The piece is made from 9,000 strands of yarn, in 11 colors, spread across a 40-by-40-foot grid. But somehow, they sway ...

Before I started using smart string lights, I would have to manually plug and unplug my lights anytime I wanted to use them. I would also need to change them out for the holidays, which was a pain.

But before you decide to toss those half-working string lights into the trash ... in the Lafayette City Hall's main lobby at the South Street entrance. 100 N. Creasy Lane, Lafayette.

I've been using the Festavia for a few weeks now and, after setting these string lights up and using them in my own home, this is my considered take on what they deliver and how good a purchase ...