Most Halloween decorations are meant to be glanced at. The Pritchard household’s display in the north Edmonton neighbourhood of Rosslyn is an entire experience.
The front lawn at 13536 108 St. is crammed with decor ranging from gruesome to whimsical. A roped pathway allows visitors to meander between the displays. Famous movie monsters such as Chucky and Art the Clown mingle amongst a pirate ship staffed by animatronic skeletons, while eerie lights and sounds ooze between the displays. It’s a miniature theme park stuffed on a suburban street.
Pritchard Family Magic, as it’s known on social media, began in 2022, with the family making a bigger effort in 2025 to get the word out about their Halloween display. Melissa Pritchard said they want to curate an experience for visitors, not just fill their yard with decorations.
“We put a lot of thought into how each piece will fit into the display and what kind of experience it will bring to people,” said Pritchard. “We want to have a little bit of everything, whether it’s something cute and funny, a good jump scare, or a decoration that complements another piece.”
She said it takes months of preparation for each Halloween season.
“Our planning usually starts in March, when we begin looking at new pieces and ideas for the upcoming season. We shop for new decorations between March and September,” said Pritchard. “At the end of July and into August, we start setting everything up inside and organizing our pieces. Then, during the first week of September, we move outside and start bringing our design to life.”
Pritchard said they try to group decorations by theme to create a flow for visitors. One of their biggest challenges is connecting power to all the decorations, which also include handmade items.
“For us, it’s about creating an experience, not just filling the yard with decorations. We want people to discover different things as they move through the display, and we want there to be something for everyone to enjoy. Every piece has a purpose and helps us tell our stories.”
Pritchard estimated they’ve had well over 600 visitors by mid-October, with some coming back multiple times a week. Some people make it a yearly tradition to visit the spooky display. Seeing families enjoy her Halloween decorations is a full-circle moment for Pritchard, who says Pritchard Family Magic is a tribute to her father, Stuart Loy, who died in 2024.
“He was someone who loved making people laugh and smile, and he always loved creating memories as a family,” said Pritchard, who also uses the display to raise funds for MS Society of Canada.
“At the end of the day, our goal is to bring people together, make people smile, and create something families can look forward to coming back to year after year,” she said.
Don’t expect the Pritchards to get much rest in November. That’s when they begin the process of swapping out their Halloween decorations for Christmas ones.
We’re looking for Edmonton’s most spook-tacular houses and community halls this Halloween. Email chuculak@postmedia.com about any local homes you think go above and beyond with decorations in October.
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