Griswold Family Christmas comes to life with Chevy Chase flipping switch on light display
Griswold family Christmas FILE PHOTO: Chevy Chase attends a game between the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half at Crypto.com Arena on March 22, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. Chase traveled to New Jersey to help turn on Christmas lights inspired by his film "Christmas Vacation." (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
By Natalie Dreier, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
MULLICA HILL, N.J. — For some, it isn’t the Christmas season until Clark, Ellen and the rest of the Griswold family gather to celebrate a true family Christmas.
Who better to turn on the display inspired by Griswold’s “25,000 imported Italian twinkle lights” in a New Jersey community but Clark Griswold himself, Chevy Chase?
Chase was in Mullica Hill, New Jersey, to help Steve Harbaugh open Harbaugh’s Village, a holiday display originally created by Harbaugh to pay tribute to his father, George, when he died.
He covered his home in 10,500 lights in 2018, Harbaugh told WTXF.
“I think it was a coping mechanism for me to plaster the house and not think about Dad, but what it turned into is unbelievable,” Harbaugh told KYW.
Harbaugh then started a nonprofit called George’s House to help provide toys to children and to make sure they have a home for the holidays.
It has grown from just decorating one house to a village that has ice skating, games, live entertainment and more. The toy collection is still part of the holiday festivities, and this year they hope to fill an RV with toys.
To help spread the Christmas cheer, the charity has raised $350,000 this past year to build George’s House, WPVI reported.
Chase took the stage to officially light the night on Sunday, telling the crowd, “I love all of you. So great that you came out to this. It’s very, very nice of you,” WPVI reported. Before the lights shone bright, the event had a screening of “Christmas Vacation.”
Harbaugh, who is known in the community as the “Clark Griswold of New Jersey,” said having Chase at the lighting was a dream come true, WTXF reported.
Through the years Chevy Chase of "NBC's Saturday Night" TV show with President Gerald Ford at a Washington Correspondent's dinner reception. (Bettmann/Bettmann Archive)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 17: Chevy Chase (C) and the writers of Saturday Night Live in the press room at the 28th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards on May 17, 1976 at The Shubert Theatre in Los Angeles, California (Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) (ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Con)
Through the years Actress Dana Barron, actor Anthony Michael Hall, actress Beverly D'Angelo and actor Chevy Chase pose for the Warner Bros. movie "National Lampoon's Vacation" in 1983. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
Through the years Portrait of, from left, comedians and actors Steve Martin, Chevy Chase, and Martin Short as they pose, in quilted robes, in front of a white background, Los Angeles, California, 1986. (Photo by Steve Schapiro/Corbis via Getty Images) (Steve Schapiro/Getty Images)
Through the years Chevy Chase attends an event, United States, circa 1993. (Photo by Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images) (Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images)
Through the years Chevy Chase and Christie Brinkley during 2003 US Open - US Open Finals VIP Party Day 2 at USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing, New York, United States. (Photo by Mychal Watts/WireImage) (Mychal Watts/WireImage)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CA - JANUARY 06: Actor Chevy Chase arrives at the People's Choice Awards 2010 held at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on January 6, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for PCA) (Charley Gallay)
Through the years PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 10: Chevy Chase arrives at NBC Universal's Press Tour Cocktail Party at Langham Hotel on January 10, 2010 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images) (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 28: (L-R) Colin Quinn, Chevy Chase and Norm MacDonald speak onstage at The Comedy Awards 2012 at Hammerstein Ballroom on April 28, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images) (Theo Wargo/Getty Images)
Through the years WESTWOOD, CA - JULY 27: Actors Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo attend the premiere of Warner Bros. "Vacation" at Regency Village Theatre on July 27, 2015 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images) (Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Through the years NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 22: Robert DeNiro, Burt Reynolds and Chevy Chase attend the "Dog Years" Premiere during 2017 Tribeca Film Festival at Cinepolis Chelsea on April 22, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival) (Noam Galai/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Fe)
Through the years BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 12: (L-R) Johnny Galecki, Juliette Lewis, Diane Ladd, Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo attend the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences 30th Anniversary Screening of "National Lampoons Christmas Vacation" at the AMPAS Samuel Goldwyn theatre on December 12, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jean Baptiste Lacroix/Getty Images) (Jean Baptiste Lacroix/Getty Images)
Through the years LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 22: Chevy Chase attends a game between the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half at Crypto.com Arena on March 22, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)