Thread: Anyone use real flames in their yard haunt?

Tweet

I am scrambling to throw out as many ideas that i have for 09' to you guys since its only going to be about another month till construction begins for me.

Another idea i had was to add real flames to my front yard to add a creepy lighting atmosphere. I looked into the fake flames but what i hate about them is that they are all rather expensive and all need power to light them. I am not huge on electricity and the outdoors. So i like to stick to static props and flood lights. I thought about Tiki Torches and those aren't a bad idea to get a creepy sort of look to everything, but i don't like the look of a tiki torch because i think it looks more like a BBQ than a haunt. If i wanted to go bigger than a tiki torch but use the same sort of concept would anyone have any ideas on what i could use/build?

I also love the idea of a pumpkin head made of metal on fire but have no idea how to make something like that. But that more than likely won't happen.

But yeah does anyone have any ideas on how i can incorparate real flames into a yard haunt?

Hey Nick,

I found this link on here that may help with your Tiki Torch idea: making skull torches out of basic tiki torch

The only thing i would warn you about is if you are doing a walk through garage type haunt... you might want to stay away from flames, as a crispy ToT would probably lead to some sort of neighborhood argument or lawsuit as the least With that said though, if your just doing a front yard display I think the lighted torch would give great ambiance to it all.

I just decorate the front yard and i wouldn't put this anywhere near where the TOTs walk.

Thanks lonerogue2!!

I've used tiki torches in my cannibal camp scene, and it works pretty effectively. I think it's all about context. I used to put them all around my display for ambient lighting, but one year a TOT wearing a pointed princess hat with a tassel on the end was backing away from me (I was wearing a devil costume) with the tip of her hat headed right toward the flame. I had to figure out how to keep approaching her without scaring her and stop her from setting her costume on fire. Not a good situation. Needless to say I've kept any tiki torches well within my fenced area since, and have switched to spotlights for most areas.

I've always wanted to do propane fire balls. The kind that flare up intermittently and rise as a flaming ball as they burn. I'm pretty sure I could accomplish this with the proper plumbing ,valves, and relays, but it's extremely dangerous and I'm not willing to blow my self up with trial and error. I used flash pots in the 90's, but my Dad suffered a severe burn in an accident with them, so I don't recommend those.

I still think that propane is the best bet for quality fire that can easily be controlled.

-dgm

I used tiki torches once, but didn't have the time to alter the look, so I wasn't too impressed with the 'summery' look of them. Past few years I've used all my old dinner candle pieces to line the driveway in various glass jars, however that's only because I'm outside keeping an eye on them (too many stray dry leaves blowing around though). I love the look of real flames, but they need constant attention, and I like to have my yard covered in brightly coloured leaves.

I have done autumn bonfires before, just for one last outdoor party, and used those packages of coloured powder that turns the flames to blue/green- if you wanted to go bigger, maybe do something like that in your haunt (well away from props & costumes) and serve up treats like marshmallows and cider for parents and kids?
I've always thought of doing a big witches' cauldron scene for a haunt- saw exactly what I wanted for a real cauldron out at a maple sugarbush a few years ago, though I have no idea where I'd get one!
Good luck!

I'm not sure what a tiki torch is, but I have used the bamboo type garden torches for a few years. There's nothing like some real flames for a creepy ambience, and safe enough if sensibly sited of course.

Last year, Madame Samedi decided they had seen better days and got me some stainless steel ones.
I don't like them as much...look too "barbeque-esque" like Nick said, so I'm thinking of ways to dress 'em up a bit this year.... Any suggestions gratefully received.

Hot glue Moss too them to give them a sort of old look is one way.

Dadgonemad,

I too wanted to do the fireballs with propane but i too worry about blowing myself up or getting arrested.

I use tiki torches...but not where the kids can get to them....although I did have a kid run through my yard a couple years ago that I read the riot act too...

Parents please teach your kids to use sidewalks..

anyway...I lay out a pentacle in the yard and have ten tiki's for the points of the star and where the lines intersect for the inner pentagram. I then put one of them "Heads on a stake" in the middle...tis a cool effect when dark. I run lights along the ground to accentuate the pentacle

there are some pics, although not great ones of it in my album

Well i was looking around online adn home depot sells these tiki torches that supposedly have a far bigger flame that your regular tiki torch but at $40 a pop it ain't happening.

I did however find a pack of 16 tiki torches on ebay that are only 2' tall. I was thinking about getting them and painting them black and adding moss to them.

For last Halloween, I used these things I found at Wal Mart. They looked like copper pots with wicks, you place them on the ground. I really liked the effect. Here are pics:





Creepy Mannequin Head for Scale: