Every October, our house on Queen Street in Fenelon Falls turns into something of a destination. Neighbours stop to take photos, kids point from the sidewalk, and on Halloween night we welcome more than 350 trick-or-treaters. It's my husband Phil's passion, and it started long before I came along.
Phil grew up with a father who was obsessed with Halloween. Rene loved to decorate, and he loved watching the kids show up in their costumes. Their home became the spot where all the neighbourhood kids gathered. But what Rene loved most was what Halloween did for the street. Every year, the neighbours would be outside together, chatting about the kids, the decorations and everything else. To him, Halloween was a community event first and a holiday second.
I married into a Halloween family, but I came from one too. My grandma adored costumes, and my mom is an exceptional pumpkin carver. So when Phil and I met, you could say it was a match made in a haunted house.
When we had kids of our own, we wanted to carry the tradition forward. Five years ago, we moved to Fenelon Falls and brought it with us. The collection has grown every year since, and so has the crowd. Our storage space has not grown at all, which is a conversation we keep avoiding.
This year is different. Rene passed away earlier this year after a battle with lung cancer, and we wanted to honour him in the way he would have appreciated most. So we added 70 more skeletons to the display. He would have loved it, and he'd probably have asked where we plan to put the next 70.
Halloween was always about gathering people together, and that's what we hope to keep doing. If you're in the Fenelon Falls area, come by, take some photos and say hello. Bring the kids, wear your best costume, and on Halloween grab some candy or chocolate before you go!
You'll find us on Queen Street. You can't miss us. Happy Halloween!!
By Erin Gillies
