It was a dark and fun-filled Halloween night (arriving two days from now) with children everywhere traipsing through their neighbourhoods dragging pillow cases seeking tasty treasures to fill them with.
One of the main differences between now and when I was a kid on the “HALLOWEEN TREATS” trail is the lengths some people go to to decorate both inside and outside their homes with the same passion and effort they give Christmas decorations. Some of the displays are simply magnificent, and downright spooky!
So last week I put out a call for a few of those dead-icated Halloween decorators to share some of their wonderful works of art with us, and got a number of very worthy candidates.
They are stars all, but one of the most intensely invested in his Hallowed Eve craft is Winnipegger Shane Ungurian. No surprise that Shane’s whole family gets into the act. So where does his personal passion for happy horror come from?
Shane: “I’ve loved Halloween since I was a little kid, and it’s my favourite day of the year. Started building my stuff 11 years ago. I add new things every year. My whole family gets dressed up to fit into this 18th century graveyard to creep out and take photos with all the visitors.
“Last year we had 552 kids, I’m assuming more this year. But it’s fantastic with the Halloween map (Google Winnipeg Halloween Decorations Map of 2022) through which we get anywhere from 20 to 200 cars a night checking it out.”
Accompanying his eternal love of Halloween Shane adds he has always dreamt “of being that house that the kids can’t wait for!”
I’d say he’s made his dream come true. You’ll find Shane’s house of horrors at 84 Prairie Crocus Dr. here in the ’Peg. Pop by for a terrifying time. Do take pictures!
And then, hot on Shane’s heels came another horrific Halloweeenite, the cheerfully terrifying Sheri Doyle!
“Hi Laurie, I hear you’re looking for people who love to celebrate Halloween with decorations galore! That would be me!”
Wonderful ghoul-friend, what’s your story?
“Well, it all started with me being born October 31, 1976, a Halloween baby!”
Perfect!
“Halloween has always been a big holiday for my family. I always helped my parents decorate for Halloween. They called me their little witch!
“Unfortunately they both passed away at a young age, but I have carried the tradition on with my own family.
“My kids all have their birthdays within days of mine, so it is a big celebration in our house.”
Hmmmm, “little witch” huh . Interesting on the grouped Halloween birthdays…
Sheri tells me Halloween season kicks off with pumpkin hunting along Henderson Highway wrapping up with a stop at Sonia’s Stand. Interior decorations begin late September/early October “as it takes a lot of time to get everything up”.
Outside decorations start a little later, “and because I don’t have the budget to buy large animatronics, I buy second hand items and upcycle, also do what I can with what doesn’t get used in the house.”
Hmmm, why not just wiggle your nose and…. never mind.
Bottom line, Sonia loves the family tradition part of Halloween now being carried on so enthusiastically with her own kids and always gets a huge kick out of kids and their families enjoying the spooky thrills they get from all the work put in.
She adds that this year’s theme is KILLER DOLLS! (“We got second-hand dolls and made them terrifying!”) Well done, although some would say it’s not hard to make any doll terrifying, especially the clown variety.
Applause to Sheri and Shane and everyone else who goes to such great lengths to make this such a horrifyingly happy time of year.
In my day, I may have yelled Halloween apples, but all I really wanted was O’Henry bars. Unless they were candy apples. Mmmm yum. Happy Halloween!
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