From my house to yours, and from the bottom of my heart, HAPPY HALLOWEEN, everyone!!! Hard to believe it’s here.
I’m wishing you the most joy imaginable on this sacred day of the year.
Let that warm sense of magic and nostalgia return to haunt you today as you relive the traditions and rituals of our favorite holiday. Let Halloween light you up from within like the brightest jack-o-lantern. Let all the macabre imagery you see in neighbors’ lawns, horror films, haunted houses, and masks and remind you to live life fully while you’re still here.
I leave you with a poem, written over 100 years ago by a fellow Halloween lover who must have been struck with the same inspiration we ourselves are feeling now, generations later.
Halloween
(by A. F. Murray in Harper’s Weekly, Oct. 30, 1909)
“A gypsy flame is on the hearth, Sign of this carnival of mirth. Through the dun fields and from the glade Flash merry folk in masquerade— It is the witching Hallowe’en.
Pale tapers glimmer in the sky, The dead and dying leaves go by; Dimly across the faded green Strange shadows, stranger shades, are seen— It is the mystic Hallowe’en.
Soft gusts of love and memory Beat at the heart reproachfully; The lights that burn for those who die Were flickering low, let them flare high— It is the haunting Hallowe’en.”
Sending you all my very best, today and always. And thanks for reading the Skeleton Key.
Have you ever left a haunted attraction covered, head to toe, in fake blood and gore? Now I can say that I have. Luckily, paper towels were provided at the exit.
Last night I attended Scare for a Cure a few miles east of Austin, and the event is infamous for drenching patrons with crimson splatter. In all my years visiting Halloween haunts, I had never before heard of red stains being used as a selling point. I must admit, it really sets this attraction apart from the rest.
In addition, the haunt is situated within a charming “Ghost Town,” a modern re-creation of an 1800s-style, Old West settlement, currently used year-round for events like weddings, photo shoots, and concerts. It contains open wooden structures like a chapel, shops, and saloons, all of which look run-down and are eerily abandoned.
A highlight for me was wandering into this empty bar, which was anachronistically playing Dead or Alive’s “You Spin Me Round.”
In addition to its promise of soaked hair, skin, and clothing, Scare for a Cure is an interactive haunt that treats patrons as ghost hunters who must survive an exploratory walk-through within a museum of haunted artifacts. Led by a guide with an EMF sensor, my group had to participate in two seances, crawl through a pitch-dark tunnel, collect artifacts, run around corners, and wriggle away from unseen hands grabbing our shins.
And then there’s the “blood.” SO MUCH of it. At least four set pieces involved well-concealed spray cannons that went off unexpectedly at torso level. A guy in my group got some in his eye, and at some point I swear I tasted some in my mouth. One particular room required us to put our hands on a soaked table and hold them there while gore rained down upon us as if we were in the club scene in Blade. It was hardcore.
Unfortunately, no pictures were allowed within the attraction, which is probably in the best interest of my cellphone, which functions optimally when dry.
Absolutely LOVE the aesthetic of these deeply haunting photographs.
They have the visual style of photos taken with large-format cameras (the old-school kind that required a black cloth drape and a glass panel). And their subject matter seems to reveal some mysteriously forbidden rituals that we were never meant to see.
When I first encountered these pictures, I was astonished by their apparent (but inexplicable) realism and had to learn more. So I did a reverse image search to find out more about the art. Turns out these macabre images were made with an artificial intelligence program called Midjourney.
Now, for the first time ever, I am officially impressed by AI.
The artist goes by the name Cursejourney, and on their Facebook page, they describe their mysterious creations as “photos I found in the basement.” Love it.
Welcome to my growing empire of Halloween decorations.
I just can’t throw away anything that reminds me of October. I buy new items every year, but I never clear out the old stuff; instead, I just find another storage box. Now I have 14 storage boxes dedicated solely to Halloween, so I guess that means I collect storage boxes too.
FAQs I’ve received about my compulsion:
“Do you decorate your entire house?” Yes, outdoors and indoors. Even the kitchen. Even the attic. Even the bathroom.
