David Tomassi has filled his barn at 510 S. Franklin St., Mentone, with Christmas decorations he’s collected since 1999. People are welcome to see them this upcoming weekend.

Text and Photos
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

MENTONE — A Mentone man says the Christmas decorations display in his barn “brings out the kid in people.”

It took David Tomassi four months to set up the array in his barn located at 510 S. Franklin St., Mentone. He had an electrician “increase the voltages” to allow for it.

Tomassi has opened the barn up for people to tour, with this weekend the last time it may be done for the year. People may call him at (702) 332-9449 or  to see what those times are.

Though anyone is welcome to stop by, Tomassi said he especially welcomes the families of police, firefighters and military members.

“It’s my appreciation for what they do for us, and I really want them to know this,” he said. “I don’t think the police officers and firefighters (get) enough credit. So anytime I see a military man or a police officer, I say, ‘Thank you for your service,’ and I want them to know that.”

Tomassi started collecting the Christmas decorations in 1999.

“It was the Christmas spirit,” he said of what motivated him to start getting the items.

Those include trains, a full-size Santa, two full-size motion-activated snowmen and the many pieces of his Christmas villages. He’s still buying new items.

“I prefer the older villages because they’re better made,” he said, noting newer ones are constructed of plastic.

Tomassi shops at places including eBay, Amazon, The Bradford Exchange and Mr. Christmas.

His favorite pieces include his Mr. Christmas train and the Ferris wheels and choir and ballroom dancing ones.

Tomassi first put out the display at Christmas parties he would have for friends when he lived in Las Vegas, Nev.

“They came every year, and they cried every year,” he said.

Tomassi said he views the decorations as a “fantasy world.”

“I just like the physical energy that comes from the people when they walk in. It’s like ‘Oh, my gosh,’” he said. “They look at the trains and the snowmen especially.”

“And I think it brings back Christmas past, how it used to be,” he said. “It brings back memories, and it brings joy, magic and the spirit of Christmastime.”

He said several 90-something women came through and started dancing with the motion-activated snowmen.

“It looked like they were dancing like they were 17 years old. It just brings the child back out,” said Tomassi.

He plans to add more items for next year.

Tomassi refers to the Christmas display in his Mentone barn as a ‘fantasy world.’ The Mr. Christmas train in the front of the photo is one of his favorite pieces.

Mickey Mouse and other Disney characters are featured in one of Tomassi’s arrangements of decorations in his Mentone barn.

This piece featuring ballroom dancers is one of Tomassi’s favorites in his Mentone Christmas decorations display.