Halloween Is Coming (Even If It’s Only September)
It’s almost Halloween time! You may not realize this because it’s only September 12th… but that’s beside the point. I saw my first woolly caterpillar and a yellow leaf. The county fair is in town. That can only mean one thing: Halloween is almost here.
Since moving to our current home—a little house right on a main road—Halloween has become an event. It reminds me of my childhood, when neighborhoods came alive with decorations, and every porch was lit up with spooky fun. Around here, we’re still one of the only houses that decorates the way we do—but that’s okay. I’m convinced it’ll catch on.
Year One: The Great Candy Shortage
We didn’t know what to expect our first Halloween here. I bought a couple of bags of candy, and we all sat on the front porch, excited. An hour in, we were out of candy. Out of individual snack bags. Out of school lunch cookies and chips. Out of cup-a-soup. Out of oatmeal packets. We even gave away extra pens, hotel shampoos, and those little soap pellets you put in dishwashers. I sent my husband to the corner store for reinforcements. When he came back, we were greeting kids with a smile and the only thing left: encouragement.
Year Two: Enter the Pirates
That’s when I realized—no, I may not be Walt Disney, and no, I don’t have Disney’s budget, but I do have creativity, cardboard, and a glue gun. I created a theme: Pirates of the Caribbean: Bohemian Chic. Everything was repurposed. I sewed, stuffed, sawed, glued, painted, and dyed my way through old curtains, coat racks, and clearance bins. Neighbors gathered to watch the madness unfold.
And then—of course—a hurricane hit. Everything was in shambles. But I wasn’t deterred. I rebuilt it all, piece by soggy piece.
Halloween night arrived with full sound effects, lighting, and family members dressed as pirates mingling with life-size figures. And then it snowed. I looked at my husband and said, “Well, I guess we’ve left the Caribbean and landed in the Aleutian Islands.”
We figured no one would show up. He secretly hoped they wouldn’t (we’d bought a lot of candy). But they came—cars lining the road, families taking pictures with our set. Parents told me they couldn’t afford to take their kids to places like Disney, and this—this little yard of foam and fabric—was the closest they’d ever get. I was humbled. It wasn’t about perfection. It was about joy.
Year Three: Cancelled but Not Defeated
I had big plans. The storyline, the moving parts, the upgraded pirates. But another hurricane hit. Halloween was officially canceled. Still, we dressed in costume, set up what we could, and greeted the brave 20 kids who ventured out. That small turnout meant the world. And it set my heart on fire for the next year—this year.
Year Four: Pirates Meet the Haunted Mansion
This year, I’m combining my two favorite Disney rides: Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion—with a dash of absurdity thrown in for fun. Think ghostly pirates, DIY tombstones, and dollar-store elegance.
So far, I’ve created a Grim Reaper from old Goodwill sheets, a coat rack, my daughter’s head (molded in plastic wrap), crack filler, and truck-liner spray paint. Cost: $15.00.
My tombstones are crafted from warped shelving, ruined ceiling tiles (thanks again, hurricane), accessories from old costumes, Dollar Store treasures, caulking, and—my beloved duct tape. Still to be painted, but they’re coming along.
I’ve also upgraded my pirate hands. No more stuffed gloves! Now they have bendable wire skeletons so I can actually pose their fingers. (Small victories matter.)
If folks are interested, I’ll keep posting updates on my DIY adventure as we countdown to Halloween. The display might not be Disney-level, but it’s real, it’s ridiculous, and it brings people joy.
Now, quick question—
Has anyone checked the forecast for October 31st?
Hurricane… yes or no?
Deborah Sickle Hill 