“How long does it take you to decorate for the season?” Once I get the boxes out, it usually takes a full 7 to 10 days of working on the process a few hours per day. Putting out decor is a sacred ritual for me; in fact, I would say it’s one of the main ways I actively celebrate the holiday. Interior decorating is an essential art form through which I express my love for Halloween.
“Sounds labor intensive! So do you just keep your Halloween stuff out all year round then?” No. I put up the indoor decor first, starting in early to mid September. I wait until October 1 to decorate outside. Then I leave everything up until Thanksgiving. After that, my house feels depressing until the next September rolls around, but at least it feels special when I unbox it all over again.
“Do you decorate this much because you have Halloween parties every year?” No. I think I’ve only thrown two Halloween parties total in my life. Not that I don’t like parties! I’m just so busy in October that I usually don’t have time to plan and host a big shindig. I really decorate for me, to transform my space so that it reflects my love of Halloween. Even if nobody ever saw my displays, I just love coming home to a house that looks like it was a venue for the coolest, merriest costume party ever. That makes me smile.
“How much money have you spent so far on Halloween decorations?” I don’t want to talk about it. 😀 But also, I have received many as gifts from kind and generous people (AKA enablers).
Now, without further ado, here are a few of my favorite new pieces that I acquired this year (in no particular order)!
Cathedral window lantern from Michael’s.
I received this adorably gleeful guy as a gift, and then I named him Stabby.
I know, I know: These Target lanterns have been around for a few years. But I didn’t know they put off those amazing rays of light until I got one myself!
Little wooden pumpkin and skeleton pegs I got from a vendor at Midsummer Scream, but regrettably I cannot recall the maker’s name.
French antique style candelabra from HomeGoods.
House reminiscent of Salem! Found at Target.
Door mat from Joann Fabrics.
Witch print I bought at Witch City Wicks in Salem.
I snagged one of these stained glass skulls from Momento Mori’s booth at Midsummer Scream.
Phew. It’s a lot. Well, I sure hope my nieces enjoy inheriting this stuff someday after my death.
Over the summer, I finally attended Midsummer Scream in California for the first time.
And what an event! I’ve been to a few horror conventions, including TransWorld and even Horror Expo in Dublin, but I must say that Midsummer Scream takes the bloody crown as the best of them all.
With a well-rounded myriad of offerings that cover everything from movies to music to shopping to walkthrough haunts, Midsummer Scream feels like an exuberant tribute to ALL things Halloween. There’s truly something for everyone therre. And miraculously, it didn’t feel overcrowded or stressful. Kudos to the MSS team for putting together such a well-organized, entertaining event!
Highlights of my time at the con include the Lost Boys panel (which included lead actor Jason Patric and the composer-performer of “Cry Little Sister”), the outrageously funny musical parody of the Exorcist, randomly running into the fabulous Midge Munster (while in line for the bathroom, no less!), the Dragula panel (with the Boulet Brothers and three of their monsters in full drag), dozens of incredible shopping booths, and the Hall of Shadows (which contains several mini-haunts to explore).
Here are a few of my photos.
I also made a short video of the experience (showcasing a “shaky cam” effect that I think now has become my trademark) so you can get a sense of what it felt like to be there IRL. Definitely returning next year!
I ended my trip to Long Beach with an ocean swim under the blood-red full moon of August 1st and came home with half a suitcase full of spooky souvenirs. Truly a magical vacation!
Hope everyone had a happy Friday the 13th!!! Getting one in October feels like a mini-Halloween.
Pumpkinrot’s legendary blog has been excellent this entire season. He visited Salem recently and brought his stunning Witch prop to the front steps of the Corwin House, exactly where it belongs. He also visited Haunted Overload and has posted tons of great pics of the haunt during daylight hours.
Click his incredible photo below (hands-down my favorite image of the year) to check out his entries. It’s always inspiring to read thoughts from the mind of a true Halloween Expert. Can’t wait to see what he has in store for us with his 2023 display!
I’m about to let you in on one of my best-kept beauty secrets. It’s one of those tips that I almost don’t want to reveal for fear of people discovering my cheap “glamor hack.” But on the other hand (pun alert!), I feel that I must share it with you, dear readers, since it is truly a Game Changer.
