WHAT GHOULS AROUND, COMES AROUND. Is your spooky season display up yet?

Most folks will at least throw up a string of lights or a wreath somewhere on the outside of their homes for the holidays, and others go absolutely Christmas Vacation with their wintry decor. But the less widespread – but certainly spookier – version of holiday decorating is already going on in the Chippewa Valley.

For the second year in a row, lovers of the macabre, spooky, and autumnal can participate in the Chippewa Valley Spooktacular Displays contest by dressing up their lawns and home exteriors. You may be surprised at the sheer number of participants over the years, and the incredible creativity many put into their spooky season lawn scenes and decorations.

Some err on the PG-rated side of things with blow-up Charlie and the Great Pumpkin characters and smiling ghosts near their doorsteps. Others get downright freaky with motion-sensitive lights and aptly-placed speakers singing skin-crawling songs, scenes of fake gravestones and 12-foot-tall skeletons, fake blood-covered lawns, and every Halloween-evoking character and creature you can think of sprawled in front of their homes.

Whatever your style, you can put your decor in the running to win prizes across several categories in the Spooktacular Displays contest: Seriously Scary; Creepy Creative; Judge’s Choice; People's Choice (first and second place awarded).

To participate in the contest, download and fill out this registration form (follow the link for a Microsoft Word document) and turn it in prior to the deadline, Oct. 10. (The contest is open to all businesses and residents within 13 miles of Eau Claire City Hall.)

If you’re less of the decorator type but still want to see others’ displays, you’re in luck: the 2024 Spooktacular Displays Map is now available online, featuring more than 30 local homes and a couple of haunted houses and farms. (Check out this photoset of local Halloween displays from last year!)

The competition was created by local Andrew “Mitch” Mitchell – who also organizes the annual Parade of Lights contest – who said he hopes to see this contest grow and continue for years to come. Seeing how much enjoyment the community gains from the Parade of Lights contest, he decided to organize a spooky season decor contest too.

“It was nice being part of (the Parade of Lights) and bringing people together in the community that shared a similar passion for something,” he said. “I thought it would be great if that was available for more than just Christmas decor.”

See fellow Halloween lovers’ decor, costumes, and more now – year-round! – by joining the Chippewa Valley Spooktacular Displays Facebook page.

Reach out with inquiries at spooktaculardisplays@gmail.com • Join the Chippewa Valley Spooktacular Displays Facebook page