U.S. Communities Go All Out for Halloween

Cool, mostly dry weather is expected for trick-or-treaters, with temperatures starting in the 40s in Charleston then climbing to the mid–upper 60s before falling into the 50s after sunset, while Saginaw will be brisk with northwest winds and highs near 52°F; forecasters say the weekend looks generally quiet with overnight lows dipping into the 30s in some areas. Communities across the U.S. are marking Halloween with elaborate home displays, neighborhood decoration guides and large seasonal events, with photo galleries highlighting decorated yards in Tuscaloosa, Northeast Wisconsin and Dilworth. Murrieta has a 37-home decorations map, the Vail Valley is offering extensive seasonal attractions, and in Santa Rosa longtime display artist David Torre is staging an immersive Yellow Brick Road “Wizard of Oz” experience with lighting, surround sound and actors. Homeowners and enthusiasts are deploying graveyards, animatronics, strobes and foggers that draw hundreds of visitors and encourage user-submitted photos and videos. Celebrity parent Sunny Leone is building a haunted house for her children and planning all-zombie costumes, reflecting a blend of family fun and showmanship. The holiday is also getting cultural treatment — PBS Digital Studios’ Monstrum spotlights bats and Halloween lore, critics continue to praise John Carpenter’s 1978 Halloween, and DIY features such as a step-by-step bat-shaped cake recipe offer at-home options.