TCP POWERS CLEETUS MCFARLAND’S BRADENTON HOLIDAY LIGHTS FESTIVAL AT THE FREEDOM FACTORY
When YouTube sensation and motorsports icon Cleetus McFarland decided to turn The Freedom Factory into a holiday spectacle like no other, he trusted Thunder City Pro to bring his vision to life. Charged with the design, integration, and operation of the Bradenton Holiday Lights Festival, TCP fused advanced engineering with bold storytelling to deliver a high-octane, family-friendly spectacle that captivated audiences and captured Cleetus’s signature flair.
The TCP team engineered the entire experience from the ground up, ensuring each element was programmed to perfection, installed securely, and designed to dazzle. Nearly 100,000 RGB pixels danced to a custom soundtrack, telling a story that pulsed with rhythm and intensity. Like shining stars on a Christmas tree, 14 Proteus Hybrid Max and 14 Proteus Rayzor 760 fixtures were perched around the track, delivering unmatched brightness, rich color, and sweeping movement to the massive venue.
The system was programmed and operated using Onyx Control Systems, chosen for its stability, scalability, and capacity to handle over 500 DMX universes via sACN and nearly 100,000 mapped RGB pixels.
TCP implemented a triple-redundant control architecture across three isolated sACN networks, supported by redundant battery backups and 40Gbps/10Gbps network trunking for reliable, high-speed performance. The infrastructure also included dedicated digital audio, IP video, and CCTV monitoring networks to ensure seamless operation and oversight.
The lighting system featured:
(14) Elation Proteus Hybrid Max
(14) Elation Proteus Rayzor 760
(6) Elation Paladin Panels
All fixtures were synchronized via timecode for fully automated playback, delivering immersive beam effects, sweeping washes, and detailed pixel-mapped visuals.
Beyond the technical infrastructure, Thunder City Pro also delivered full creative production for four themed shows, each with its own soundtrack, visual identity, and lighting narrative. These included:
The Magical Show – featuring an original theme song and an epic reprise finale.
Christmas Pop Show – high-energy visuals synchronized with holiday favorites.
Christmas Rock Show – included a custom storyline where Cleetus McFarland troubleshoots a power outage and turbo-charges the finale.
Country Hits Show – a festive display set to classic country Christmas tunes.
TCP handled audio production and mastering, lighting design with custom pixel mapping, and automation programming to ensure that each show executed with precision, night after night. With motorsport flair, rock concert energy, and holiday cheer, this project proved once again: when you want to do big things, Thunder City Pro brings the power!
Thunder City Pro Services
Turn-Key Show Control System Design & Integration
Technical system architecture and full deployment
Triple-redundant lighting control and pixel mapping system
Network design, including:
(3) separate sACN networks for data redundancy
40Gbps and 10Gbps trunking
Digital audio network
Show IP video network
CCTV network for system monitoring
Redundant battery backup systems for core infrastructure
Audio DSP programming and multi-channel audio routing
Creative Show Production
Fully produced and automated programming for (4) themed shows
Custom lighting design and pixel mapping
Audio production, mastering, and synchronization
Precision automation and timecode-based programming for seamless execution
Technical Highlights
Nearly 100,000 RGB pixels
Over 500 universes of DMX control via sACN
Fully automated lighting control with Onyx Systems
Elation Lighting Equipment:
(14) Proteus Hybrid Max
(14) Proteus Rayzor 760
(6) Paladin Panels
