ELORA – An Elora Christmas season staple is back for another year.
It’s not a tree lighting or Christmas market but the Benham Grinch display on Wilson Crescent that has been a tradition for decades in town.
The display features many decorations based on the cartoon version of Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas! on the lawn and house. In the week leading to Christmas, the classic television special is projected onto the house in the evening and features a costumed Grinch acting out scenes on the lawn and interacting with the crowd.
It has evolved over the years but started fairly simple 28 years ago for Gerald Benham, who runs the display at his house with his wife Sue.
He said he’s always thought the house he lived in had a “goofy kind of style” that looked like the side of a mountain. At the time there was nowhere to buy Grinch decorations because the Dr. Seuss wouldn’t licence it, so one had to be built.
“We made just a simple looking sleigh with the Grinch coming down the side of the mountain,” Benham said. “We never really thought too much about it but people kept coming around to look at it.”
From there, more decorations were put on the house and then on the lawn with a screen being added later to play the original television special. People began coming specifically to watch the cartoon.
The idea of adding a person in a Grinch costume started during the summer around 18 years ago with a knock on the door from a very young boy.
“He was like three years old, he looked up and he goes ‘is this where the Grinch lives?’” Benham said. “He kind of looked so disappointed when he saw me. I was like ‘we got to change this.’”
A small secret Benham shared that he doesn’t think a lot of people realize is there are two Grinch costumes and during the show there’s a sneaky switch because the costume can be difficult to breath in.
Benham knows from experience as he suits up at least six of the seven nights it runs but said people get a kick out of it and love to call the Grinch over for a photo. However, he said those in costume will keep their distance from young children who seem scared.
The Benhams don’t do it for money or collect any donations for charity. It all comes down to putting smiles on people’s faces.
Benham said he hears from people who come to look forward to the display every year and have been passing it on to new generations.
“It’s actually nice when people say it’s their family tradition now, so that’s kind of nice they feel that way,” Benham said.
The Benham Grinch Display starts on Saturday Dec. 18 with the show running from 6 to 9 p.m. each night up to and including Christmas Eve at 53 Wilson Cres.
