John Boccuzzi Sr had been collecting Christmas Village-style buildings and scenery for more than three decades. What started as a gift from daughter Marie 30-plus years ago, when she put a few houses under the Christmas tree, has turned into a collection that merits its own full-time display space.

Recently, Boccuzzi created just that.

With the help of brothers Sal and Ted, who helped with framing and electrical work; and grandchildren Michael, Rose and John, who also helped with framing and sheathing and painted background scenery, Boccuzzi turned the space under a deck of his Queen Street home into a new room that offers permanent space for the still-growing collection. The family took over where a contractor left a bare foundation, and the result is a wonderful space filled with not just a village but an entire town filled with attractions for all ages.

“We had Christmas music going” during the final building and painting steps, Boccuzzi said. “It was so much fun.”

It still doesn’t show all the pieces Boccuzzi possesses.

“There are still boxes packed up,” he said with a laugh December 12.

Model tracks have also been added to the layout, adding trains and other railroad vehicles to the display.

“This is what the lunacy sounds like when everything is running,” Boccuzzi says, flipping one master switch that turns everything on.

It’s a delightful and highly entertaining sound and vision.

The just-built counters have all been painted white, automatically creating the illusion of snow under all buildings and tracks. The walls along the waist-high counters are sky blue, with a smattering of clouds. Above the painted skyline are plenty of windows letting in natural light.

Access to the new space is through a sliding door in the basement. On the afternoon of the visit by The Newtown Bee, Boccuzzi’s wife Vicki was quite happy to keep working on her own project upstairs. The new space on the ground floor, she said, is something her husband takes great pride in.

The room is approximately 10 by 30 feet. The entire eastern wall — the long section of the room — and the northern and southern walls are filled with the new counters and the display of a collection that includes pieces from Lemax, Department 56, and many others.

“We just call it the Christmas village, even though it’s up all year,” Boccuzzi said December 12.

In late 2020 the Town’s Economic Development Commission and Newtown Parks & Recreation co-hosted a window display contest. Among those to enter the competition was BD Provisions, the low-waste bulk dry goods store on South Main Street co-owned by John Boccuzzi Jr.

The father and son team spent Thanksgiving 2020 crafting their display, a mini replica of their hometown that earned the business an honorable mention from the competition’s judges. Boccuzzi Sr has kept most of the signs that transformed his village buildings into Newtown locations intact.

Balanced Pilates, Butcher’s Best, C.H. Booth Library, The Dana-Holcombe House, Lions Bleeker Street Pizza, Newtown General Store, Newtown Historical Society, Newtown Salt Spa, Nouveau Monde, Premier Wine & Spirits, Queen Street Gifts, Trinity Episcopal Church … they’re all part of the beautiful presentation.

Even the hot air balloon floating over the carnival scene has been adapted to honor one of Boccuzzi’s favorite places. The original decorations on the balloon have been covered over with his version of Reverie logos. (Which of course is additionally amusing, considering the local brewery features a hot air balloon as the centerpiece of its logo.)

A busy town square includes a gazebo reminiscent of the one at The Pleasance, along with a nearby flagpole. An ice cream truck has been turned into a Ferris Acres Creamery vehicle. The localized adaptations are tucked in throughout the enormous display,

Buildings of all shapes and styles, barns and silos, model trees and figurines fill the space. Santa also appears, a few times, but it’s Christmas Village after all. Santa can appear as often as he wants, just like Boccuzzi can place the buildings and accessories in any layout he pleases.

As the sun wanes outside, the lights of the buildings and vehicles in the newly constructed room fill the room with their beams. Boccuzzi smiles, looking over the world he has created as it transforms from another day into night.

Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.