Calgarians getting into the spirit with elaborate Halloween home-decorations
It's not unusual for Calgary to be covered under a layer of snow this time of year, but for Halloween enthusiasts, the recent spell of warm weather has made it easier to spookify their homes.
Altadore residents Sylvia and Wilf Barwitzki say they have been going all out to decorate their home for Halloween for the past eight years — unless the weather was too cold.
"That one year that we just had so much snow I just looked at Wilf and said, 'Forget it, we're not doing it this year.' But this year, if we get a little snow, we get a little snow. It's already done," Sylvia says.
Located on a corner lot, across the street from Altadore Elementary School in southwest Calgary, the house is hard to miss. The front yard has been transformed into a cemetery, complete with skeletons and decrepit headstones Wilf made in his workshop.
Then there's the massive figure of Death floating above the walkway to the front door. When people walk underneath, it beckons, "Commmmme clossssser!" This Halloween, the couple added a few scary additions, including a stockade and gallows that they hope will impress pint-sized trick-or-treaters.
"We love to see the faces of the kids when they stop and look," says Sylvia, "And the adults too actually."
Sylvia adds they are expecting as many as 50 trick-or-treaters and have prepared some special treats.
"I made up little goodie bags that have missing fingers, cut off toes, gummies and jelly beans," Sylvia says.
With so many options available to families looking for Halloween entertainment, neighbourhood treat-or-treating has dwindled in many communities. Yet, families like the Barwitzkis are keeping the tradition alive... or at least undead.
{cbrelatedarticle show="left" ids="2421" /}
Warm weather aids spooky Halloween houses
It's not unusual for Calgary to be covered under a layer of snow this time of year, but for Halloween enthusiasts, the recent spell of warm weather has made it easier to spookify their homes.
Photos by Jesse Yardley
Wilf Barwitzki creates the headstones that adorn his front yard cemetery.
(Left) This Erlton home on 28 Avenue, S.W. is packed with dark denizens sure to delight any Halloween visitors.
(Center) Wilf Barwitzki and his grandson, Justin Stewart, 5, stand below a dark apparition coaxing unsuspecting trick-or-treaters with its sinister plea to "come closer."
(Right) This Erlton home is often well decorated for Christmas. The residents show they also have a penchant for Halloween decoration as well.
The Barwitzki home is surrounded by grisly creations that are lit up at night by coloured floodlights.
Austin Vaykovich, 13, shows off the new stockade, which is positioned along the walkway leading up to the Barwitzki's front door.
Wilf Barwitzki uses materials from his workshop to create haunting figures to scare up a few nervous giggles from young trick-or-treaters.
Altadore residents on 16A Street, S.W., says they have never used cobwebs before but hope they can get them off the bushes without too much difficulty.
Beware! Giant spiders on this Elbow Park home on 39th Avenue, S.W., are ready to snare a few unsuspecting trick-or-treaters.
A family of skeletons take up residence at this scary haunted house on 38 Ave. S.W.
Exercising extreme caution when crossing into the zombie zone at this creepy house on 4A St. S.W.
Even the stone lions are getting into the spirit of Halloween at this Mount Royal home on Hillcrest Ave. S.W.
Wilf Barwitzki creates the headstones that adorn his front yard cemetery.
(Left) This Erlton home on 28 Avenue, S.W. is packed with dark denizens sure to delight any Halloween visitors.
(Center) Wilf Barwitzki and his grandson, Justin Stewart, 5, stand below a dark apparition coaxing unsuspecting trick-or-treaters with its sinister plea to "come closer."
(Right) This Erlton home is often well decorated for Christmas. The residents show they also have a penchant for Halloween decoration as well.
The Barwitzki home is surrounded by grisly creations that are lit up at night by coloured floodlights.
Austin Vaykovich, 13, shows off the new stockade, which is positioned along the walkway leading up to the Barwitzki's front door.
Wilf Barwitzki uses materials from his workshop to create haunting figures to scare up a few nervous giggles from young trick-or-treaters.
Altadore residents on 16A Street, S.W., says they have never used cobwebs before but hope they can get them off the bushes without too much difficulty.
Beware! Giant spiders on this Elbow Park home on 39th Avenue, S.W., are ready to snare a few unsuspecting trick-or-treaters.
A family of skeletons take up residence at this scary haunted house on 38 Ave. S.W.
Exercising extreme caution when crossing into the zombie zone at this creepy house on 4A St. S.W.
Even the stone lions are getting into the spirit of Halloween at this Mount Royal home on Hillcrest Ave. S.W.