Medford couple’s ‘Christmas Vacation’ light display aids SCHS
Shane Zabel and Renae Keppers flank “Christmas Vacation” star Chevy Chase, who they met a screening of the movie. The couple decked out their Medford house this year as a tribute the holiday classic. Submitted photo
When it comes to exterior illumination for the Christmas holiday, no one knows more than Clark W. Griswold, who rigged 25,000 twinkle lights across his home in “National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.”
When Medford resident Renae Keppers decided to light up her Medford home for Christmas, she took her inspiration from the movie. She and her fiancé, Shane Zabel, have built up the display to around 20,000 lights this year, along with other decorations.
“The move has always brought me so much joy,” said Keppers, whose family has lived in the community almost 20 years. “It just makes me laugh.”
A few years ago, Keppers started stocking up on discounted lights during after Christmas sales. She started designing the movie-themed display last year, but disaster struck.
“I broke my foot,” Keppers said, adding all she could do was provide direction. “Shane did it all, he’s such a trouper.”
He also came up with ideas for displays with scenes from the movie. This year, they added a depiction of Clark’s swimming pool dream, complete with a lighted pool and a dark-haired female mannequin set standing on a diving board.
The whole display took three or four weekends to set up, Keppers said. She gets a kick out of seeing people slowly drive past to take it all in. One man from Blooming Prairie loves the movie, too, and stopped to get a selfie with the display.
This year, Keppers and Zabel added a charitable element designed to bring awareness–and hopefully donations–to the Steele County Humane Society. While Keppers’ two children are grown and gone, they have three “fur babies”: English bulldogs Hazel and Healey, and a black cat named Poe.
“Animals have always been near and dear to me,” Keppers said. “It’s just a way to give back because our pets bring us so much joy.”
Those who pass by the display at 411 SW 3rd Ave. can donate through a QR code within the display, which will stay up until after New Year’s. And count on Keppers hitting those post-holiday sales again this year.
“I already have ideas to add on for next year,” she said.
