I’m a nut about Halloween – specifically designing Halloween displays for the neighborhood to enjoy. Each year I try to come up with both a theme and cool gimmicks and props to go along with the theme. From Pirates to monsters, Harry Potter to Phantom of the Opera – we embrace the spirit of having fun and dressing up. In our case, it’s the whole house with an entire, unified theme. We even try to match our candy with the decorations!

Halloween is about the fun. Christmas is fun, too, dont get me wrong. But going too far with decorating and displays, I feel, ruins the meaning of the season.  Halloween is all about the fun and commercialism, right?

This Year’s Theme:

The Wizard of Oz

The scene includes a 40-foot, length-of-the-driveway yellow brick road that winds it’s way up. Visitors following it will meet the Scarecrow, who will sing and provide direction, the Tin Woodsman asking for his oil can, the Cowardly Lion cowering and shaking and a pool of what was the Wicked Witch of the West.

Moving forward, the Great Oz will be on a large screen above a 30-foot wide set of green curtains. You should pay no attention to the man behind the curtain.

Google+ has the Wizard of Oz Halloween photos. See the videos in the Halloween 2012 Playlist on YouTube.

Previous Years’ Halloweens:

2011: Harry Potter Halloween

We recreated Hogsmede village and Hogwarts castle,  with an 8-foot tall Hagrid, floating candles and Honeyduke’s finest chocolate!

2010: Hollywood Movie Monsters – “LIVE!”

Animatronic Wolfman, Dracula, Frankenstien and The Mummy joined up with a skeleton lead singer rockin’ the grave.

2009: Dr. Frankenstein’s Laboratory

A mad scientist’s lair, complete with oozing slime, pickled eyes and other ingredients. And, oh yeah, a 7-foot Frankenstein’s monster!

2008: Phantom of the Opera

Lots of fog, even more candles, Christine, Phantom playing the organ and a crashing chandelier!

2007: Pirate Ghost Ship

A 10-foot tall pirate ship, two animatronic talking skeleton pirates and dozens more set sail…