Halloween brewing in the Twin Cities and beyond

October is here, which means a plethora of spooktacular Halloween events and displays are brewing in the Twin Cities and beyond.

The Descarreaux family has been frightfully busy getting their epic Halloween display ready, a creepy undertaking they do every year at their 1034 Rindge Rd. Fitchburg home. The spooktacular exhibit will be open to the public for people to walk through Oct. 20-22 and 27-29 from 5 to 9 p.m. (COURTESY AMY DESCARREAUX)

In Leominster, a Halloween Magic and Mindreading Show for teens and adults will take place on Oct. 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the library and the annual Halloween parade is set for Oct. 21 at 1 p.m. Children, families, and people of all ages are welcome to march in costume in the parade and kids can trick-or-treat downtown during the festivities.

Leominster Frights returns this month and is open to any homes or businesses with a city address who decorate for the holiday. People can register at tinyurl.com/LeominsterFrights2023 by Oct. 11 at noon and an interactive map will be posted online on Friday the 13th for the lights displays feature that officially kicks off on Oct. 16 at 6 p.m. and runs through Halloween.

The Eichorn family’s 10 Daley St. Halloween display is one of the homes and businesses registered for the annual Leominster Frights event, which officially kicks off on Oct. 16 and runs through Halloween. An interactive map of all the participating displays will be posted online on Friday the 13th. (COURTESY SHANNON EICHORN)

A Sensory/Inclusive Trunk or Treat will be held at Leominster United Methodist Church on Oct. 29 from 4-6 p.m. The Halloween event organized by Leominster SEPAC in collaboration with Project Apples/Leominster CFCE will feature games, treats, a quiet reading area, sensory activities and more. There are limited spots available, and an e-ticket is required to keep it from becoming too overwhelming for trunk or treaters. To register and for more information visit the Facebook event page or email leominstersepac@gmail.com.

According to a recent social media post, the family behind Christmas on Tolman said they are “hopeful we will have an opportunity to open Halloween on Tolman this year, however the past few weeks have proven to be extremely hectic.” People can follow the Christmas on Tolman Facebook page for updates on the popular family friendly display.

Fitchburg is offering two options for trick-or-treating – on Main Street Sat. Oct 28 from noon to 2 p.m. and citywide trick or treating on Oct. 31 from 6-8 p.m. – and the Townsend Haunted Trail returns to the town library at 12 Dudley Rd. on Oct. 7 from 7-9 p.m. with a rain date of Oct. 8.

Amy Descarreaux and her family have been frightfully busy getting their epic Halloween display ready, a creepy undertaking that they’ve done every year since moving to their 1034 Rindge Road Fitchburg home in 2016.

The Descarreaux family has been frightfully busy getting their epic Halloween display ready, a creepy undertaking they do every year at their 1034 Rindge Rd. Fitchburg home. The spooktacular exhibit will be open to the public for people to walk through on Oct. 20, 21, 22, 27, 28 and 29 from 5 to 9 p.m. (COURTESY AMY DESCARREAUX)

“We open the display up to the public, so people have a local and free thing to do to celebrate Halloween,” the mom of two said of the inspiration behind it. “We welcome people to wear costumes, although it’s absolutely not necessary, and we have candy for anyone who wants to trick-or-treat.”

Descarreaux, whose husband is a lifelong city resident, said their exhibit “has gotten bigger each year” and that people are welcome to walk through and take in all the festive Halloween decorations and “animatronics in action” – and that they will have fog machines going.

“We just love Halloween and like to share it with others,” she said, adding that her mom “always did a display, so I grew up with it.”

Their kids, ages 12 and 14, also grew up with their family’s Halloween display “so it’s all they’ve ever known” and enjoy helping put it up. When asked if the ghoulish spectacle is kid friendly, Descarreaux said “it depends on the kid.”

“We have a ton of kids come through every year. Some love it, for some it’s too scary. For little ones, it’s sometimes better to come when it’s light rather than dark.”

Husband and wife musicians Stephanie Rogers and Joe Mazzarella brought Halloween-themed fun to their monthly Kiddie Music Time with Monument Square Community Music School held on Oct. 2 at the Leominster Public Library. (DANIELLE RAY/SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE)

The display will be open for people to walk through it the weekends of Oct. 20-22 and 27-29 from 5 to 9 p.m. each evening.

“Everything will be on Halloween night as well, but we never get trick-or-treaters on Halloween living where we do,” Descarreaux said. “There is not a lot in our area for Halloween that does not cost a lot of money, so we love to invite people to come to our yard. We have people that come every year and look forward to the tradition. We put a lot of work into the display, so we love to share it with people.”