Back from FrightFest!

Hi again! I'm back from my day trip to the Great Lakes FrightFest. In the short, it was a BLAST! We had to get up really early to go on our three hour car trip to Petersburg, Michigan, just over the Ohio border. The campsite on its own, I wouldn't recommend, but, in full swing of the FrightFest, the campsite was in true Halloween spirits. Whacked-out hearses were parked next to elaborately decorated tents. There were seminars, how-to demonstrations, kiddie activities, great meals, and above all, shear spooky fun! The first seminar I saw was on saftey, and was done by "Crazy" Bob Turner of the Haunted Hydro in Toledo, Ohio. Unfortunately, We (me, my dad, and my brother and sister) had to leave after dinner, so we didn't see the Fog-Off by Froggy's Fog, or the Haunters Against Hunger Haunted House :( But, I think I might be able to go next year, so watch out, Great Lakes FrightFest, the HalloweeNut WILL be back.....with a VENGEANCE!!!
PS: Later today, I'll post the pics I took.

Great Lakes FrightFest

Great Lakes FrightFest Tommorow!

Hot dog! I can't wait for Saturday! I'll try and take some pictures for y'all! In the mean time, enjoy this cool pic I found!

Pics from My First Haunt (Part 1)

I know, not the best display ever, but the ToT's (and me) loved it. I'll post more soon!

A Permanent theme?

For years now, a story has been circling in my mind. A story about a man named Emerick Belsco. I don't even remember how I came up with the name "Belsco" (pronounced "Bell-SKO"). This character has gone thru all kinds of variations , from a pirate captain to a British Lord to a gunslinger and back again. But in the end, he's always been a kind of evil overlord, ruling an innocent little town in New England. His home has always been Belsco Manor. And he, in every version of his tale, has a VERY bloody end. But finally, after two years, he is finally coming home. By 2010, there will be a new kind of nightmare on the block. This haunt will focus on the ghosts that are a result of one man's dark obbsessions, and his ruthless quest for something called the "Hangman's Crow". Stay tuned for more....

Halloween Philosophy: Themes

Hello, and welcome to the first Halloween Philosophy of 2009! Our topic today: Themes!

I've always felt themes are a really good thing in haunts. They tie together what could be just random decorations into something truly special! Now, there are two kinds of yard haunts: "Haunt Stews" with no themes, and Themed Haunts.

"Haunt Stews" have no themes and are often more or less no better than the average store bought display. That doesn't mean they can't look very cool; Dark Works in PA is a great walk-thru haunt, yet has no theme to speak of.

On the other hand, Theme Haunts are becoming more and more popular among haunters. One of the best themed (yet little known) haunts is called Haunted Tiki Island. This great little haunt has a very unique theme of of Voodoo and tiki curses, all set in a spooky jungle. Their job themeing the haunt is unbeleivable!

In the end, though, it's the haunter's call to theme or not to theme, but I say, THEME ALL THE WAY!!!

Great Lakes FrightFest!

Cool news! For the first time, me, my dad, and my siblings will be going to the Great Lakes Fright Fest! I'm very excited. This will be my first Halloween convention I've visited. The events will include a "Fog-off" by Froggy's Fog, show-and-tell's, hayrides, seminars, and a awesome looking Haunted House! I can't wait!

PS: Thanks to That One Chick for being my first follower! It means a lot.

Great Lakes Fright Fest

Scarecrow Hill

I don't quite remember where I got the idea for Scarecrow Hill 2009. I just remember looking at Scarecrow how-to's at Haunt Project. I found one that resembled a scarecrow from Sleepy Hollow. I then drew up a budget and a name. For my birthday, I had gotten a Scarecrow Mask from Death Studios, who make some of the coolest masks. I'm now building the Scarecrow, and I think it'll look cool!
P.S: Anyone think tiki torches is good for a pumpkin patch?

My First Haunt (Part 2)

My mom had helped me build the set in the garage. I used a shiny piece of semi-transparent tarp as a backdrop, and put the organ in the center. I filled rusty pots and wicker baskets with dead plants. Cobwebs were everywhere. I put the strobe light in the corner. For my costume, I wore my dad's college grad robes, and a white mask. For scars, my mom glued oatmeal to my face with honey, and covered it with skin-colored greasepaint. When the ToT's came, the screaming started! I had an absolute blast! My favorite part of the screams was when a whole bunch of teenage girls freaked out when I jumped out. I regret, though, that I took an hour off to Trick-or-Treat. So many disappointed victims :( In the end, I couldn't fall asleep that night. But MAN was it worth it!

My First Haunt (Part 1)

I began haunting three years ago. Now, I like unusual films, so I was instantly taken with the horror classic Phantom of the Opera. My mom and I had watched it one summer, and she said, "We should build a pipe organ for Halloween!" I was a bit surprised; up 'till then, my mom didn't enjoy Halloween like I did. Months went by, and I forgot. But come October, Mom brought it up again. So, we did it. We used here writing desk as the base of the organ, and painted cardboard fabric tubes as pipes. My Dad bought me a strobe light. I burned a CD of Gothic Opera. But, just two days before Halloween, I said "We need a backdrop." So, I spent all of Halloween (I was home-schooled at the time) shopping for props. I bought a skull candle, battle axe and scythe, "Phantom" mask, and lots of cobwebs in bags. Then, the evening arrived.....

Why this Blog exists

Your probably wondering what this blog is all about, right? Well, it is dead-icated to my favorite holiday of all time, HALLOWEEN! It is also dedicated to my hobby of Extreme Halloween Decorating, or "Yard Haunting". I have currently haunted for three years, and I'm already building for my fourth. Past themes have included Phantom of the Opera, Frankenstein's Laboratory, and Granny's Parlor. This year's theme will be "Scarecrow Hill". I will update my blog as often as possible, with Philisophical Halloween Ramblings, updates on the haunt, fun and spooky pics, and much, much more! Please check back soon.

Hello, World Wide Web!

Welcome to the realm of the HalloweeNut, AKA, me! I promise I'll post more real fast.