Every fall, Kristi Hemric bedecks the stoop of her Manhattan brownstone with skulls, gourds or fall foliage. Across the country, in Los Angeles, Glenn Geller and his husband, Jim Maresca, display over 250 light-up pumpkins on their lawn.
In San Diego, Joshua Schauert converts his yard into a free haunted house and maze that has become so popular that it brings visitors from Europe. In New Orleans, David and Jessica Gentry last year hired security detail to corral the visitors who flocked to their yard to watch their animatronic skeletons perform song-and-dance numbers.
That all may sound like a lot of effort for a holiday that doesn’t amount to a federal day off. But for Halloween superfans, decorating is not just about the spectacle — it’s about bringing frightful joy to their neighborhoods.
“I’ve met so many people and neighbors that I wouldn’t have met if it wasn’t for doing this,” said Mr. Schauert.
Not everyone is going to build a maze. But with some tips, your porch, stoop or lawn can look a whole lot sweeter (or scarier).
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The post Decorating Tips From People Who Take Halloween Very Seriously appeared first on New York Times.
