‘Tis the season for decorations. Flossmoor neighborhoods are glowing. There are reindeer, sleighs, Santas and elves, big and small, adding brightness and cheer to the village.
But there’s only one Wonka.
Andy and Lilly Weberg have created an elaborate, animated scene based on the characters and scenes from the 1971 film, “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” starring the late Gene Wilder. The film was based on the book, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” by Roald Dahl.
Andy Weberg of Flossmoor poses with the Willie Wonka figure, part of the elaborate Wonka-themed holiday display he and his wife, Lilly, have built over the past four years. (Eric Crump/H-F Chronicle)
Andy Weberg acknowledges that Wonka is not universally acknowledged to be a Christmas movie, but it’s a favorite of his family, and they think it fits the spirit of the season.
“It’s joyous and full of whimsy,” he said.
The Wonka display has also been a joy to create, he said.
The project began four years ago with a large “Wonka” sign adorned with lights that is posted near the roof on the couple’s two story house at 2327 Hutchison Road. Since then, they have collaborated on additions each year.
“She has the dream. I’ll build things. She’ll decorate,” he said. They have built all the pieces themselves except one. An attempt at creating Violet Beauregarde as she expands to become a human blueberry didn’t turn out like they’d hoped, so they ended up buying an inflatable to serve as Violet’s body.
They use simple materials to build the figures and scenes. Weberg said he saw a YouTube how-to video about how to use wiper motors to animate Halloween props. He adapted the idea to the Wonka characters. The mechanisms are fairly simple, he said.
“You just have to figure out the things you want them to do. That was the hard part, to figure out the mechanisms, because I’m not an engineer,” he said. “I think my favorite one is Veruca Salt. That was the most complex one.”
Between the Weberg’s display and an elaborate display across the street, the location has become a destination for holiday lights viewers. On Tuesday, the GoodSpeed Cycle holiday lights ride came by.
“There must have been 70 bikes. It was quite a sight,” Weberg said.