How about...now? Well, last year, we were starting on maze walls about now. But only for 2 reasons...one, my haunt is in a fenced in yard, and the mausoleulm/storage shed is up year round, and the maze was anchored to the rear exit of it. Plus, I was getting married in September with a busy renfaire october, so the heavy construction had to start asap. We got about a 3rd up, then stopped for wedding stuff, and went into high gear in October.
I usually try to have the haunt sign and some light strings up on October 1st...I generally do it after dark on Sept 30. I like to have the kids on the school bus buzzing when they get up and come out to see it suddenly there. Although I was about 4 days late last year due to the honeymoon.
Anything that can take the weather gets built as soon as possible after Oct 1st...wall structures, some props...but its all in the fence. I do some front of house decor too. My big problem is that I live on top of a big hill, with constant wind. The Oct thunderstorms can be really really rough...year before last the large canvas tent I was using for one scene blew down 2 days before Halloween. My other problem is I only have about 6 inches of dirt over rock, so I can't set stakes properly to really hold things down.
Anyway, this year, we are trying to get some props built....we made major progress on a pipe organ last week and tonight...I'll be monster mudding it tomorrow night. We gutted an organ I was given, installed 2 rotisserie motors to move a buckys hands...really slow, but it will do for now...budgets too tight for new motors. After its mudded and some paint touch ups, we will be rigging the pipes to shoot fog, and adding some candles and gargoyles, but that will come closer to Halloween. Next week, we have an electric chair to finish.
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