Kim Krum's North Pole Village Display: Animation Extravaganza

If Santa had Harry Potter's magic wand, imagine what he could do.....  From plates of ordinary cookies, placed on the hearth just for him,  Santa could conjure up dancing cookies that could sweep up their own crumbs as they were being eaten.  Santa could wave his wand over the Christmas tree, and all of the balls would fall to the floor, line up and form a conga line, dancing to "Jingle Bell Rock." Santa could tap a Christmas card, its picture of a sleigh would come to life, and the horse would prance out onto the living room floor, leaving muddy footprints on the carpet.

Better, Santa could flick his magic wand on an ordinary North Pole village, and poof!  It could become just like the moving, flickering, shining, musical village created by Kim Krum.

Kim has assembled this whimsical North Pole montage with wizardly finesse, using not only Department 56, but pieces from Mr. Christmas and materials from every hardware and electrical supply store within 50 miles. She did it all herself, including the backdrops, and the dreamy and humorous scene belies the technical feats hidden below.

"Underneath the tables is an electrical nightmare," Kim says.  "I had a booster put on our electrical outlet so I would keep to code. I have 60 electrical stripes with 80 strip relievers and every plug is used up!  I light it with 2 remotes."

Dept. 56, Snow Village Series,
"Stardust Drive-in Theater," #55064

Her neighbor counted 106 animated pieces, but was sure he missed some!  Kim has included Dept. 56 pieces like the Snow Village Stardust Drive-in Theater, and of course, Kim has placed elves intently watching the 12 scenes as they rotate through on the screen.

Dept. 56,  North Pole Series,
"Dash Away Delivery," #56438

Whip out your spyglass and try to zero in on some delicious details.  One of my favorites is the candy-striped hot air balloon in the far left of the picture, "Dash Away Delivery."

Dept. 56, North Pole Series,
"The Christmas Candy Mill," 56762

And, of course, "The Christmas Candy Mill".....

Dept. 56, North Pole Series,
"Yummy Gummy Gumdrop Factory," 56771

And the animated "Yummy Gummy Gumdrop Factory,"......North Pole Series - Yummy Gummy Gumdrop Factory

Dept. 56, North Pole/General Accessory
"Gumdrop Tree with LED Lights," #52967

...which produced the well-lighted Gumdrop Tree. Gum Drop Tree

Dept. 56, North Pole Series,
"Ice Races Today," 57217

Try to wrap your mind around the animation:  the ferris wheels, windmills, driving elves, flying reindeer, ice skaters, and carousels. And the piano that can really be played.

Dept. 56, General Village Accessories,
"Lighted Crystal Pines," 53083

Add all of the lights, from inside the crystalline trees, from the star atop village pine, through windows of every building, behind the carousel horses, from the backdrop mountains, from the gumdrops dripping from branches.

When you put it all together, Kim Krum's display is a moving, shining delicious dollop of Santa magic.