Casa del Pomba

"Deacon Dave started the elaborate displays the year he was ordained a Deacon in the Catholic Church. His family has always loved Christmas, and this is his gift to the community," she says. "The home he lives in was his grandmother's, and she loved to dress as Mrs. Claus around the holidays."

While he has help with the display, including a design team of seven and volunteer construction helpers, Rezendes himself comes up with a theme each year for the display. The theme for 2002 was "Ice Castle" and featured a 26-foot tall icy palace and two working waterfalls.

"We start planning the next year's display before we finish the current year's," says Haigh. "The first real planning meeting is held in late spring. Some props are worked on year-round, and the actual building construction begins the weekend before Labor Day, in August."