[A Little Odd]

People driving by the house to watch the progress of our decor has started! I live on a corner in a cul de sac. People have been pulling in and driving by slowly. We have started eating dinner in the dining room so we can watch. Lots of smiles! Love it! We are really the only people in town who decorate.

 

[Jenn&MattFromPA]

That's great! We will start putting the cemetery in our yard up this weekend, and I know that a lot of people out for a walk or taking their dogs out will stop to say hello or compliment our setup. We always see more neighbors this time of year. Enjoy the smiles!

 

[Atelier*Motives]

We just moved into our house, so we can actually decorate for the first time in two years. Most of the drive bys we get are as they pass our neighbor. Our next door neighbor fills the yard with fun, bright inflatables and light up decor (which my kids love). We go more reserved with a haunted house cemetery look. I am excited for this year, to have a fellow halloween enthusiast for a neighbor, and getting to see some ToTs...maybe scare a couple of the older kids.

 

[HalloGeekHalfrican]

I love driving down the street in my neighborhood on my way home from work and seeing the cobwebs and ghosts slowly coming out. A lot of people have begun to put up orange and purple Halloween lights on the bushes and railings. Love it!

 

[A Little Odd]

This is our fourth year in our house. I have always lived way out in the country, so never had TOT's. First year in this house I was on call at the hospital, so I wasn't home. My husband was completely worn out when I got home cause there had been so many kids. Ever since I go all out on the house. Everyone I work with knows I take vacation on Halloween. This is the very best time of year!

 

[DaveintheGrave]

That's cool! I'm glad you're getting some recognition.

Where is Farmville, by the way?

 

[A Little Odd]

About 65 miles east of Raleigh. I grew up outside Monroe, but went to ECU and stayed.

 

[Madame Leota]

I admit it, sometimes those drive-bys are what keep me going! I've not been very inspired this year for various reasons and I've almost called it off a couple of times, but the evenings I've been outside adjusting lights and such and have had people drive by and slow down to look or those that drive by and yell, "looks great!" out the window, have made all the difference. I like to say I do it all for myself and, for the most part, that's true. But a little encouragement from someone who enjoys your work really goes a long way!

 

[Attic Hatch]

Yes, A Little Odd, the "drive-bys" are great.
This year I've learned school bus drivers are being coaxed into detouring down my street to allow a look.
A bus full of grade school kids screaming and pointing; talk about an "Oscar moment!".
Got it on video - need to make time to to edit.

 

[A Little Odd]

Definitely post the video Attic Hatch

 

[Forhekset]

We're just about the only people in our neighborhood who decorate much, and we're definitely the only ones who decorate early. The past week or so I've noticed people slowing down to look as they pass by our house in the cul-de-sac. At least you know people appreciate it. I do it for myself, obviously, but I also do it for the kids/rest of the neighborhood.

 

[Nightlites13]

It really motivates you to keep going. The first day we started we had people beeping as they drove by and yelling out the window. I am also hoping to tackle an Axworthy Ghost this year so wanted to use bike wheels as pullys. I put a sign out asking for old bikes any condition and people started driving by and dropping off. Got 7 bikes to use in 3 days. Good drive by!

 

[GobbyGruesome]

I love the drive bys. Of course for all I know, they're driving by saying "See! Every time I drive by he's standing there staring out the window! It's so creepy!"

 

[Madame Leota]

I love the drive bys. Of course for all I know, they're driving by saying "See! Every time I drive by he's standing there staring out the window! It's so creepy!"

And they probably drive by my house to see if they can catch the crazy lady outside in her pajamas!

 

[tarpleyg]

And they probably drive by my house to see if they can catch the crazy lady outside in her pajamas!

Well...at least your wearing something, right? LOL

 

[psox16]

The day after I set up the graveyard in the front, a dad out on a walk with his 2 daughters were standing in front of my house for about 5 minutes, pointing and smiling at all of the gravestones. HEAVEN! Even though I live in a cul-de-sac that doesn't get a lot of car traffic, we do have a walking path that crosses the street just in front of my house, so I'm getting a good deal of local pedestrian traffic. Let's hope that translates to a bigger ToT turnout this year!

 

[allears22]

I have noticed more decorations going up at different houses every year we have lived in this area. I don't do too much outside compared to the inside but the porch area gets decorated. I will have to take some pics of the houses around us.

 

[wasagooze]

I started setting up shortly after Labor Day. The drive-bys and walk-bys make my day. Especially the toddlers and under 10s who insist on making almost daily visits. I put a park bench in the middle of my cemetery this year. I have to share it with a skeleton or two but it’s a great spot to sit with a cup of tea and watch people enjoy it.

 

[Reynard]

I set the majority of my stuff out a week ago. Two days later, I saw a pack of kids on bikes from up the hill stopping infront of my house to gawk at the tombstones....

This is why I do it.

 

[Edmund K]

I set the majority of my stuff out a week ago. Two days later, I saw a pack of kids on bikes from up the hill stopping infront of my house to gawk at the tombstones....

This is why I do it.

Exactly, Reynard, 100%!
I'm honored and inspired to know that my friends and neighbors appreciate my efforts to bring this atmosphere of "fascination",with a bit of supernatural wonder and mystique, to life in our otherwise quiet neighborhood once a year!
Several neighbors have told us that they have driven and/or walked with their kids to our house to see the yard display this year, and some have come by more than once! They have told us how much they are anticipating coming to house for ToT and a want a closer look at the haunt!

It's such a strong visceral reaction that today's kids (of all ages) seem to be sorely lacking in today's 24/7 barrage of tech and computer fakery. Weathered tombstones, eerie lighting, otherworldly props and features still put people in a certain swoon.
It's especially interesting that, although this thread was started in 2015, it is still a great relevant topic!
I don't mean to pun, but truly, the "spirit" of Hallowe'en, with all its ancient connections to the mysterious unknown realms beyond, are still alive in 2020.