Dazzling Christmas Display Brings CT Residents Holiday Cheer

FAIRFIELD, CT — If you find yourself on Roseville Terrace in Fairfield at any point between Thanksgiving and New Year's Eve, you may notice a glow in the distance and cars filled with families lined up all along the street. That holly jolly light is radiating from Wonderland At Roseville, where Eugene Halliwell, 71, stands in front of his brightly lit home, wishing all who enter a "Merry Christmas" and offering a warm greeting.

For the past 18 years, Halliwell has decorated his Fairfield home with a variety of lights, display pieces and decorations around the holidays. In fact, this tradition goes back even further than his time spent living at 226 Roseville Terrace.

“I’ve been doing Christmas all my life," Halliwell said. "My dad and I used to handmake our own decorations. So, I’ve always done Christmas.”

While Halliwell is the ringleader, this yearly yuletide spectacle is a group effort. Halliwell's daughter, Maryanne DeSinea, 54, of West Haven, and her husband are an integral part of putting the display together and keeping it running smoothly all month.

“It’s a pretty cool feeling being a part of this each year," DeSinea said. "I think of the people in prior years who have given a heartfelt thank you for all of this, some who have a hard time for one reason or another, and those are the people I remember and who get me through it, because [the display] can get a little overwhelming sometimes.”

Halliwell's wife, Mary, gives her husband and daughter much of the credit when it comes to the success of their holiday spectacle.

"My husband just loves children, and he loves making everybody happy and the kids happy," Mary Halliwell said. "And I give my daughter a lot of the credit. Without her, you wouldn't see all of this."

Walking in a Winter Wonderland

Upon entering the couple's yard, guests are first taken aback by the sheer spectacle of approximately 370,000 dazzling lights enveloping the property in a warm holiday glow.

An original replica of the Orient Express circles a large Santa Claus, tooting its horn as it loops around the tracks. The backyard (the North Pole) features a number of large display pieces, including a sleigh for visitors to take pictures in that is over 100 years old.

While the couple has purchased a large share of the items on display, many pieces have been donated by guests who simply wish to add their own part to the experience.

A small church has also been set up to the side of the backyard, featuring a tribute to the victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

The front porch features a large display of collectible Christmas items on shelves and inside display cases, reminiscent of a Christmas shop. Here is where Mary Halliwell displays a large number of smaller items, such as nutcrackers and Coca-Cola houses not made since 1995.

Christmas in July

Set up for Wonderland at Roseville actually begins in the summer, as the entire process takes about six to eight months to have everything fully ready for November.

“We work on this all year round, fixing and planning," Mary Halliwell said. "We will start building things in April if we can, and in July we start putting things up. Then we light up on Thanksgiving.”

Though preparing for Christmas may seem like an odd way to spend the summer, the Halliwell's find it has become normal to them.

They are also constantly adding to their display, picking up pieces from a wide variety of stores and tag sales.

“We get new pieces wherever we see them," Mary Halliwell said. "We've even gone to Tennessee, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and all over...it’s a collection of 18 years; we see it, we like it, we buy it.”

This collection has enticed also brought in people from all over to come experience this local wonderland. Mary Halliwell said they have had guests come from England, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and Croatia to name a few.

“It’s perfect for what the holidays are all about," Halliwell said. "People who have no holiday spirit come and they’ll tell us ‘you know what, now it feels like Christmas’. It’s just magical, because they have never seen anything like this before.”

The couple has found guests who have come to their home since they were children are now starting to bring children of their own. Some people will come back five or six times throughout the holidays.

“It’s beautiful," visitor Britney Cintron said after taking a picture with her family in the old sleigh. "It definitely puts me in the holiday spirit, a lot more than I was before coming here.”

Guests are also always greeted warmly and invited to warm themselves by the fire typically burning outside.

“We just like being friendly and thanking people for coming," Mary Halliwell said. "Taking the time to come see it, it’s something you don’t have to do, but people come from all over.”

That's What Christmas is All About

The couple is also thankful for all visitors have donated to their annual collection for Shriners Hospital for Children over the years. While she did not wish to give an exact figure, Halliwell said they have donated "thousands and thousands" thanks to donations from guests.

“These people are so generous with what they donate to the hospital," Mary Halliwell said. "They’ve been very, very generous over the years.”

Despite all the goodwill they've spread, the couple's home has faced some controversy this year. A petition sent around to neighbors earlier this year called for the town and the Fairfield Police Department to do something to control the increased traffic the display brings to the area.

According to the Connecticut Post, the petition garnered 45 signatures representing 28 households, causing the couple to briefly consider whether this year could be the last.

ABC News recently reported the Halliwell's were able to come to an amicable agreement with their neighbors regarding some of the issues.

Halliwell said the display is set to shut down on Dec. 30 this year but is planned to be open again next year and hopefully for many years to come.

When asked what his favorite part of putting this display together for nearly two decades was, Eugene points at a child running with excitement toward the brightly shining array of lights on his front lawn.

“That’s why we have the fire going in the driveway every night that we can, and why there’s always someone out here to say 'Merry Christmas' and welcome the guests," Halliwell said. "That’s what it’s all about.”

Photo credit: RJ Scofield