Patch's 2018 Guide To The Southland's Best Halloween Yard Haunts

If you're looking for new zombie graveyards, body parts, floating ghosts and devil's playgrounds to explore for Halloween, you've come to the right place. Patch has assembled its annual Tour o' Yard Haunts for 2017 created by some of the Southland's most imaginative and demented exterior decorators. We've UPDATED our guide for 2018 with displays that are bound to elicit a few 911 calls or set off some pacemakers when a pneumatic-controlled Freddy Krueger lunges at you from the bushes. A few simple rules to keep in mind first:

GET ON THE LIST: Patch's is a friendly list. We LOVE reader submissions, so we'll be updating the list every FRIDAY leading up to Halloween. So send in your pictures and tell us why your yard haunt is special to lorraine.swanson@patch.com. Read more about getting on the list.

DON'T YELL AT US: We've done our best to contact homeowners whom we've featured in the past to verify that they're decorating in 2018. Some of you we're going to have to hunt down because you can't follow directions. Also, be respectful of people's neighbors.

WAIT! THERE'S MORE: Check out these lists for more yard haunts throughout the Chicago area: Chicago Haunt Builders, Haunted Illinois Directory, Illinois Haunted Houses and We Love Halloween. There's free fun to be had in the days leading up to Halloween, so set your GPS for these time-honored spooky standbys and newbies. You won't win anything except maybe bragging rights.

Cook County

Alsip

3624 W. 123RD PLACE, ALSIP -- The Killelea Family has been putting up its cemetery for 15 years. It’s a little scary for kids. Should be ready to go OCT. 20. First place in Alsip Park District's Halloween decorating contest.

ADDED! 11813 S. KOLIN AVE., ALSIP - 2nd place winner in Alsip Park District's Halloween decorating contest.

ADDED! 11813 CAROLYN LANE, ALSIP -- 3rd place winner in Alsip Park District's annual Halloween decorating contest.

Burbank

MURDERERS ROW, 7711 MAJOR AVE., BURBANK -- A red carpet of celebrity movie monsters including Freddy Krueger, Jason Vorhees, Leatherface, Michael Meyers, Beetlejuice, Lydia, Frankenstein's Monster and his Bridge, Electrocution Man and more! The display is available for viewing seven days a week from 7 p.m. to midnight, through Oct. 31. On Saturday, Oct. 28, a 1964 purple Bonneville hearse will be parked on the front lawn for people to take selfies with. Under camera surveillance. Please don't touch the props.

THE NEPHILIM FALLEN ANGELS, 8211 and 8215 S. MULLIGAN AVE., BURBANK - It's heartwarming when neighbors get along and pitch in to turn their front lawns into a hell for fallen angels every Halloween. Now in its seventh year, the Ghoul Crew comes out to play on the weekends through Halloween (the Ghoul Crew sleeps during the week). Nephilim opens Oct. 13 and runs through Oct. 31; hours are Fridays and Saturdays 7 to 11 p.m.; Sundays 7 to 10 p.m. Per the scaremeistrs: Leave Reality behind and enter our Dark Realm at the Nephilim Haunted Yard....Many animated and live ghouls surrounding two houses for Double the Scare!!! Creatures have been summoned to join our Nephilim Fallen Angels Ghoul Crew, making our 7th year more frightful! Be prepared to be Scared!! Join us if you DARE, because the next scream you hear will be your own!!!!! As in past years, the fallen angels will be accepting donations for Alex Buentello, a Burbank resident who was diagnosed in January 2018 with a large brain tumor and two smaller ones.

Chicago (South Side)

NEW IN 2018! McMANOR CHICAGO, 13017 S. AVENUE O, CHICAGO -- Awesome haunt with a complete house covering facade, featuring a scary amount of animated props which are all custom made. Come visit Bones the wise-cracking skeleton inside the outhouse. It’s the McManor Construction Crew’s way of saying “if our prices don’t scare you our work will.” A hidden Halloween treasure on the South Side of Chicago.

