Life-Size Nutcracker Display in Ohio Breaks Record with 200-Plus Carved Characters

The annual attraction grows every year, thanks to one local Steubenville family

This annual holiday display is nuts!

In Steubenville, Ohio — home of legendary Christmas crooner Dean Martin — tourists flock to see the Nutcracker Village, which this year boast a record-breaking 205 larger-than-life creations in the likes of Charlie Brown, the Wizard of Oz cast and Martin himself.

Woodworker Mark Nelson and his wife, Gretchen, started the village in 2015 to "bring light and life to downtown," son-in-law Brodie Stutzman, who carves the figures, tells PEOPLE. "It's about giving our community a true sense of magic."

Open through Jan. 6, the village is the only confirmed life-size collection of nutcrackers in the world. It's free to visit via self-guided tours.

"It's a months-long process to get the exhibit ready, with preparations beginning in March," Stutzman explains. "Volunteers spend about 500 hours to assist with refreshing and repairing the statues, writing grants, partnering with local sponsors and getting the area set up. It has really become such a special event, as we've received so much help from our community."

In its first year, the village featured 50 nutcrackers created by Mark, with help from his 10 children and their own families.

"I'm not sure it would be possible to replicate the fun we had in putting the village together for the first time," Stutzman shares. "We all had so much excitement and joy between us, and the response was so memorable. We truly brought holiday cheer to the town."

For Stutzman, a favorite is Hermey the elf from 1964's Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

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"He played a part in everyone's youth, and people light up when they seem him," he says.

This year's Wizard of Oz cast "is also a very magical display," he adds. "Our team did an amazing job in accessorizing the figures — the details are simply stunning."

When dreaming up new characters each year, "I look at nutcrackers that I've built in previous years and think that I can do more," Stutzman explains. "Before I know it, I'm in the midst of creating one that's nine feet tall or has another elaborate feature, and opening night is upon us. But sometimes that's also the best way to learn and find my limits."

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Plus, it's enjoyable, he adds.

"The most fun part is giving a personality to each of the individual nutcrackers — the unique shapes, colors, mustaches and most importantly, the accessories," he says. Even if those aren't planned.

"Sometimes they create their own personality — with an accidental fall and a new scar!"

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