By ALANA MITCHELSON
Kids who love dress-ups and lollies are in for a treat tomorrow when a Geelong West mum with North American roots transforms her home into a haunted house.
When it comes to Halloween, Julie Hickey’s memories are plentiful yet sporadic after a childhood spent living around the world with her family.
After stints in the Middle East, South East Asia, Paris, Japan and the United States, she has now lived in Geelong for the past two years.
Ms Hickey completed university in Boston and married a New Yorker, so the American influence has been strong in her life.
So naturally, she always celebrates Halloween with sons Connor, 13, and Aidan, 11.
“Halloween in the States was particularly special because it comes during the fall and it gets dark earlier and creates a creepy atmosphere,” Ms Hickey said.
“I was surprised to see how huge Halloween is in Tokyo, actually. They would close off roads and bring bus loads full of people for trick or treating.”
Last year Ms Hickey played eerie music to resonate from her home’s windows which lured in most of the kids in the neighbourhood throughout the day.
The popularity of last year’s spider web decorations has inspired a things-that-go-bump-in-the-night theme for her haunted house this year.
The slippers and striped socks of the Wicked Witch of the East stick out from the base of the house, while spiders and webs are draped across its white picket fence.
Children brave enough to walk past a skeleton crouched on a rocking chair then stand a chance of meeting a ghoul, a witch, a clown and a zombie at the front doorstep.
“It’s just an excuse to dress up and have a bit of fun,” Ms Hickey said.
“The kids love it.”
