Cousin Eddie's RV is included in an Alberta man's recreation of the Griswold residence

An Alberta guy has transformed his entire front yard into a scene from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, one of the most beloved holiday films of all time. Jon Harringa of Stony Plain said he spent “thousands” of dollars, hundreds of hours, and activated 33,800 lights to commemorate his favorite film. People teased him about his love of Christmas lights, so he came up with the concept.

Cousin Eddie’s RV is included in an Alberta man’s recreation of the Griswold residence

“People started calling me Clark, and friends started calling me Griswold, and we just took it to the next level. It’s been dubbed the Griswold house, according to Harringa. Chevy Chase plays Clark Griswold, a Christmas-lights enthusiast, in the 1989 classic film, in which lovely family moments are ruined by silly circumstances and side-splitting catastrophic shenanigans. Harringa’s exhibit even includes an RV and a life-size Cousin Eddie statue, featured in the famous moment in which he dumps his camper’s septic tank into a residential storm sewer while drinking beer and puffing on a cigar. Eddie, played by actor Randy Quaid, is dressed similarly to Harringa in a robe and nothing else. “It’s one of the most well-known Christmas films ever made. Cousin Eddie was the one who emptied the’shitter.’ He laughed, “Cousin Eddie, that’s one of the best parts in the movie.” On Briarwood Point, west of Edmonton, scores of houses are decked out in large Christmas displays. Tracy Goddard traveled from Spruce Grove to see Harringa’s home and snap photographs.

Goddard replied, “I think it’s great.” She adores the film and its protagonist, Clark. “I admire his enthusiasm for the holiday season. Every time we go on Christmas break, I watch it,” Goddard said. The big RV exhibit in Harringa’s front yard, on the other hand, was a tough sell for his wife. “She just called me an idiot and used some more explicit language.” She didn’t seem very upset. Harringa quipped, “It wasn’t grounds for divorce or anything.” Griswold of Stony Plain said he has hopes to expand the exhibit next year, including some additional surprises. He believes that all of the hard work is worthwhile in order to make others happy, especially in the upcoming year of 2020. “They just enjoy it, they respect the work that goes into it, and that’s what it’s all about,” Harringa said. In Stony Plain, the display is located at 63 Briarwood Point.