A Xiao ESP32-S3 and 52 WS2812B addressable RGB LEDs are all it takes to recreate the Stranger Things alphabet light wall. Builder MyEmbeddedStuff replaced non-addressable LEDs inside an existing string light set, two LEDs per letter, keeping the original Christmas-light aesthetic intact.
Because only one letter illuminates at a time, current draw stays low enough to power the entire display directly from the ESP32-S3's power input pin. Control comes from an onboard web server that serves a browser UI: type a message, watch it blink out letter by letter. No dedicated power supply, no external driver board.
The full write-up is worth reading for the wiring approach inside existing string lights and the web server implementation, not just the foam-cutting craft work. If you want to build this before next Halloween, the hardware list is short and the method is replicable in a weekend.
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