TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) – Whether it’s the candy, the scary fun, or just spending time with family and friends, most people in the valley have their favorite part about Halloween day.
While most head out on Halloween to receive a trick or treat, there are many who provide this fun for their community.
This includes the Wilkinson’s whose house on the corner of Putnam and South Center street in Terre Haute has become a staple for trick-or-treaters for over a decade.
“My birthday is October 27th, so it’s real close to Halloween so I’ve always been a Halloween person. We started doing this decorating here about 16 years ago and it grows a little bit more and changes a little bit each year,” said Darren Wilkinson, Terre Haute resident and home owner.
Over the span of October 30th and 31st, Wilkinson estimates that over 2,000 people stop by his home to enjoy the decorations.
He says this comes with about a week of preparations but the appreciation that children show for the home goes well beyond that.
“Throughout the year we’ll have kids right by on bicycles and stop and talk about our house and Halloween and how much they appreciate having a haunted house in the neighborhood,” Wilkinson said.
It’s the smiles on children’s faces and memories that makes the Wilkinson’s continue this Halloween tradition.
“I had about an 18 month year old girl come up to me and the very first thing she said was ‘Boo’ and she was dressed as a ghost and her parents said ‘She didn’t do that at any other house’ and I thought that was special,” said Betsy Wilkinson.
The Wilkinson’s say it typically takes around 5 days to set up their home for Halloween but they are able to take everything down in just a day’s time.
