For the third year in a row, a house in Puslinch is gearing up to put up its extreme Halloween display of the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas.
The display will run from Oct. 24 to Oct. 31 every day from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. and will feature a 10 minute light show with 16 different channels of lighting that cover a nearly 200-foot wide area of the front lawn of 20 Fox Run Dr. where all the characters and props from the movie will be presented.
With a reproduction sleigh that was modelled from online Disney templates along with tombstones of eight characters and a 16-inch projection screen attached to the front of the house playing scenes from the movie, the house owner Shawn Gusz says ‘it’s a pretty cool event.”
The display will have a food truck from Sweet Temptations Cupcakery to sell special The Nightmare Before Christmas-themed cupcakes.
Gusz says the event draws roughly 5,000 to 6,000 people each year over the week it the display takes place.
The event is free; however, any submitted donations will be used to raise funds for kindergarten play yard equipment for Aberfoyle Public School after the initial two years of the display supported Beginnings Family Services of Guelph, says Gusz.
“In total it takes about nine full days to set up everything, with the wiring for the various sets of lights taking the most time,” says Gusz.
Gusz says he has always enjoyed Halloween and owned a mobile haunted attraction which he would set up in malls in Guelph and Kitchener. He says he also ran the Haunted House at the Old DeVoss Butcher Shop in Guelph before it was torn down.
“However since having kids — I have two small ones — I have focused on things that they would enjoy and aren’t too sinister or gory,” says Gusz in a press release.
“I'm a fan of the movie, but there are far bigger super-fans than me. The movie itself has gained a cult following, so three years ago I thought it would be the perfect theme to use for our Halloween display.”
Gusz says it is important to remember that this display is in a neighbourhood where people live.
“There are people parking and crossing the road nearly everywhere on busy nights, so paying attention is vital when coming and going from the event. Treat the area like you live here!” says Gusz.
