REVIEW: HOLIDAY FANTASIES COME TO LIFE

OCTOBER 19, 2023

review: HOLIDAY FANTASIES COME TO LIFE

It was Halloween 2018 and we were searching around midnight for a yard display we had heard of called “Holiday Fantasies Come to Life”. We knew the location of their nearby intersection but nothing was going on so we decided to park. As soon as we got out of the car, we heard "War Pigs" by Black Sabbath playing nearby and when we looked in that direction we saw lights illuminating the streets and palm trees. It was then that we knew we were about to witness something very special.

As we approached the home we were in awe of what we saw. Every inch of their yard was filled with Pirates of the Caribbean decor and they had converted their entire home into a massive pirate boat with cannons and all. In front, a quartet of Jack Sparrows played music and the whole street was alive and festive. Ever since then, the owners, Tina Schaefer (a teacher) and Arnulfo Padilla (a chef who has since quit his job to do this full time), have focused mostly on Disney themes. However, this year they have pulled a welcomed switch and are doing classic monsters!

Their home, now Dracula's castle, overlooks a yard filled with life size animatronic mummies, Frankenstein monsters, and vampires. New additions include rigged up buttons and converted weed wackers that activate interactive aspects of the display, like the electricity to awaken Frankenstein. And, if you are truly lucky, you will show up on a night where Padilla is dressed as a werewolf lurking around the many characters who have taken residence at their home this season.

Holiday Fantasies is open all year round and constantly changing themes with each season. On almost any given night you can pull up and there are people hanging out on the curb enjoying this epic labor of love. We encourage you to do the same, but please leave a donation in their bucket so they can continue to offer this amazing attraction for free to their local community.

VC

October 19, 2023

Hauntsofla.com

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