273. Behold the Work of Barrington’s Clark Griswold

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2010 Barrington Griswold Award

There is one category in the 365 Barrington holiday lights contest that I wasn’t so sure about. After all, could Barrington actually have it’s own version of Clark Griswold, one of the best holiday characters EVER, played to perfection by Chevy Chase in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation? We searched for him and, YES, we found him! And today we’re paying homage as we bestow this year’s Clark Griswold Award to one impressive Barrington dad.

2010 Barrington Griswold Award

His name is John Kazmier and your jaw will drop when you first see his family’s lighted home in The Glen, a gated community in South Barrington.

John Kazimer has a computer station set up in his house which controls 80,000 red, green and white holiday lights hung in frames on the front of his house and throughout the yard. Every inch of his home is covered with lights, which dance to the beat of about seven Christmas songs, climaxing with Queen’s Christmas version of “We Will Rock You”. A sign in the front yard tells you where to tune your radio to watch the lights move to the music. For a few seconds the house is red with green shutters. Then it changes to green with red shutters. Then house goes dark and the windows jump out with tiny bright white lights before the sequence repeats, based on the beat. It took the Kazmiers about seven hours per song to choreograph the lights for the display.

Meet Barrington's Very Own Clark Griswold

John invited me into his home office to show me how it all works. The first thing I noticed was Clark Griswold and the Christmas Vacation movie poster framed and hanging on his wall.

John Kazmier's Christmas Vacation Clark Griswold Poster

John showed me the computer and wires which control the outdoor lights.

He showed me the diagram which lays out the candy canes, lighted trees, candles and other holiday displays throughout the lawn.

Barrington Clark Griswold

He even showed me the folder where he saves all of the thank you notes he’s received over the years from kids who love his lights. One of those notes included a couple of dollar bills to help John pay the electrical bill.

But one thing John would NOT let me do was take his photo. I tried to sneak a few, but I decided I had better obey his rule. After all, we all know what happens when Clark Griswold gets mad!

John had surgery on his shoulder in 2009 AND in 2010. But that didn’t stop him from putting up his holiday lights this year. In fact, he has BIG plans for next year’s display. He wouldn’t share the details, but he says it’s going to be AWESOME! And when I asked him why he goes all out he said, simply, “I love the lights. I love gadgets. And I love kids. We’re a caring family and we just want to give back.” If you want to check out the Kazmier’s lights this year, there’s still time. The Kazmier’s final light shows of the year will take place from 5-10PM on New Year’s Eve, tomorrow night. For more details and directions to the Kazmier’s house, visit their website at SouthBarringtonLights.com.

1 Comment

  1. We drove our kids out to see the lights earlier this week and the show was spectacular! I can’t wait to see it again next year!

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