SPOOKY GRAVEYARD, 5232 S. MERRIMAC AVE., CHICAGO -- Don't let the house eat you. Charming homemade decorations. Kid-friendly.

HAUNT ON HAMLIN, 10857 S. HAMLIN AVE., CHCAGO (Mt. Greenwood) -- One of Mt. Greenwood’s biggest displays, this yard haunt gets bigger and better every years. Features a haunted cornfield/graveyard scene that comes alive at night with lights an animatronic harvester on spooky side. A kid-friendly display with pumpkins and ghosts is on the 109th Street side.

Chicago Heights

ADDED! 528 FITCH ROAD, CHICAGO HEIGHTS -- A really cool hearse will be parked outside on Halloween.

Crestwood

FRIGHTMARE ON FORESTVIEW, 13155 FORESTVIEW LANE, CRESTWOOD -- Remember that shoebox your little brother used to hide under his bed filled with limbs and heads from your Barbie dolls? This place is it. We're happy to have Frightmare back on the 2018 Patch Tour 'o Haunted Yards. The mistress of fright warns us Frightmare has gone digital. Display will be ready on OCT. 20

Flossmoor

EVIL ON AVERS, 18808 AVERS AVE., FLOSSMOOR -- Evil on Avers is a themed yard display entitled "Grinning Gourd Farm & Garden". There are animated and static characters in scenes including a hayride of creepy children, pumpkin monsters, a corn monster tending the farm stand, giant praying mantises who have found their prey in the cornfield, garden gnomes carrying a coffin and more.
"I have been 'haunting' my home for about 20 years. I do make quite a few of my own props. I am a member of Chicago Haunt Builders, a great group of people who get together to build props and share our love Halloween," Cindy Ver Haar says. Hours are dusk to 10 p.m. through Oct. 31.

NEW IN 2018! THE DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND HOME HAUNT, 900 WESTERN AVE., FLOSSMOOR -- After 15 fabulous years in Oak Lawn, this playground from hell has relocated to Flossmoor. The yard haunt includes such old favorites as the lunging Freddy Krueger and a guy getting zapped in an electric chair. Head devil Keith Janowski has been busy building even more interactive delights, including a toxic lagoon, animatronics, carnEvil scary-go-round, haunted graveyard and other digital effects. Flossmoor-area residents are in for a treat. The display will be up OCT. 19 through OCT. 31. Free-will donations to the Don’t Be A Monster bullying prevention program will be gratefully accepted. Donations of $10 will receive a free Don’t Be A Monster bracelet. Parking is available in the adjacent school parking lot. On Halloween, they'll be passing out the good stuff including peanut butter cups, chocolate and evil clown noses until they run out. Visit them on Facebook. Scary as hell! Swing by after you've visited the equally fabulous Evil On Avers.

Hickory Hills

LI’L MONSTERS DAYCARE, 8137 W. 90TH ST., HICKORY HILLS -- A whimsical, kid-friendly lawn display featuring a pumpkin patch, witches brew, a friendly graveyard and a li'l monsters daycare. Adorbs! There better be some candy left at Walgreens.

CORNER OF THE CURSED, 8945 S. 82ND AVE., HICKORY HILLS -- Let the sin begin!
We love a guy whose sole goal in life is to fill a corner lot with clowns. Features two actual coffins, a headless girl whose neck drains blood into a bucket and "a swinging hangman made from scratch.” On weekends actors join the motion-sensored animatronics from 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and on Halloween.

