Halloween was a buncha fun this year! We did our usual display, with some different touches this year. We did a grave yard, with lots of extras. We lined one side of our walkway with blow ups, so people were kind of funneled in towards Pam in her ghoul outfit, with smoke billowing out at them.
It was really quite cute to see the kids come bravely strutting up, then slamming on the brakes and backing up a few paces when the smoke comes wafting out from under the table Pam uses to keep the candy bowls on…
I’ve got a movie of one little girl who needed to be quite convinced by her dad to continue on. I do apologize for how dark they are; I thought they were coming out very nicely, but no, they are quite dark.
The movie is about five minutes long – maybe too long to watch. But hey, if you’ve got some time, it does really give you a sense of how hectic things can get for Pam. Even though it is a bit dark, you can see some kids react when I give them a “Happy Halloween” shout-out!
We had a couple of “body-less” heads on poles on the oppositeĀ side of the walkway from the blowups. I stood in completely black clothes, hidden behind a rather ghoulish mask. The mask was so creepy, one woman said, “Love your display, but that one – (pointing at me, standing still, completely quiet) is just creepy!” I’d let them go get their candy, then as they walked away, I’d shout at them, “HAPPY HALLOWEEN!” and people would just freak! The lady mentioned above, shouted, “OMG you’re alive!”
Sometimes after I shouted, the kids would start running and not stop for a long time! One young lad took off like a shot, and his father was laughing so hard, he could barely stand up! We got lots of thank yous, and compliments… One fellow said, “No matter what anyone else does, we can always count on you to give us a scare!”
We had 228 bags of candy, and we ran out by 8:15 PM. That’s earlier than most years. I think it might have to do with us having the display up for quite a few days before Halloween. But also the weather was really terrific – nice and warm, with no rain and next to no wind.
It was a really fun evening – and the kids and parents were having so much fun. I’m sure Pam’s picture is on Facebook a thousand times! You wouldn’t believe how often they were taking her picture. Super gratifying stuff… really really enjoyed the evening. A really BIG Thanks to all of you who came and got scared, and chatted, and laughed.
Thanks both of you š We did have fun indeed. I agree, when I hear crying, I’ve done my job. It’s all good fun and good memories and hopefully some of those kids will remember how much fun they had and carry on the memories. I have such fond memories of being scared in Germany when we were trick or treating.. mum and the rest of the women in our building did such a great job with making the lobby look like a haunted house.. it’s a gift to be able to pass that tradition on. We both had such fun. M would stand still and be a statue, the kids would walk by him and look a him but he wouldn’t move.. then they were scared by me and the fog etc and they relaxed and were walking out and he would move and say Happy Halloween or run at them with candy.. and they would jump several feet and run like hell. I am sure there were more than one diaper/underpant changes needed lol.
We made a terrific terrifying team!
…Pam…
Great job with the decorating… Looks like you guys had a lot of fun! We didn’t get any kids at our place; I can’t imagine getting over 200!
Fantastic job! You guys out did yourselves this year. It was easy to see that all the kids and aults were impressed and scared. When you can hear kids crying it’s a good sign! Alot of work but so much fun for all…You helped make some memories…