Halloween fun and fundraising returns to McLellan Ave
It’s October so that must mean Halloween displays have returned around the community.
The traditional hot spot of 437 and 440 McLellan Ave., the homes of Derek and Heather Shank and Ken and Karri-Lynn Grant, have their Halloween decorations back with the “Carn-Evil” returning to the Shank home and the “Scream Hollow Wicked Halloween Park” taking over the Grant front yard.
Both homes in the Kingsbridge subdivision are collecting monetary and food donations for the Amherstburg Food and Fellowship Mission.
The Grant home features a working ferris wheel, swing, and a number of replica amusement park rides and displays. Ken Grant said it took him about three months to build everything including one month on the replica ferris wheel alone.
“This was a difficult one this year,” said Grant. “There was lots of grey hair.”
Complications with the number of moving points coupled with inclement weather and its impact on setting up the display and warping wood caused some concerns but the children and families that attended last Saturday, the first day the display was operational, enjoyed themselves.
Grant said he has been creating his displays for about 18 years, though missed two years due to work-related reasons. He said “we started out small” but it’s been growing over the years.
“Everything is handmade,” he said.
Grant added they are grateful to those who donated stuffed animals as that helped with the “Smash Head” game.
The displays turned into a food collection event for the mission about eight years ago.
“I’m hoping we can collect a lot,” he said. “We hope to surpass what we did last year.”
Grant was out until about 1:30 a.m. Saturday setting up the display but it was worth it when a young man walked by and told him he has looked forward to the displays every year since he was little.
“He looks forward to it every year,” he said.
The displays are open Thursday and Sunday, weather permitting, from dusk to 9 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from dusk until 10 p.m.
Halloween fun and fundraising returns to McLellan Ave
By Ron Giofu
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