Hometown

HOMETOWN'S UNFORGIVEN, 4546 W. 89TH PLACE, HOMETOWN -- If you're feeling lonely this Halloween, stop by this haunt for a free hug. Hometown's Unforgiven will follow you in your sleep, featuring special effects, a blood fountain and an actual haunted house. The haunt is open every day from 6 to 10 p.m. Ghouls and Chuckles the Clown come out to play every Friday and Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m. Hometown's Unforgiven is a proud teal pumpkin house, which means they will provide alternatives to trick or treat candy. The haunt is also accepting donations of food, blankets, toys, leaches, etc. for Animal Welfare League. Stop by, bring the kids, bring the family, bring your friends. Chuckles gets lonely and needs a hug.

LORETTO CEMETERY, 9041 BECK PLACE, HOMETOWN -- Tom Roche has been decorating his yard for the past six years, adding props and animatronics. The haunt includes 25-30 props, a handful which move and talk. Roche and his girlfriend are out most nights haunting the yard with chainsaws and sledgehammers. This homeowner also has another surprise for trick or treaters. Watch out for the man on the lawn mower. Yard lights up 7-7:30 p.m. most nights through Oct. 31.

Homewood

NIGHTMARE ON PAGE, 18613 PAGE AVE., HOMEWOOD -- Joe Garcia and his neighbor have been decorating their yards for the past 10 years. They are the hit of the town on Halloween night, when live actors fill the haunts. Lights are on 6:30 p.m. to midnight.

HAUNTED HALLOW, 17560 HILLSIDE AVE., HOMEWOOD -- Stop by and play with the cemetery clowns. Maybe they'll pose for a selfie with you -- if you dare. Haunted Hallow features homemade scares featured on tv and in print. Lit up 7 to 10 p.m. through Oct. 31.

HAUNTED McHUGH MANOR, 18145 RIEGEL ROAD, HOMEWOOD -- It is all started 30 years ago when Karen McHugh and sisters would decorate their parents’ front lawn on Kedzie Avenue. Karen and husband Phil have resurrected the tradition by turning their front yard into a skeleton’s playlot. Each year we add to it, always to the delight of neighbors and passersby.

Lemont

NEW IN 2018! DEMON’S GRAVEYARD OF DOOM/WITCHES INSANE ASYLUM TO HELL, 1127 WALTER ST., LEMONT -- This is double-themed yard includes a garage walk-through if you care to take a stroll into Hades. Say hi to Pin Head, Freddie Krueger and Leather Face. Yard haunt will be up Oct, 12. Lawn is lit 6:30 to 10 p.m.

ADDED! SPOOKY TIME ON SINGER AVE, 815 SINGER AVE., LEMONT -- A walk-thru cemetery, featuring a tunnel with fog and black-lights and animatronics. Live actors on Halloween. Make sure you say hi to Henry and Fluffy (and yes, that’s Tom’s mug that Henry is holding). The candy will be the good stuff -- sours, suckers, Kit Kat, Reese's, Nerds, ect. The witch of the house is known to give handfuls out to trick-or-treaters. There will even be "treats" for the adults on Halloween night.

Midlothian

STUTTGART HAUNTING, 14349 KILPATRICK AVE., MIDLOTHIAN -- The Stuckarts of Midlothian turn their front yard into a freak show and each year is better than the last. The family loves horror movies and Halloween. The children of the homeowners, Vicky and Roland, are trying to keep the family tradition alive for as long as they can. Props are homemade -- none of that store-bought stuff. The yard haunt opens OCT. 10 from dusk to midnight. On Halloween, Oct. 31, there will be a change in decor and the show will be at its peak. Stuttgart Haunting will have live actors for pictures and frights from 3 to 8 p.m. on Halloween. The scarers WILL NOT terrorize children (unless specially asked by parents). They'll also have some good treats for the trick-or-treaters.

NEW IN 2018! GRAVEYARD ON KILPATRICK, 14441 KILPATRICK AVE., MIDLOTHIAN -- Kids come from all over just to see Michael Meyers rise from the dead in this haunted graveyard. On Halloween, there are smoke machines and live actors to chase you up and down the street. Live actors are a hit or miss during operation hours, except for Halloween. “I have been decorating my yard since around 1988 and I have expanded my decorations to what it is now. It started with my love for Halloween and my son wanting to scare the children. Now my daughter and granddaughter and myself doing all the scaring,” says Judy Scott. The haunt will be finished by OCT. 11. Hours are 6 to 10:30 p.m. through Halloween. Just look for the Hearse in the front yard. (We wish Judy was our grandma.)

