Award-Winning Wilmington Christmas Lights Lead To Traffic Backups

WILMINGTON, MA — Wilmington police warned of traffic backups around the award-winning Concord Street light display after it won ABC's "Great Christmas Light Fight" Wednesday.

This is not the first year the display has caused traffic, according to Deputy Chief Brian Pupa — the display has received local media attention in the past — but they anticipated an uptick with the national spotlight.

The department put out an alert Thursday night warning of "extremely heavy traffic" on Concord Street and recommending drivers avoid the area.

"If you want to view the lights we suggest waiting until later in the evening or viewing them on another night," the department said.

The Fiore family's display, which features a constructed "Christmas village" in front of their home, earned them $50,000 on ABC's annual decorating competition Wednesday. The episode was filmed last year but Charles Fiore, who spearheads the display, said they built almost exactly the same thing this year so people could see what they saw on television in person.

Fiore encourages people to drive through as quickly as possible, he told Patch.

"The family is certainly working with the police department to make sure traffic flows safely," Pupa said. "They put some cones up yesterday. They've hired some police coverage for the weekend."

Police logs show the department received calls about traffic backing up Friday, Dec. 4 as well, before the display's success on ABC.

The family has directed the traffic flow, so everyone exits in the same direction, the deputy chief said.

"We're really happy that people can enjoy it and we want to do the best we can to ensure people can safely enjoy this nice event this holiday season," Pupa added.

One commenter on the police's Facebook post about the traffic described having to wait in line to see the display twice.

"We entered from 62 onto Concord Road and waited in a line all the way from the intersection to the house only to be told by the traffic cop that we couldn’t take a left because all the other people waiting on the other side," Holly Elizabeth wrote. "We were forced to go wait in the end of that line too."

But that was okay, she said: "Good thing it’s worth it."

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.