WYOMISSING, Pa. — Chris Grilli calls himself a holiday engineer, but after Sunday’s storm, part of the House on Squire looked more like a Halloween wreck.
“I guess the tent kind of got a little bit of water on it, and then all of a sudden it broke down,” Grilli said.
“Like 10 or 12 pieces got destroyed,” he explained.
Some figures snapped in half. Others were crushed beneath the collapsed tent.
“We actually have somebody trying to help us with the metal and everything,” Grilli said.
“That’s why otherwise you would just see bent metal and everything. But now he’s working on welding all that stuff back together,” he added.
Anyone who wants to help can bring their children to enjoy the display and leave a donation. The money helps cover expenses, including the cost of storing the growing collection.
“Two questions are how many and how much? I’m like, don’t know, don’t want to know,” Grilli said.
“You know, it’s just a love. I just love the way people love this and react to this,” he added.
That’s why Grilli already has a new tent and hopes to have the circus back by the end of the weekend.
The rest of the yard display is still running from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. during the week and until 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
“People have been very receptive, very helpful,” Grilli said.
“This year everybody always is thankful. But this year, more than ever, people keep coming up to me and thanking me,” he remarked.