Mokena

NEW IN 2018! ANNA ACRES, 19931 ANNA STREET, MOKENA -- The Oceans family offer a unique and spooky cemetery with talking pumpkins, floating ghouls and dancing skeletons. All displays will be active friday through Sunday after dusk. Suitable for the whole family.

NEW IN 2018! HAUNTED HUMMINGBIRD, 24314 W. HUMMINGBIRD DRIVE, CHANNAHON -- Don’t let this innocent little bird fool you. Display on after Oct. 20.

SPOOKY HOUSE ON SARKIS, 19410 SARKIS DRIVE, MOKENA -- Don't let those friendly pumpkin inflatables on the front lawn fool you. John and Lisa Fabian run a different digital 3-D mix every night in his home's six windows and the door. Some nights you'll see witches stirring brews to ghastly ghosts flittering across the windows. On weekend nights the Fabians unleash zombies where the windows turn blood red. ("My wife thinks they're a little gory.") Young kids will enjoy this haunt, except you might want to skip Zombie night. Creative and fascinating. We've included a YouTube video that Fabian put together. Find out what's playing at the Spooky House on Sarkis Drive Facebook Page. Opens Friday OCT. 7, ironically the same night as the Walking Dead premieres. Hours are dusk until 10 p.m. Sundays through Thursday, 11 p.m. on weekends, through Oct. 31. The Fabians are also collecting donations of non-perishable food items for the Frankfort Township Food Pantry, which can be left in the bin by the mailbox.

Monee

MONEE MANOR, 24066 S. CICERO AVE., MONEE, IL -- Take a drive down Cicero Avenue to where the streetlights end and the dark country takes over. This is the Berryhill family's sixth year of doing their country yard haunt. Creepy animatronic and static ghosts await you, mostly homemade. Come see the huge graveyard with 10-foot pillars, skeleton stock chambers and basement zombies. Watch out for the MASSIVE rooftop spider and the elaborate toxic waste dump. The neighbors also do a nice display. There's plenty of shoulder area to park and walk along the front of the property to get a closer look. Dusk to midnight through Nov. 2. Who knew Cicero Avenue went that far? The display is kid friendly. Live actors appear from time to time.

Oak Forest

LOPEZ HALLOWEEN LAIR, 6224 FORESTVIEW DRIVE, OAK FOREST -- These former Hoosiers moved to Oak Forest and took their giant gargoyle, zombies and graveyard with them. This is the Lopez's family first year decorating in Oak Forest. The haunt will go live this SATURDAY, OCT. 27. Come check out the dancing skeletons. The Lair also features a walkthrough in the garage with animatronics and a spooky scenes. Open 7 to 11 p.m. Oct. 27 through Oct. 30; and from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Halloween. The candy menu includes assortment of chocolate, Nerds, Kit Kats, Snickers, Smarties, lollipops and other sweets for the trick-or-treaters.

Oak Lawn

SPIRITS ON SPROAT/GALLERY OF THE DEAD, 9028 S. SPROAT AVE., OAK LAWN - “We’re ready for our close-up, Mr. DeMille.” This who's who of Hollywood monsters has moved their mash into the back yard. It's also ME-TV Svengoolie's favorite haunt, and features live scarers, a scavenger hunt, the Bride of Chucky, flying monkeys from the Wizard of Oz, horror-master Vincent Price and a cast of thousands. Now in its 15th fabulous year, Spirits on Sproat runs from 7-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (including Halloween); 7-10 p.m. Sundays and weeknights during Halloween week.

