Massachusetts

Mass. Lights Display Rivals ‘Christmas Vacation'

The 70,000 lights Charles Fiore put up on his home, and the 60,000 more lining the driveway, are magical to those who come out

The movie "Christmas Vacation" is a holiday favorite. And now, there's a real-life Clark Griswold in Wilmington, Massachusetts.

"Each nail is spaced two and a half inches apart on every single board," said 21-year-old Charles Fiore.

He's a bricklayer by day and a light aficionado by night.

"I don't know why I do it, but I do, and I like doing it," he said. "Everybody calls me crazy, but that's what I do."

The 70,000 lights he put up on his home, and the 60,000 more lining the driveway, are magical to those who come out.

"I'm just picking up my mom. She came from dialysis. And I want to show what a wonderful job they did," said Fernando Goncalves.

"What I like most about it is when people come down and enjoy it and tell me how it brings a smile to their face," said Fiore.

Fiore lives in the Concord Street home with his mom and dad. He says he started decorating in September, sometimes getting help from friends.

"We work until about 1-2 in the morning," he said.

Neighbors Tiffany and Gabe Cabral love the display.

"We are the neighbors and I feel like my house does not even compare to this," Tiffany said. "But it's amazing. It's beautiful, and we're glad they did it."

Unlike Clark Griswold, Fiore says he couldn't staple into the roof, so every string of lights is on a board anchored by nails. The boards are then tied to the roof.

"Every single light on this house is about two and a half inches apart," he said. "We haven't had any accidents yet. Hopefully, we won't have any next year, now that I said that."

And the question everyone wants answered —- he expects the electric bill to be about $600 this month.

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