One Florida man separated himself by miles, or rather feet, from his neighbors this holiday season by building a giant replica of the classic Christmas movie.
JP Michalik combined his love of Christmas decorating with the beloved 1983 movie A Christmas storycreating a life-size version of one of the film’s most memorable moments in the front yard of his Neptune Beach home.
“You are looking at an exact replica of a foot lamp from A Christmas Story”, JP Michalik told WJXT. “It’s 420% bigger than the one in the movie, so it’s 20 feet tall.”
Explaining how he came up with the idea for the immersive holiday display, Michalik said a restless night’s sleep got his creative juices flowing.
Days after his wife’s death, the ‘angel’ came knocking. Now the tree they planted as newlyweds is in Rockefeller Center
“I thought it would be fun to have a neighborhood contest to see who could have the best Christmas decorations,” Michalik told the outlet. Then he had an “epiphany”.
To create the replica — which also features the movie’s central character Ralphie hugging a lamp while wearing his iconic pink bunny suit — Michalik revealed he used half a mile of 14-inch tassels and golf netting to complete the look.
So far, the Florida resident said the outdoor decor has become a hit.
Deacon says his twinkling Christmas lights led to 82 marriage proposals and even a ‘miracle’ (Exclusive)
“People come in and sometimes their kids haven’t seen the movie and they say, ‘Oh no, we have to go home and we’re going to make you watch this movie,'” he told the station.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Michalik said the holiday display ultimately brings back the fun times he remembers going to the movies “as a kid in the ’80s.”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education