Tis’ the season for holiday decorations. One area woman is taking that spirit to a whole other level.
Next month, Galesburg resident Connie Clague will show off her three story house — turned winter wonderland.
In the residence at 1140 N. Prairie Street, a 14 by 8 foot Christmas village complete with an ocean and amusement park will be on display. Christmas trees and over 1,000 Santa Clauses will also be among the decorations.
“I have several that are human size or adult size and then I have them down to two inches tall,” Clague says. “For me, it’s about the face. It’s got to be the fun Santa Clause-ish face. I have a lot of expensive things and I have a lot of things that I have picked up at backyard sales, resale shops and that people have given me. It just started out small and now it’s huge.”
Clague started collecting in 1996 and has a wide array of tastes. She owns U of I collectibles, golf items, an assortment of bears and more.
Clague’s Christmas display will be a part of the Galesburg Civic Art Center’s “Holiday House Walk” on December 3.
She will host her own open house, December 4, 10 and 11. The last time Clague hosted her own open house was in 2010.
