One resident really went all out to show her holiday spirit
There are Christmas decorations like simple colorful bulbs and cardboard snowmen cutouts, and then there are Christmas decorations.
For the past 10 years, a veritable winter wonderland has emerged in front of a townhouse on Washington Avenue belonging to Shannon Vukalcic, the long-time Santa Monican behind an elaborate holiday decoration set-up that catches passersby offguard, amazed at its unusual extravagance.
The Christmas ornamentation sits on the lawn in front of Vukalcic’s house off Lincoln Boulevard and consists of individual statues and props, combined to form a wintery holiday scene. In one corner, Santa Claus sits in a propeller airplane, cheerfully dropping off gifts from high up above. Next to St. Nick, a polar bear performs a concert as some groupie penguins dance to the holiday music. A giant Ferris wheel entertains a couple of Santas, snowmen and penguins.
The Christmas scene changes each year, with this year’s decorations headed for Vukalcic’s mother’s house in West Hills for display next year. Following that, they’re moved into a storage unit in the San Fernando Valley, where bits and pieces will eventually be donated or reused in future festive scenes.
The elaborate settings have been a Wil-Mont favorite for years, attracting a loyal following of neighbors and even homeless people who have come to expect the familiar sight of the Christmas decorations. In the few instances when the Christmas decorations weren’t up within a few weeks after Thanksgiving Day, some neighbors have knocked on Vukalcic’s door, inquiring about when they could expect to see their favorite visual holiday feast.
Some families have been spotted taking their Christmas card pictures in front of the house, others, appreciative of the labor that goes into the set-up, have left presents and thank you notes for Vukalcic.
The decoration obsession began a decade ago when Vukalcic decided to dress up her lawn by placing a few wired reindeer out front. The following year, she befriended a professional storefront window dresser who sold used props and decorations from old windows. Those ornaments made their way to become a part of Vukalcic’s Christmas decorations.
The obsession grew as Vukalcic found unique ways to dress up her townhouse; one year, setting up seven reindeer — all painted lavender — with a sign reading, “please don’t feed the lavendeer.” Another year, the reindeer were painted in different colors and wore boas and wigs, dressed for a New Year’s night out on the town.
“I just like to do things differently,” she said.
The resulting increase of the Vukalcic’s electricity bill varies with the amount of decorating every year, but the December bill easily doubles.
“One year, someone knocked on my door and said ‘Do you realize how much electricity you’re using?’” said Vukalcic, who works in clinical drugs studies.
The decorations don’t stop with Christmas. A similar elaborate scene is set up in front of Vukalcic’s home every Halloween and Easter.
Planning for the decorations begin early and Vukalcic already has the following year’s Christmas decorations in mind, a scene that will include trains. The Santa Monican estimates that she will have to begin building the set about three months ahead of time in her storage unit in the Valley.
“I enjoy doing it, but it’s also a gift to my neighborhood,” she said.
“I enjoy doing it, but it’s also a gift to my neighborhood,” — she said
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Suggested pullquote: “I enjoy doing it, but it’s also a gift to my neighborhood.”
Shannon Vukalcic
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Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on December 25, 2007. Read the original PDF.