Mr. Krickl's Monster Mash Will Be A Graveyard Smash On Halloween

OAK LAWN, IL — If you want to have some fun and see the latest graveyard smash, stop by Billy Krickl’s haunted garage at 10520 S. Kildare Ave., has been an Oak Lawn tradition, attracting over 1,000 trick-or- treaters. He first started scaring up his garage 23 years ago (or however old his firstborn son happens to be) as a way to amuse his four sons on Halloween and be the cool dad on the block.

He’s stuffed his garage with 80 hay bales, lunged at children from a cage dressed as Michael Myers. This year, Mr. Krickl – as he is known to the neighborhood kids – is throwing his vast collection of animatronics on the front lawn – weather permitting.

“We have a witch scene, the werewolves, Pennywise,” Mr. Krickl said. “We’ve had Michael Myers in the garage window the past few weeks that is causing some stares.”

Even Santa may be a guest at the Mash. Son, Henry, 16, will be working the popcorn machine.

This year, Mr. Krickl was going to pass the Michael Myers-jumpsuit torch to his oldest son, Andy, 23.

“Andy offered to do Michael Myers, and I’d pass out candy. I thought, that’s different,” Mr Krickl said. “But he got a full-time job that starts on Halloween, so I’ll be putting on the jumpsuit.”

Mr. Krickl’s garage haunt has persevered through snow, rain, ice with a few nice Halloweens since 2011, when Patch accidentally discovered it.

AccuWeather called for a chance of light morning rain on Monday, but the weather should clear in time for trick-or-treating on Halloween, AccuWeather said. Evening temps are expected in the 50s, which gives Mr. Krickl a window to put on a graveyard smash.
Oak Lawn’s trick-or-treat hours for Halloween are 3 to 8 p.m. on Monday. Mr. Krickl’s one-day haunt may linger an hour or so longer for parents to drive their kids over.