Scooby Doo

Another childhood series that inspired my love for Halloween.

SCOOBY DOO WHERE ARE YOU! (1969)

THE PERFECT SUMMER DAY

One of the most disappointing things as a home haunter is not being able to get out to visit other home haunts as Halloween approaches.

I've always been intrigued by other home haunts and try to make it a point to visit as many as I can before Halloween night and meet up with the creators , but most home haunts are only open on Halloween night.

This makes it impossible for most home haunters to visit each others displays because were too busy working on our own events, so we have to resort to seeing photos and videos on the Internet of each others creative displays.

Paul & Kim from The Boneyard Bargains have found a way to recreate this excitement during the warm summer months. Every June for the past five years they have hosted an event called SCAREFEST that brings all home haunters together.

Scarefest allows you to:

• Meet other home haunters (Ontario Haunter's Club).
• Learn new ideas & trade secrets from the haunt industry.
• Purchase Halloween props or swap.
• Participate in a contest for best homemade prop-static and best homemade prop animated.
• Walk through haunt with props for sale.
• Purchase raffle tickets for amazing Halloween prizes.
• Enjoy a great BBQ and refreshments
• See attached photos.

I was so happy to be around people who are as obsessed about Halloween & home haunting as I am.

Thanks again to Paul & Kim for "The Perfect Summer Day".

Trick 'r Treat

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It is said that Halloween is the night when the dead rise to walk among us and other unspeakable things roam free. The rituals of All Hallows Eve were devised to protect us from their evil mischief, and one small town is about to be taught a terrifying lesson that some traditions are best not forgotten.

Nothing is what it seems when a suburban couple learns the dangers of blowing out a Jack-o-Lantern before midnight; four women cross paths with a costumed stalker at a local festival; a group of pranksters goes too far and discovers the horrifying truth buried in a local legend; and a cantankerous old hermit is visited by a strange trick-or-treater with a few bones to pick.

Costumes and candy, ghouls and goblins, monsters and mayhem... the tricks and treats of Halloween turn deadly as strange creatures of every variety human and otherwise try to survive the scariest night of the year.

Trick 'r Treat is an upcoming horror film. It was written and directed by Michael Dougherty and based on his short film Season's Greetings.

Originally slated for an October 5, 2007 release, it was announced in September 2007 that the movie has been pushed back by Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures.

The movie is scheduled to be released in October 2009 on DVD/Blu Ray. It look's like it will be a classic cult Halloween movie.

Halloween Season's Greetings

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Here's a morbidly funny short story about a trick-or-treater stalked by a stranger on Halloween night.

LET'S GO LOOK FOR EASTER EGGS!

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Have a safe and happy Easter weekend.

WHAT HALLOWEEN MEANS TO ME

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I often get asked what inspires me every year to set up such an elaborate Halloween display around my house. I sometimes wonder myself when I think about all the work that is involved, but then I think of what Halloween means to me.

I have very fond memories as a kid dressing up for Halloween and Trick-or-Treating every year with my brother and collecting as much candy as we possibly could.

As I grew into my early teens it was no longer cool to go out Trick-or-Treating. So I decided then, to decorate my parents house and have the scariest house on the block.

I always remembered there being one or two houses in our neighborhood where the home owners put out more then just a pumpkin for decoration. I was always intrigued by tombstones, skeletons, scary music, lighting, etc...

It was then that I realized I needed to turned my attention to my favorite scary shows from my childhood for inspiration. I knew if I watch and studied The Adams Family, The Munsters, and The Hilarious House of Frightenstein that I would come up with some creative ideas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oFCnvH2E-6A&feature=player_embedded

Sure enough I did and to this day I will always remember these shows as a creative inspiration for my early years in home haunting.

Halloween is still an enjoyable part of my life, for the following reasons:

• I still feel like a kid whenever I'm involved in anything that is related to Halloween.
• I now take my kids out Trick-or-Treating.
• I've become that scary house in the neighborhood that every kid can't wait to see.
• I get to swap ideas with other fellow home haunters.
• Contribute donations to Sick Kids Hospital.
• Meet new friends in the Haunted House Industry.
• Attend Haunted Conventions.

Halloween has become a way of Life!

2009 TRANSWORLD HAUNT & ATTRACTION SHOW

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The 2009 Transworld Haunt & Attraction Show in St. Louis, MO was truly an experience. It definitely lives up to it's name as the "King of Haunt & Attraction Shows" with all the newest products and services in the Haunt and Attractions industries. This show brings together the best buyers and exhibitors from U.S.A and Canada.

I was totally blown away by all the amazing Hollywood style animatronic props, costumes, masks, make-up, set designs, and life size zombie characters that were exhibited by the vendors at the show. Most of the products were tailored towards the professional Haunted House industry, but if you were a serious Home Haunters like myself, this was the place to be to get new ideas and to get inspired for Halloween 2009.

The best part of the show for me was being able to speak with the owners and creative artists who design and manufacture what nightmares are made of, I was able to pick their brains to see what inspires them to come up with their nightmarish creations and learn some tricks of the trade.

Another highlight of the weekend for me was spending quality time with some fellow Canadian Haunters and other new friends that I've made from within the Haunted House industry. I had a great time spending the weekend with Brian & Trisha (my new brother & sister-in-law) who have created most of all my new zombie props in my graveyard display. Chris my Web Site Designer who is not only a creative genius, but also an amazing person. Bruce who has inspired me with his amazing yard haunt since my early beginnings and become a good friend, Victoria who runs the Ontario Haunters Club and her own business. Paul & Clay who are truly the most creative haunters I know in the haunt industry.

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While I was in St. Louis attending the Transworld Haunt & Attraction Show, I had the pleasure of visiting one of the top three Professional Haunted Houses in the United States.

"The Darkness" is considered on of the best Haunted Houses in the industry. If you like to be scared, this is the place for you! The combination of technological special effects and amazing design will scare the most jaded of Halloween connoisseurs.

The two-story building was filled with room after room of ghouls and gore. My friends and I entered rooms where the floor moved under our feet and we were constantly being surprised by live actors.

If you're ever in the St. Louis area and looking to have a good scare, treat yourself to "The Darkness"!