Mannheim Steamroller – the classically trained, rock-loving musicians paired up with Crazy Horse Memorial, near Custer? My first impression – it sounds like an odd couple.

But the folks down at the memorial have cooked up a creative new event for this holiday season that promises to combine the two into something really unique.

The creator and lead musician of Mannheim Steamroller, Chip Davis, recently granted Crazy Horse Memorial the usage rights for some of his world-famous instrumental music.

Beginning December 18th, Crazy Horse Memorial will combine its already successful laser light show with some of Mannheim Steamroller’s widely popular Christmas music. The crew at Crazy Horse will be streaming the festive music through the visitor center and the outdoor sound system, in-sync with the animated light show projected on the giant mountain carving.

You will be able to watch the cool show from either the on-site visitor center or from the warmth of your car, in the parking lot. The music and light show will run nightly from 5 p.m to 7 p.m. through January 3.

Each night, after the outdoor show, a holiday movie will also be shown indoors at 7 p.m. Movies like “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Miracle on 34th Street” will be the features shown inside. Admission to the nightly event is also super affordable, as the only thing asked of visitors is three donated cans of food per person for a local food drive.

Omaha based Mannheim Steamroller is one of the most popular instrumental groups in history, having sold more than 40 million records. Their unmistakable sound, along with the tradition and enormity of Crazy Horse Memorial, will make this new event one not to miss.