Yes, I’m talking about nail wraps. These wonders make your hands look like you just dropped $75 on a gel mani. They last for 2 weeks, and taking them off does not require acetone or even nail polish remover. And they cost around $8.
The reason I’m writing about them here is because now they come in Halloween designs!!
When my dear friend Amie first told me about plastic stickers that you put on your fingernails, I secretly balked. Surely they’ll peel off within a day or two, I thought. Or at least they’ll slide off during a shower. I also feared they would be a daily annoyance, curling within 24 hours and getting caught on my clothes or my hair.
But finally, after a particularly brutal gel manicure removal involving harsh chemicals and even a DRILL (which at times grazed my delicate finger skin), I recalled Amie’s recommendation and decided to pick up some nail wraps at Target.
And honestly, I never turned back. Nail wraps are remarkably adhesive while not damaging the nail bed. They only take a few minutes to apply (I put them on my natural nails, but they can also be used on artificials). They do NOT come off in hot water. They are offered in all colors of the rainbow.
Once I discovered that nail wraps come in Halloween-inspired patterns, I was officially hooked. Dashing Diva (linked via the pics above) is the brand I’ve used most often, and it can be found online, at Target, and at CVS.
Gone are the days of painstakingly coating my own nails with lacquer that chips in 2 days. Gone are the days of searching for a nail artist who can make my nails gleam with intricate spooky designs. Gone are the terrifying nail drills! And I get more compliments on my nails than ever before.
OK, thank you for coming to my TED Talk. 🙂 If you want ‘Gram-worthy October nails, I can’t recommend nail wraps highly enough.
Today I have a VERY special treat for you: My ghoul Miranda has created this year’s annual haunted mixtape! You are likely already familiar with Miranda from her delightful Spooky Little Halloween blog and her excellent By Pumpkin’s Light podcast.
Miranda is not only a Halloween enthusiast but a music aficionado, so we are in very good hands with her as our DJ. Her amazing playlist, linked below, brings ALL the retro vibes and will transport you to a Brooklyn 45-style October landscape you’re sure to love. We’ll start off with a short interview so you can learn more about her!
Meet Miranda!
Q: What originally made you interested in focusing on Halloween content over, say, Christmas or cooking or fashion?
A: “Spooky Little Halloween started as a space to document my Halloween parties. Back in 2012/2013, I was scouring the Internet for party inspiration constantly. I found a few blogs that shared some really killer ideas, but Halloween wasn’t their main focus. So I decided to create the site I wish I could find.
When people started following along and reading posts on the site that weren’t party specific, I realized ‘Hey, maybe there’s an audience for a Halloween blog.’ There were a few, like Britta Blvd. and The Spooky Vegan, back then. I started creating more Halloween-specific lifestyle content, and the site took off and grew into what it is today.”
Q: Imagine you’ve been given an unlimited budget to throw the perfect Halloween party at your choice of venue. Where would it be, how would you decorate it, what would you serve there, and does it have a theme?
A: “We’ll start at the end first: every good party should absolutely have a theme! Having a theme makes it SO easy to plan every other detail, from your costume to your decor to your menu.
With an unlimited budget, I would want to host a party at an old Victorian home with a gorgeous faux cemetery and real pumpkin patch outside. The interior of the home would be an immersive haunt experience guests could wander through as they want. No jump scares, maybe just shadows lurking around corners or ghostly movements catching the corner of your eye to make you wonder what’s there. There would also be a big ballroom for music and dancing and food.
The theme? Haunted Halloween night! It’s vague, but that’s the kind of party I want to attend.”
Q: You’ve mentioned you’re a relative newcomer to watching horror but you’re catching up fast! What is one horror film you’re still too scared to watch, and why do you fear it?
A: “I can tell you one series of horror movies I will never watch is Saw. I get queasy easy with blood and guts, and it takes me out of the story immediately. (I just watched the cult classic Ginger Snaps recently, and that was a bit too bloody for me to enjoy the ending.)
I would also throw any home invasion horror movie into that bucket. I value my sense of safety at home, and having that taken away is just about the scariest thing I could imagine.”
Q: During the spooky season, what do you usually spend the most hours doing (besides creating content for your blog)?
