Thread: It's contagious...

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Has anyone else notice Halloween decorating is contagious?

When I moved into my home 3 years ago, there was only one home with Halloween decorations. Since we started doing our haunt there are now 10 homes just on our block decorating. Even if they put a pumpkin on the front steps or a string of orange lights in a bush I consider it a small victory for Halloween. I also go over and talk with them saying just how great it is seeing the decorations being added in the neighborhood.

We haunters have to stick together.

There's the ghastly, gaudy home about four houses away from ours. They've never done Halloween before, but usually they throw a mountain of random decorations in their yard for Christmas. This house is 8000-watt with baby Jesus, Snoopy, Santa, carolers, you name it...all strewn about without rhyme or reason.

Anyway, since we've put out out little yard haunt, they went and bought the inflatable pumpkins and a shaking skelly with a top hat & LED eyes.

At first I rolled my eyes and thought, "Jeez, it's not a contest," but after giving it a second thought I was really happy to see someone else decorating. In fact, the more people who do it, the more we're going to be looking out for each others' things, lessening the chances of vandalism and mischief.

TuzlaRuja,
You are right with the strength in numbers theory.

At first when I read your reply I was affraid you were a neighbor of mine and you thought my house was gawdy. LOL I feel much better after reading the entire posting.

jbrimaco, unless you have added a *disco ball* this past year, it's not you. Here are pics from last year, when they started to add more inflatable things. Don't forget, they continued to layer on more lights strung out to the tree on the other side of the sidewalk.

TuzlaRuja,
Whoa - I see what you mean. Does the neighborhood experience any brownouts when they are up and going?

Our neighbor, I'll call him "Sparky," has two generators for the winter months, ostensibly one is for the circus. So when the power goes out, at least there's something shiny to look at as hypothermia sets in. I am usually hiding under the blankets crying, "The lights! They hurt my eyes!!!"

Okay, I just realized how harsh I sound. I apologize if I"ve offended anyone. Honestly, I don't mind when people decorate for (any) holiday. But piling it on just because it's available is the wrong answer.

I'm happy to see that the Halloween spirit has certainly spread, albeit in small ways, in our neighborhood. We have one cool neighbor who has a fun set-up but whereas most houses have just been dark the past few years almost everyone on my street this year has at least a pumpkin or two displayed.

I've noticed it in my neighborhood as well, although a lot of people from the first year have left and we have new, younger blood. Maybe that's why. But the first year, I think it was only me and another house that actually had any decorations outside. I would put mine out the 1st of October, then a pumpkin or two would appear hear and there. Now, there at least 20 houses in the neighborhood with something in their yard. But only two of us actually have homemade props. All the others are store bought. But what they hey!! It's the spirit of the matter, right.

I am glad it just keeps getting bigger.

When you are setting up the haunt -
Do you notice people stopping and talking with you at this time of the year? How great is that! I also try to find little things for the kids to do so they can take ownership in the display. Help put up bodies or tombstones. I always looks for teens who think they are too old for TOTs but would like to be part of the display and scare kids. Yes there are rules they have to follow and if they get out of control they know they are done at any time. Once again that builds the ownership part. One less teen to worry about.

On the way home yesterday, I checked/drove around the neighbourhood. Last year there was 2 maybe 3 houses that were decorated for halloween (and that included mine). This year... 6 so far.

I saw a neighbour at Wall Mart this morning. He was picking up some orange lights and a fake light up pumpkin. He said the kids wanted to do something this year. It made me smile. (7 houses and growing)

Btw, I don't mind the "sad" looking displays.... it just makes my simple one look that much better. lol


Yep, the more people that put stuff out, the more likely the other nieghbours will join in. That imo helps keep the vandalism to a minimum.


(I can't wait to see what the Chistmas seanson brings this year in terms of decorations. Quite a few people did lights last year.... it looked nice with all the snow we get up here)