Driving around looking at Christmas lights is a common holiday tradition, but these Fox Valley homes prove yard displays don’t need to be reserved for winter.
From synchronized light shows to walk-through haunts, there are a number of homes across the Fox Valley that go all out for Halloween. We compiled this list of must-see Halloween home displays.
Spooky for a cause
114 Apple Blossom Drive, Neenah
Joe Lewis, a retired Neenah teacher and the high school’s powerlifting coach, decks his yard out from head to toe — or, more accurately, from roof to lawn — in all things Halloween. There are several giant classic Halloween characters, including a werewolf, scarecrow, Frankenstein and spider. Lights are typically on each night from 3:30 to 11:30 p.m. The display is free to see, but donating to Skeletons for St. Jude (there’s a QR code sign) is encouraged.
The site also collects food and hygiene products for the “blessing boxes” at Horace Mann Elementary School and Neenah Middle School. Simply place items in the coffin carried by two skeletons. Lewis brought the blessing box initiative to Neenah years ago. People can bring supplies to the schools’ blessing boxes, and they can also take items they need.
Benesh Lights on Georgetown
Georgetown Drive, Omro
Tune into 95.1 FM, and be dazzled as over 10,000 lights dance in time to the music on Georgetown Drive in Omro. The show runs from 6:45 to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 6:45 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, through Halloween. All songs are kid-friendly, and Badgers fans are in for a treat on Saturdays with a Badgers-themed sequence to “Jump Around.” Please stay in your car with parking lights on.
Bone Hollow
1509 E. Cass St., Appleton
Yes, this is the spooky yard display that went TikTok famous. The display is considered kid-friendly, but beware of a few jump scares. You can walk up the driveway to get a close look at the spooky sights, but be sure to stay outside of the fence. Bone Hollow is lit up most nights from 6 to 9 p.m., with tear-down being Nov. 1. Be sure to check the Bone Hollow Facebook page for any updates.
The Chamber of Twisted Souls
115 S. Louise St., Kimberly
The Chamber of Twisted Souls is a walk-through haunt with a variety of scenes that our photographer William Glasheen described as a “macabre museum.” There are pirates, clowns, a chop shop, Frankenstein’s lab, vampires, a zombie daycare and more. The scare factor is subjective; some children love it, and some adults are scared, said co-owner Nicole Senecal.
Hours are 6:30 to 10 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, weather permitting.
For those who might be overwhelmed by all of the sights and sounds, the Senecals host a more sensory-friendly option from 5 to 8 p.m. Mondays During this time, the lights are on, but the equipment movement and sounds are off. The haunt is a free experience. Visit The Chamber of Twisted Souls’ Facebook page for updates.
Darboy Halloween House
N9370 Exploration Ave., Appleton
Students of Sunrise Elementary School are likely familiar with the nearby Darboy Halloween House. If you’re lucky (or keep up with the Darboy Halloween House’s Facebook page), you might run into some clowns. Don’t be scared; they may have a treat for you! The fun is free, but owners are collecting nonperishable food items for St. Joseph’s Food Program; place donations in the barrel to the right of the mailbox. The lights are on from 3 to 10 p.m. daily through Oct. 31.
Disturbia of Appleton
1007 E. Marquette St., Appleton
Kim Jones describes her Halloween display as “family-friendly with a touch of spookiness.” In addition to the giant spider, skeletons and spooky effects, we hear the house is pretty great to trick-or-treat at, too. There’s even a special selfie bench.
This year, the display will be up until Nov. 2, and the lights and sound are on from 4:30 to 10:30 p.m. daily. For your safety, please stay on the sidewalks and behind the fence. Disturbia is fundraising for Skeletons for St. Jude with a goal of $3,000. As of Monday, they are over 40% there. To donate, scan the QR code at the house.
Dylan Drive Garage Haunt
N9217 Dylan Drive, Appleton
Large characters dwell in the Dylan Drive house’s front yard, but there’s even more to see in the garage (it is called a garage haunt, after all). Check out the spooky maze and say “hi” to the special animatronics. The haunt is free, but donations are welcome. Please stay off the grass. The yard lights are on every night from 6 p.m. until midnight. Here’s when the garage haunt is open:
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6 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 18-19
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6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20
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6 to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25-26
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6 to 8 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, Oct. 27-30
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5 to 9 p.m. on Halloween
Visit the Dylan Dr Garage Haunt Facebook page for more details.
Fisher Light Show
5211 Drake Court, Omro
The Fisher Light Show features over 20,000 lights synced to music, and this year it’s debuting a song created and programmed by the owners themselves, called “Beware the Digital Ghost.” The upbeat song with a touch of creepy can only be heard and seen at the Fisher Light Show; just turn the radio to 89.7 FM. This year’s show is a 15-minute loop, with “Go Pack Go” added in on Packer game Sundays. The lights run every day from sunset to 9 p.m. during the week and until 10 p.m. on weekends through Halloween. For safety reasons, please do not enter the yard.
Main Street Lights
258 E. Main St., Hortonville
This light show in Hortonville is for a cause; while it’s free to see (and hear), Main Street Lights is collecting donations for school social services to use for the local community. There’s a donation box, and you can also donate via Venmo @MainStreetLights.
To enjoy the show, tune into 90.7 FM and watch the lights dance in time with the music. The family-friendly show runs from 7 to 9 p.m. daily, and heavier hits run from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. Do not walk through the display. If you enjoy the Halloween show, be sure to swing by after Thanksgiving for the Christmas show.
Munnsters Haunted House Display
412 E. Tallgrass Drive, Appleton
Every Halloween, the Munns family transforms their yard into a residential graveyard. There are animatronics, some jump scares, projections, fog machines and spooky actors wandering about. Most young children come before dark, said Randy Munns, the man behind the display. Actors are out from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday nights, weather permitting, but feel free to stop by and marvel at the display anytime. Munns asks that you stay on the sidewalk and behind the chains. Pro tip: As you’d expect, Munns also goes all out for trick-or-treating on Halloween night.
Schubert’s Spooky House
1417 Southfield Drive, Menasha
Schubert’s Spooky House has something for everyone: clowns, twinkling lights, animal skeletons and more. Horror movie fans are sure to see some recognizable characters as well. The display is open 5 to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, and 5 to 10 p.m. Saturdays, through Halloween. There’s a photo opp, but stay out of the yard otherwise. Visiting is free, but donations for the Menasha School District Music Boosters are encouraged. Each year donations go to a different cause. See their Facebook page for updates.
West Pershing Lights
1628 W. Pershing St., Appleton
A combination of LED string lights and pixel lights make this West Pershing Street house come alive. You can experience the show from the comfort of your car, just turn the radio to 106.5 FM. Or step out in the crisp fall air and hear the music via an outdoor speaker (but don’t walk through the yard, please). Lights come on at 5 p.m., and the musical light show starts at 6 p.m. every night. On Sundays through Thursdays, it runs until 9 p.m., and on Fridays and Saturdays it runs until 10 p.m.
Madison Lammert covers child care and early education across Wisconsin as a Report for America corps member based at The Appleton Post-Crescent. To contact her, email mlammert@gannett.com or call 920-993-7108. Please consider supporting journalism that informs our democracy with a tax-deductible gift to Report for America by visiting postcrescent.com/RFA.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: From fun to scary, here’s 12 Fox Valley houses to see this Halloween
