Every February, the Canberra man starts planning his elaborate Christmas lights display.

This year's nine-minute extreme lighting show is synchronised with a musical mash-up of modern Christmas carols and features about 25,000 pixel lights, each of which is made up of three LEDs.

Mr Petterson said he spent about 300 hours programming the lights to the music this year.

Since the start of December, he said more than 40,000 people had come to see the show at 32 Elia Ware Crescent in Bonner.

On Saturday, he said he was expecting an extra 30,000 visitors across a "crazy" last three nights before Christmas.

"It's one of the most unique light shows you'll see anywhere, particularly in Canberra," Mr Petterson said.

"There's something for everyone. We've got smoke machines, bubble machines and snow machines that come on during the show.

"Everyone who's come out here has left with huge smiles on their faces."

The display, in its eighth year, raises money for Legacy Australia and is a hobby Mr Petterson's family plays a big role in.

He said some elements of the show were consistent; it always included an element from Star Wars or Star Trek, and it had to have "an epic guitar solo".

But his desire to have something in the show for everyone means he also relies on the advice of his wife,  a few close friends and his two young children, whose favourite TV shows, Fireman Sam and Paw Patrol, make an appearance.

Every element is creatively weaved in to ensure the lights and the music are telling the same story.

"I’ve had requests for AC/DC for a while, so this year, I put it in. At the front it says, ‘Now to the weather report for Santa's journey. On Christmas Eve, we can expect…’, then it starts off with the first few lines of Thunderstruck," Mr Petterson said.

"It's the same with Fireman Sam; that part starts off with the smoke machine making it look like my tree's on fire."

Mr Petterson's measure of success is simple.

"I know I’ve got it right when everyone has a big smile on their face and my kids are dancing up and down the hallway," he said.