Halloween is creeping up faster than a zombie on a bicycle and with it comes haunted houses, creepy graveyards and terrifying walks down dimly lit corridors. The haunted house is a classic Halloween activity, and soon they will be popping up everywhere from street corners to neighborhood driveways. Don’t let your neighbors out do you this year – get in on the Halloween fun with your own terrifying, homemade haunted house. Here are some spook-tastic ideas we have come up with from experience and a little help from Pinterest:
- Movie themes are a great way to get people excited about your haunted house. Imagine the possibilities . . . Captain Jack Sparrow standing in your driveway beckoning guests into Davey Jones’ locker, Freddy Krueger or Jason lurking under the stairs just waiting to claim their next victim, or Harry Potter and Hermione working to keep the Dementors away. Halloween attractions don’t have to be scary. Linus, and the little ones on your block, may finally meet the Great Pumpkin. Elsa could transform your house into an ice castle. Or, Sully and Mike may make an appearance with some other furry friends. Whether you want to register on the scare-meter or just create a fun experience for friends and family, these Halloween attractions can be a lot of fun.
- Location, Location, Location. You can use your front yard as a graveyard leading guests into the ‘torture chamber’ in the garage. And, your backyard can be transformed into the site of a zombie apocalypse. Or keep it simple and have a mad scientist handing out treats to trick-or-treaters. Once you decide where your attraction is going to be located you can start planning what you need to purchase.
- Your local stores and the web have endless supplies of Halloween decorations. Or you can try your hand at making your own decorations this year. If you are looking for a way to add a personal touch without breaking the bank, check out Pinterest, which has all kinds of DIY projects so that you can have a bathtub full of Jell-O worms and a driveway haunted by spooky silhouettes in no time.
- Or maybe Jack Skellington singing “This is Halloween” gets you in the mood for Halloween? When you hear “One, Two, Freddy’s coming for you” do you instinctively lock your doors? Using tools like a fog machine or dry ice can help you create an eerie feeling when combined with the right lighting. You can also use glow in the dark paint and twinkle lights to welcome the littlest ghosts without fear.
- Haunted houses are not the only attraction popular this time of year. Pumpkin patches or mazes can also be a fun addition to your Fall activities. Just remember that cold concrete is not the best place for a pumpkin patch and high heels can wreak havoc on hardwood floors and lawns. Protect your space without compromising your overall ambiance. Outdoor event turf is a great option, it’s affordable and durable enough that even the most excited or scared attendees won’t stain your floors if a drink is spilled or if a candy bar gets dropped while someone makes a hasty retreat. After you close down the haunted house, simply spray the event turf it down with water to clean it, let it dry, and then pack it away for next year. Outdoor event turf is available in a multitude of colors , including green for the pumpkin patch, black for the spooky cave, white for that Frozen castle, blue for the high seas and many more. You can add tremendous flair to your fright fest year after year without scaring your wallet.
- Most importantly have FUN! Don’t let the whole idea stress you out, no one wants a frazzled Frankenstein running the show. Make a budget and stick to it remember that you can add a little each year to keep it exciting.