Thread: How many nights do you haunt for?

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Typically I've been putting out my haunt the day of Halloween and then take it down immediatley that night. (Adds to the mysteriousness ) Well my haunt has gotten pretty big and I kind of want to put it out for more then just the big night since it takes so long to set up and take down. Does anybody else here put on their haunt for more then just the big night? And if so, Do you do anything different for Halloween night? In other words, do you save some scares or decorations for halloween night and not put them out the other nights you haunt? Thanks!

I will try to get the graveyard out the first week in October. The more expensive props will go out October 15th, and the fog machine will run for 3 nights off and on, and then constantly on Halloween night.

i start with the fence on oct 1st then go form there...

I wait untill the big night. It does add suspense and suprises for the neighbor hood. This year I may put out the cheap stuff -dollar tree tombsontes ect.-The bigger exspensive props like my new donna girl and stuff go out on the big night only. Later on halloween night I take everything down.

I try to set the cemetery up as early as possible, usually the last week of September. I gradually get everything else out the rest of October. (Can't wait)

last year we did sat and sun before halloween, and monday, tuesday and wed. afternoon sneak peeks. Our sneak peeks are 3 till 6 and we show people thru without any actors ,no music, no special lights nothing turned on and we go with them to show them everything. The older people and the mothers with young kids and the scardy cats really appreciate it.
This year we are doing the week-end before and the thursday and friday nights and sneak peeks all thru the week. I don t mind cause Iam here anyways. last year we showed about 150 or more people thru on the sneak peek hours. since we go thru so much effort for our haunt I couldn t just do it for one day!its just too big.
by the way last year we had over 1500 go thru all totaled

Spiderwebbing gets strung up in September (it gets really authentic and gross the more it is rained on and collects all sorts of trash).

Regular porch and floodlights are switched out for green and blue lights first of October.

Graveyard fence and cheap tombstones go out about the second week of October.

Actual big props don't go out until the night of our party, and then are brought back in until Halloween. We kind of use the party as the testing and placement night.

I would love to leave more out, but I'm a bit paranoid about damage/theft - the less temptation, the better. Also I do agree it makes more of an impact that a full on animated graveyard just sprung up for one night only!

i will take photos of the progression of my haunt as i put it up!

Awesome, thanks a lot guys, and gals. I am kind of worried about putting stuff out early as well. I travel for a living so there isnt somebody here all the time. I've thought about getting cameras and motion lights but not sure yet. But thanks again for sharing your thoughts and plans!

this has been my rule of thumb in past years......
Put up aprox 75% of haunt 2 weeks prior 1 1/2 weeks at latest. All at once. Mkaes it noticed...wait that wasnt there the other day.
Then slowly start adding in key things each few days...one night lighting....just some....the next day or so a new prop....then more lighting.......now ur building anticiption.
Depending on ur sitition may vary, but i do last 4 days or so try and have it running if a display, no walk through, then the day before add that final big thing......my main thing and thinking is this....
choose ur time fram...build the anticipation to whats coming...this makes locals keep driving by and speaking, in turn making more for a bigger Big Night.
Just my 2 cents