Devil's Night

Here we are. The day before Halloween. These 30 days leading up to the High Holiday have absolutely flown by again. I sure could use another 30 days to celebrate...

Here's a quick teaser photo from our trick-or-treat, which was Sunday night. The weather was perfect. Cool, dry and no wind. The Candy Corn Gods looked upon us again with good favor.

But of course, good October weather doesn't last long in Ohio, so we decided to pull most of the display down in anticipation of today's rainstorms and high wind gusts. I really didn't want to have an empty yard on Halloween night, but quickly realized that I REALLY didn't want my hand-made props blowing down the street, either.

So tomorrow, I have decided to set up a quick and different little display. One last offering to the Candy Corn Gods. One last celebration of Halloween. I'm actually pretty excited for this! I'll be sure to snap a few photos of it, too.

In the meantime, let's celebrate to our fullest capacity for Halloween. Get out tonight for a little mischievous Devil's Night fun and then absolutely go all out tomorrow. It's the day we have waited for all year...

  

Oh, The Weather Outside...

I know I shouldn't post this. Let alone say it or even THINK it. Because if I do, I will completely jinx myself. And then the weather will turn to rain and misery for this weekend's trick-or-treat.

But I looked ahead to this weekend's weather forecast and so far, it actually looks great!!

Our neighborhood trick-or-treat is Sunday night, and it looks like my bountiful offerings have appeased the Pumpkin Gods because they are rewarding me with good (dare I say great?) weather all weekend.

It's the one thing I can't control, and it's the one thing that always tortures me, whether it's cold, rain or wind. The weather in Northeast Ohio in late October can be a fickle beast, and I'm hoping this favorable forecast holds up...

The Rainy Jack

So here we are at the last Sunday of October, and unfortunately with the crazy winds and torrential downpours over the last 24 hours, there won't be a Cemetery Sundays segment. With everything else going on, I just didn't have the time to slosh out with my camera...

But late last night, after a brief, windy and rainy trick-or-treat over at brother Scrapes' house, I was able to get my jack-o-lanterns all carved. I wanted to get them set up on the front steps for a quick night time photo session, but the constant downpour kept me from doing so.

I was however, able to get my favorite jacko out for a quick pic. And under the pouring rain I set him up with a tea light, and snapped one single shot before diving back in for cover. This is what I got...

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A post shared by Highbury Cemetery (@highbury_cemetery) on Oct 26, 2019 at 8:35pm PDT

No filters, no Photoshop. Just a quick, spooky photo with a cool light streak looking like something out of a horror film. After getting back inside and looking at it, I couldn't believe what I had captured. Not bad for a quick shot!

And as I sit here typing this out, I'm keeping an eye on the weather. Because tonight is OUR trick-or-treat!! It feels weird that after 17 years, we're not having it on Halloween night, but regardless, I have everything staged and ready to set up for tonight's big show. We're set to reveal Highbury Cemetery to an all-new audience in a new neighborhood. I just hope that people show up...

Last night, the rains were unending and now we have a high wind advisory. But somehow, the Pumpkin Gods are looking down upon us favorably, as the rain has finally stopped and  the winds will die down by noon, giving us enough time to set everything up and perfect weather to celebrate trick-or-treat tonight.

I'm off to tie up those last few ends (like finally printing my haunt shirts!!), and then it's time to do this. If you are having trick-or-treat tonight, I wish you the best of luck and if you had your trick-or-treat last night, I hope that it was glorious!

And if you're in the Akron area with nothing to do tonight, come hang out with us! We're on Alexander Road in Copley, near I-77 and Rt. 18. Our trick-or-treat is from 5-7, but we'll be keeping it going a bit later to hang out and get some night time photos. But be quick! Just like our last location, if you show up too late, you'll miss it!

  

15 Below

Fifteen below zero. That was the temperature this morning...

Seems like the perfect day to stay inside and get some new props finished. I'll have some photos in the next couple of days. Until then, stay warm!

 

Highbury Cemetery, 2013

Sunday, Oct. 27 - Partly Cloudy - 50 degrees - 0 precipitation
Monday, Oct. 28 - Partly Cloudy - 57 degrees - 0 precipitation
Tuesday, Oct. 29 - Partly Sunny - 56 degrees - 0 precipitation
Wednesday, Oct. - Partly Sunny - 64 degrees - 0 precipitation
Thursday, Oct. 31 - Rain and High Winds - 67 degrees - 1" of precipitation
Friday, Nov. 1 - Windy - 63 degrees - 0 precipitation


I think by the data above, you can tell what kind of Halloween we had. Mother Nature let us know what she thought of Halloween this year and she gave us her worst. Had we an extra 12 hours, it would have been a different story.

By 2:00, the skies opened up and did not stop for the rest of the night. To make a long, painful story short, we ended up putting up about half of our yard haunt. I think I managed about 3 lights through the entire cemetery, as I didn't want to chance having someone getting electrocuted. As we speak, some props are STILL drying out in the garage. I think to say that 2013 was one of the worst home haunt years on record for us would be a bit of an understatement. And yes, even worse than last year, when we had to reschedule Trick-or-Treat due to the effects of a hurricane. IN OHIO...

We watched the ever-changing weather forecast and rolled the dice. Unfortunately we came up a bit short in our effort to continue Trick-or-Treat. The only question that was burning deep in my brain was whether or not any kids would even show up in such miserable conditions...

While we set up in a steady downpour, I grabbed my camera for a few progress shots. By the end of the night, everything, especially the yard haunt actors, were thoroughly soaked. At 8:00, we threw in the towel and tore everything down as fast as we could. I didn't even bother with any night shots this year, as there were hardly any lights.

So I present the only shots from this year's haunt. Grab the life vests!! 



2013 was to be the debut of my new cemetery entrance. The new gate and sign were this year's big project and took roughly 3 months to finish. Luckily, everything survived the weather and will be ready for next year's haunt.

We ended up keeping the black garbage bag over the talking skull cemetery greeter for the entire night. No sense in getting everything wet. Although in the dark, it DID look somewhat like a bodybag...

And although the tombstones got soaked, everything made it through the night and will be ready to go for next year, too...

None of the jackos washed away, either!

All in all, we managed to salvage the evening and have a little fun, even if we didn't get to put on the grand show in light of this year's exposure. A lot of friends braved the elements and still came over to work the yard. A very, very heartfelt thank you goes out to this year's crew: Sharon, Karen, Laurie, Andrew, Neighbor Joe, Stacey, Vince, Sabrena and her boyfriend, Eric and Jennifer, and even Daniel, the young guy from up the street who knocked on our door 2 hours before trick-or-treat asking if he could help work our haunt with a bladeless chainsaw that he had.

And as to that burning question that was eating at my brain before trick-or-treat? Amazingly, the neighborhood kids and their parents showed up in full force. While we couldn't give you all the show that we wanted to, we really appreciate every last one of you braving the elements and coming out anyway. It really made the night all worthwhile.

And how many kids came out, you ask?
 

Not too bad for one of the worst-weathered Halloweens on record. But don't worry. This year's miss will definitely turn into next year's hit. I'm already planning for a few big projects for next year and it's only going to get bigger and better.

As long as Mother Nature cuts us a break...

 

I Can't Catch A Break...

Well this sure puts a damper on things...