Highbury Cemetery, 2025

Year twenty two is now complete and another successful season for the Highbury Cemetery yard haunt is in the books! For another year, the weather cooperated throughout the weekend of trick-or-treat (although heavy rains and wind struck on either side of it), allowing me time to set up, adjust, and perfect. Trick-or-treat itself, while down again in total attendance a bit from last year (something I have noticed the past two years??), went off without a major hitch with perfect plumes of thick fog rolling across vibrant colors and shadows of a cool evening. 

And with the heavy rains and wind that came after our Sunday trick-or-treat, I was able to tear down most of the cemetery display, and then put up a different, mini display for Halloween night. A new twist to Highbury Cemetery lore, and something I may look into doing from here on out!

So without further ado, I'll get to the good stuff... 

Ladies and gentlemonsters, boils and ghouls, I proudly present Highbury Cemetery, 2025. Enjoy!

When all was said and done, we ended up having 183 trick-or-treaters, parents, neighbors, and curious onlookers through the gates of Highbury Cemetery this year. A little bit lower than last year's total, but I'll still take it.

And before I end it, I can't go without giving a special thanks to everyone who helped put on the show this year. I couldn't do it without your help and your presence in just making the whole night a ton of fun. Special Highbury Cemetery thank you t-shirts go out to: Mrs. Highbury, Christian Highbury, Sharon, Karen, Laurie, and Nancy. And an extra high five to the neighbor who came up and showed me his photo of him and me from last Halloween - and wanting to take another photo this year - with his new baby boy! Congrats and thanks for bringing the next generation of Halloween fan by the haunt.

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So there you have it. Halloween, 2025 is done and dusted and the Cemetery is closed for another year. Twenty two years of home haunting and still going strong. And even though our numbers were down a bit again this year, it only reinforces the importance of what we as haunters are doing - keeping the traditions of Halloween alive and passing them on to the next generation to keep it all going.

Only 362 days until Halloween. Are you ready?

  

A Halloween Night Mini Display

I had to have SOMETHING in the yard on Halloween night! After Sunday's trick-or-treat, we took most of the display down in anticipation of Wednesday's heavy rain and wind. So yesterday, I went out and set up a small display, if for no other reason than to appease the Candy Corn gods. And maybe for one more night of Halloween enjoyment for myself, too...

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HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Happy Halloween to all from Highbury Cemetery! May the Candy Corn gods look down upon you in favor on this day and grant you the opportunities to celebrate the high holiday in the manner you see fit.

Another year's worth of planning, building, and most importantly celebrating the season comes down to this. So go forth and revel in All Hallows Eve. Our High Holiday. Carry on the traditions that make the season so great, for we are the anointed that keep the spirits alive, nurture them, and pass them on to future generations. We are Halloween...

  

Slasher Dave - "Hell's Harvest"

Does this guy ever sleep?? Slasher Dave releases new music faster than I release blog posts!

Here's another great new Halloween release, "Hell's Harvest."

The idea in my head for this song was a possessed scarecrow that comes to life to slaughter farm residents. Very Midwest. It's also a different style for me with the strings. I've been open to more experimentation. A little snake charmer sexy vibe, too?

Cool! I really dig this new track. Enjoy!

  

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...

  

Toxic Coffin - "The Haunted Sounds Of Halloween" Cassette

50 Minutes Of Spine-Tingling Terror! WARNING! This Cassette Is Not To Be Listened To In The Dark. Listen To This Cassette At Your Own Risk!

No, this isn't an unexpected Freebie Friday post, but it is for fans of all of those old "spooky sounds" releases filled with the glorious Halloween sounds of howling winds, cackling witches, bubbling cauldrons, rattling chains, and snarling werewolves. Did you know that there are still artists out there who are keeping the tradition alive today??

I was super excited when I recently found Toxic Coffin out of North Carolina, and their brand new cassette release, The Haunted Sounds Of Halloween. 

Two different styles on this one. Side A's "Haunted House Sound FX" is an homage to the classic "spooky sounds" cassettes of years gone by with some great and truly creepy sounds, all backed with some nice, subtle droning synth. No silly kids stuff on this side, just great, creepy Halloween atmosphere!

Side B's "Eerie Music" is different and unique in that it is a collection of original Halloween-inspired music created by Stephen and Lance, the owners of Toxic Coffin, and performed under the name Beyond The Gate. Again, really great sounds with an almost synthwave angle. Perfect music for the season!

Both sides are on repeat as we wind down another all-too-fast Halloween season, and I will most definitely keep this one going long after the season ends.

Be sure to grab a copy of this one over at Toxic Coffin, and while you're there maybe pick up a shirt, some art or an insanely rad, super limited, coffin-shaped skateboard deck!

On a final note, along with my cassette, I also received a sticker and a hand-written thank you letter from Lance and Stephen. Super cool extras that you just won't get from larger companies. A huge Cemetery shout-out to Toxic Coffin on a totally awesome release!