Livingston’s Beloved Camuso Holiday Display Returns (VIDEO)

LIVINGSTON, NJ — One of Livingston’s most-anticipated, family-friendly holiday displays is returning for 2018.

On Saturday, Dec. 1, the beloved Camuso Holiday Display will hold an opening night event to ring in the holiday season. Located on Robert H. Harp Drive, the free display is set up and maintained by the volunteer Camuso Holiday Display Committee, otherwise known as the “Camuso elves.”

This year’s opening night event includes the initial lighting of the display and Christmas tree, a trackless train ride and a “special character appearance,” town officials said. Opening night takes place from 5 to 10 p.m. (Learn more about the Dec. 1 event here)

In addition to the opening night event, the Livingston Advisory Committee for Disabilities and the Camuso Committee are inviting people with special needs and their families to a special evening at the Camuso holiday display. The free event will take place on Thursday, Dec. 20 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Livingston Oval, located on Robert Harp Drive in Livingston, directly across from the Town Hall. The event will include access to the holiday display, free refreshments and a special guest appearance by Santa Claus. Visitors can bring a camera and take pictures with Santa. Call Alan Karpas at 973-477-9989 or email alan@karpas.net for more information.

THE HISTORY OF THE CAMUSO DISPLAY

Here’s some history behind the annual display, according to camusodisplay.com:

“For many decades prior to his passing, Ernie Camuso of Burnet Hill Road in Livingston designed and built one of the most elaborate Christmas Displays New Jersey has ever seen. A toymaker, and later machinist, by trade, Mr. Camuso collected numerous animated robotic figures. Many were designed to be doing specific tasks related to toy building and loading Santa’s Sleigh full of gifts.

“The animated characters, coupled with tens of thousands of colorful lights arranged in a display open to the public on his front lawn attracted thousands and thousands of people each year around the holidays, eventually requiring police traffic control on Burnet Hill Road. People in and around Livingston grew up viewing the display each year and many have very fond memories of it. Dating as far back as the 1960’s, the display has touched generations.

“The centerpiece attraction is the Christmas tree built by Mr. Camuso. It stands 26 feet high, rotates on a mechanical base, and has more than 10,000 colored lights adorning more than 100 individual tree branches, capped with a 4 foot lighted star.

“Over nearly four decades, Camuso amassed more than 100 animated figures and numerous mechanical display pieces. Following his death several years ago, the Camuso family could no longer set the display up each year. They turned to the Township of Livingston and the entire collection was donated to a volunteer group known as the Camuso Committee. Many of the figures and display attractions were determined to be very old, broken, brittle, and in serious need of careful repair and restoration.

“Since 2011, members of the committee have worked tirelessly to begin the process of restoring the entire collection to its’ original condition. This has included painstaking restoration work that is time consuming and at times costly in terms of materials needed. Although many have been repaired, many more are still in need of restoration.

“The resurrection of the Camuso display has drawn thousands and thousands of people to the exhibit the last four years. Endless stories are told by visitors of how they travelled each year while growing up to the Burnet Hill residence and how they remembered particular characters and scenes. Many travelled from very far away for the opportunity to once again see a part of their childhood and share it with their children and grandchildren. The display is an iconic part Livingston history and the work of the volunteers in bringing it back has been well received and recognized by the public.”

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Photo: Livingston Township