First Trip to the Halloween Store 2023

We started a little later than usual because most of the items that we wanted for the party we ordered online, but none the less it is a very special day when we get to go to the Halloween store and see the latest Halloween props on display with demonstrations and such. We did buy a couple items and we each used our 20 percent off discount coupon which has become a tradition for the family as each person picks out whatever they want.

Dad got a new clown for the kitchen which should be fun.

This was taken in Allen Park where the Best Buy used to be (it closed less than a year ago).

Continue reading “First Trip to the Halloween Store 2023”

2023 Halfway To Halloween Vendor Show

The halfway to Halloween vendor show took us 3 years to attend, but we finally made it this year. We actually never heard of it the prior two years and was hard to find anything about it on the internet. Despite that it was pretty well attended on a beautiful day in early May.

It is located on a farm on Ann Arbor/Saline road and it had 60 Halloween vendors. In addition their was a hearse car show and a Halloween art show. Plenty of concessions and even a couple “preview” haunts and escape rooms. The cost was only $5 per person and only Mom and Dad went to this event as James had to study for his final exam at Wayne County Community College on Monday.

We ended up buying several products including several t-shirts, a “Night of the Living Dead” gumball machine, and a used but full size animatronic. A fun time was had for both Mom and Dad but we missed James and thought he would have enjoyed it, however it was very mature of him to stay home and study, as he will have all of summer for fun and games.
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Halloween 2022

We had another beautiful Halloween night and there were well over a hundred trick or treaters. James handed out trick or treat again and made sure that by the end of the night it was all handed out, even some of the really good stuff that we had hidden away was handed out as it was a very busy Halloween. Afterwards Mom and Dad watched the new Halloween movie (which we both thought was kinda lame). We had done the same thing last year and we thought that Halloween movie was much better. Regardless when all was said and done it was a great Halloween for the entire family! Continue reading “Halloween 2022”

Halloween Party 2022

The weather was perfect for the 2022 Halloween party so we opened up the garage to give the people the option to be inside or outside for it. It worked out really well but we realize we cannot count on it in the future since the weather in October is usually pretty unpredictable.

We had our best turnout since the covid year (2020) and the party was a big success. We had three 6′ submarine sandwiches along with tons of pizza and some of the guests brought salad. James had a pretty good turnout from his VIP camp friends so everyone had a great time.

We look forward to doing it again next year! Continue reading “Halloween Party 2022”

Haunted Garage Sale 2022

Another event which has become an annual tradition for us is the Halloween Garage Sale. While the venue changes every couple years the quality and fun remain constant. This year it was again held in Dearborn at the community center.

Once again we picked up some of the cartoon pictures for our small bathroom. We now have about a dozen of these pictures and while they are not really scary, they are funny in a Halloween way. For example the Charlie Brown gang sitting around a campfire at Camp Crystal Lake.

We also picked up some animatronic hangings for the hallway and several t-shirts. Continue reading “Haunted Garage Sale 2022”

Screamers Dream Cruise 2022

Our friends at Screamers had a huge event today, a sort of dream cruise event. The creepy cars were parked in their parking lot (which was nearly full) and all their items were 10 percent off in the store. The line for the store was huge so we spent most of our time enjoying the outside events.

Lets recap this weekend. Seeing a spook show on Friday and then going to a Spirit Halloween opening on Saturday, followed by a Screamers event on Sunday – all in early August – we had to say that it just doesn’t get any better than that.

Or as Jim Harbaugh says, “who has it better than us? Nobody!! Continue reading “Screamers Dream Cruise 2022”

First Halloween Shop Open 2022

After spending the night in Coldwater after watching the Spook Show at the Abbott Get Together we stopped off in Jackson on the way home and were shocked to see that the Spirit Halloween store in the indoor mall (just of 94 and 127) was opened. We went inside and bought a few items for our upcoming party in October. We are hoping to have 3 skeletons jumping out of bags and were happy to find 2 of those in stock at this store. Only 1 more to find and our Halloween needs will be complete, at least for now.

Past Tense 2022

This was the first time we went to Past Tense since the pandemic, and had a pretty good time. First thing we noticed in the door was 20% off all garden items so Mom took advantage of this to purchase some spinning items for the yard. Past Tense also has year round Christmas and Halloween decorations so we bought a little of both. Some skulls with peeling skins for Dad, and some Christmas ornaments marked 95% off for James. Mom bought some garden items and after it was over and we were on our way home we made our traditional ice cream stop. Continue reading “Past Tense 2022”

Haunted House – Mackinaw Island 2022

The long standing haunted house on Mackinaw Island was not open till 11pm for some reason, but we did finally make it there and went through the house. The haunted house is sort of a wax museum with some animatronics and is very traditional and fun.

Dads facebook profile photo for years has been Dad and James at the top of the steps of the haunted house so we decided to take that picture again, about 12 years later.

Our favorite at the haunted house was probably the coffin that opens and a corpse sits up and turns around and looks at you. Nice effect! Continue reading “Haunted House – Mackinaw Island 2022”

Haunted House – Mackinaw City 2022

After our traditional smelt basket dinner at Audi’s, we went shopping at the tourist traps in Mackinaw city. We saw that the haunted house there was open so we decided to give it a whirl. All three of us went into the house and we all had a great time. The haunted house had some great animatronics and even a talking statue (projection) that gave us an introduction to the house.

Lots of scares in this haunted house and I believe this was the first time any of us had gone through this house (the one on Mackinaw Island is much older and we have done that one several times.

For the record, our favorite scene was the last one with the crazy kid animatronic running around. Continue reading “Haunted House – Mackinaw City 2022”