A much-loved Halloween display is set to scare the people of Withernsea once again on Halloween.
Known by friends as the Halloween Man, Pete Woods and his wife Caroline have transformed their house in Carrs Meadow into a fully kitted-out Halloween display for the whole community to enjoy.
The display began more than 20 years ago when the pair lived in Bicester, and became a community favourite year on year. After moving to Withernsea in 2015, they decided to bring the display with them.
Pete said: “It started about 20-odd years ago when we lived down south. Back then, all we did was decorate the path up to the front door. I’d sit right by the door, and when people came up and knocked, I’d just stand up and scare the life out of them. That was it, and then it just got bigger and bigger.
“Eventually, while we were still down south, I made an actual maze around the garden. The kids absolutely loved it. I had to stop for a couple of years because of work; I was away a lot. The kids hated that. They kept asking, ‘When are you doing it again?’ We moved up here 10 years ago, and we’ve been doing it ever since, apart from Covid.”
The display features hundreds of Halloween decorations including skeletons, spiders, witches, ghosts, ghouls – as well as a fully kitted-out kit car – throughout the house and garden.
Pete added: “Most of it is a walkthrough through the garden, through the garage, around the house. One year we even had people walking through inside, with people hidden in doorways to grab at them as they passed.
“Last year, we had about 170 kids because that’s how many bags of sweets we handed out. This year, we’ve bagged 300. I put everything out early so people know it’s happening. The only thing is the weather – it’s supposed to rain. But kids still come, they love it.
“I just love the kids’ and parents’ reactions. Back down south, one of our friends admitted years later that she peed herself because all I did was stand up by the door! The kids say they’re scared, and they don’t want to go in, but they love it. Kids love being scared. It’s the look on their faces, that’s what I love. People in the pub call me the Halloween Man.”
The pair plan their next display a year in advance, buying decorations when they are reduced. This year, they spent £800 on inflatables, and have previously imported animatronics from America.
Pete added: “We had this horrible baby doll head that spun around and talked which we got from America. Some guy got so scared he slapped it and broke it. We have never been able to replace it.”
Caroline added: “Halloween has always been my favourite. When I was a kid, we lived near the American [military] housing in Bicester. They were big into Halloween, so I knew about it before most people did over here, over 50 years ago now.”
The display will be open from 4pm to 7pm this evening at in Carrs Meadow, Withernsea. Free entry.
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