for our holiday light shows.
4:10 PM
Show Directory and Layout
Alex
20 min
Learn how to properly organize your xLights show files and create an efficient layout structure. This session covers show directory management, layout organization, model naming, backups, and best practices to keep your sequencing workflow clean and manageable.

Event Sponsors

Raffle Prize Sponsors

Registration

Thank You for Attending
2026 ERLE Mini
See You Next Year