A: “I want my answer to be going to do all the experiential things! Pumpkin patches, corn mazes, haunts. But if I’m honest, it’s probably a tie between listening to spooky music throughout the day in the season I most enjoy it in and watching spooky TV shows or movies.Â
This year, with my move to Minnesota, it’s also seeking out all the fall color I can handle. It is a treat to finally live somewhere with seasons in the appropriate months.”
Q: Tell us more about the playlist you created!
A: “As someone who lives and breathes Halloween year-round and who is also a music lover, I spend a LOT of time combining the two. Walk into my home any time of the year and you’re likely to hear spooky music playing. Sometimes it’s a seasonal playlist. Other times it’s my favorite Internet Halloween radio station (yes, those exist!), DeadAir.co.Â
Lately, I’ve been loving older songs that give me the spooky feels. Not only do they make it feel like Halloween, they also make me feel like the spooky little girl I am.
Which is where this playlist comes from: 31 of my favorite Halloween songs to enjoy right now. I hope you listen and enjoy it too!”
Thank you, Miranda, for your lovely contribution to the Skeleton Key this year. Readers, be sure to check out Miranda’s content, including her stellar think piece defining the oft-used but rarely fully understood term “spooky season.” You’ll find links to all her socials on her site.
In the meantime, enjoy the wonderfully creepy collection of songs she curated just for us! Full track list below.
Spooky Season by Bradley Thomas Turner
The House Is Haunted by Russ Columbo
Morticia’s Theme by Vic Mizzy and His Orchestra and Chorus
Fear by The Ventures
The Mummy’s Bracelet by Lee Ross
Graveyard Theme by Vince Guaraldi
Haunted After Midnight by Slim Martin
House on Haunted Hill by Frank De Vol
Shadows Of The Night – Quentin’s Theme by The Robert Cobert Orchestra
(The Girl with The) Raven Hair by Jody Reynolds
She’s My Witch by Kip Tyler
It’s Witchcraft by The Blue Echoes
The Blob by The Five Blobs
Witchy Woman by The Hollies
Dracula’s Theme by The Ghouls
Mr. Ghost Goes to Town by The Five Jones Boys
Weird Wolf by The Ghouls
Trick Or Treat by Vince Guaraldi
Black Night by Cheryl Thompson
Mad Monster Party by The Exorcists
Ghost a Go Go by Richard Rome
Trick Or Treat by Chuck Berry
Haunted House by Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs
Shine On, Harvest Moon by Ruth Etting
Bogey Wail by Jack Hylton
Witchcraft by Patience & Prudence
Monster in Black Tights by Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages
Satan Takes a Holiday by Anton LaVey and Blanche Barton
Something Wicked by Tim Benjamin and The KPM Orchestra
The Living Dead by Jim Burgett
Here Comes the Boogey Man by Henry Hall and The BBC Dance Orchestra
HAPPY OCTOBER, everyone!!!! Can you believe our month is actually here? I cannot.
OCTOBER ALREADY?!
To commemorate the occasion, I’m sharing a gallery of photos I took on my aforementioned Springtime in Salem trip. I was going for a gritty “lo-fi spookhouse” visual aesthetic.
It’s very rare for haunted attractions to allow photos, so huge shoutout to Chambers of Terror for letting me spend 70 minutes in their 7-minute walkthrough taking these shots.
Let this post be your reminder to live each moment of the next 30 days to their absolute fullest!
Gotta say, I love those old-school, hand-drawn fliers. The ones that were photocopied and plastered on lampposts, coffee shop walls, even random toilet stall walls. Sometimes circulated by hand at school or at the mall by awkward teens.
Once as a young kid, I found one flapping around loose near a curb. It announced something like “TONIGHT YOU WILL BE MURDERED BY FRIGHT.” It displayed a date, a time, and a smiling devil’s head. Not knowing it was an ad, I thought I’d stumbled upon someone’s ominous hand-written fortune, and surely they died right there in the road, while holding that sinister piece of paper.
This wonderful site from the Akron Beacon Journal has a huge collection of haunted-house fliers from the 70s through the 80s, in chronological order from oldest to most recent. [Side note: I wanna attend one of these events.]
THE SKELETON KEY 