101ST STREET CEMETERY, 5133 W. 101ST ST, OAK LAWN -- Inspired by Pinterest and Dollar Tree, this yard of ghouls has doubled in size from last year, including a garbage can full of guts.

LOFTUS HAUNT, 9738 S. 52ND AVE., OAK LAWN -- This under-the-radar yard haunt made its grand debut on the Patch Tour o' Haunts. Now is its eleventh year of creating fright. Live actors on the weekends. Treat bags for trick-or-treaters and hot cider for the adults.

Orland Park

SCARES ON SEQUOIA, 7631 SEQUOIA COURT, ORLAND PARK -- Sorry, but the Scarecrow Army at this Orland Park haunt doesn't sing or dance. Scares on Sequoia gets weirder every year -- and we mean that in a good way. Seven rooms are featured this year. Over 30 animated props populate this lawn, including a pumpkin patch, Dracula and his wolves, and my more. Open Monday through Thursday, and Sunday, 6 to 10 p.m.; Friday through Sunday 6 to 11 p.m. and Halloween, Oct. 31, 4 to 11 p.m.

SQUEALER ON WHEELER, 7418 WHEELER DRIVE, ORLAND PARK -- What do you get when mix up spider webs, moldy bread and mucky mud? You get Squealer on Wheeler. This friendly haunt is open from dusk until 10:30 p.m. daily, through Halloween.

CARN-EVIL (FORMERLY EERIE ACRES CEMETERY), 15238 82ND AVE. ORLAND PARK -- Clowns, clowns, clowns! Live actors Oct. 26 to Oct. 28, and on Halloween.

ADDED! 14426 S. 87TH AVE., ORLAND PARK -- Neighbors sent us a picture of this yard haunt. The homeowners have decorated for years but “this year tops the cake.” Characters, an awesome soundtrack, fog machines and animatronics are featured. It takes about three weeks to set up and the homeowner said they had a custom soundtrack created for her display. People drive by just to hear the music. The neighbors hope the homeowners continue their Halloween tradition.

ADDED! GOTHGLOOM CEMETERY, 12351 DERBY LANE, ORLAND PARK -- The debut of GothGloom Cemetery is winning raves. This Orland Park haunt features animation projectors and many props. The end result is stunning!

Palos Heights

12342 S. 75TH AVE., PALOS HEIGHTS -- Patch is always happy to add a KID FRIENDLY haunt to the tour. Rita Houston LOVES Halloween and her family goes all out to decorate their yard and make it welcoming to the little candy grabbers.

Tinley Park

NEW IN 2018! MEADOWLARK HAUNT/FESTIVAL OF DARKNESS, 17901 FLAMINGO DRIVE (CORNER OF FLAMINGO AND MEADOWLARK), TINLEY PARK -- Expect the unexpected at this Tinley Park yard haunt now in its 22nd year. Features fog machines, bubble machines and other static props until Halloween when Cheryl and Gary Ratliff, brother/brother-in-law Tim Pilny and his numero uno lady Rose Pilny break out the good stuff, including animatronics, fog machines, tents and other stuff. Live actors come out on Halloween. Jump scares and startle scares might be too much for younger kids, but toddlers have been known to walk through like they own the place. Actors are instructed to not intentionally scare the wee ones. Dusk to 10 p.m. through Halloween.

NEW IN 2018! TIMBERS POINTE CEMETERY, 8907 WOODBINE COURT, TINLEY PARK -- Features a haunted abandoned house and graveyard with multiple animations, projections and live actors, weather permitting. Haunt is lit up Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in October, and Oct. 26 through Oct. 31. ALERT: Full-sized candy bars will be handed out on Halloween. The Casto Family will be collecting monetary donations as well as non-perishable food items for Haunts for Hunger.

Worth

HAUNT OF HOLLYWOOD HORRORS, 11560 S. NAGLE AVE., WORTH, IL -- Located in the friendly village, this is a walk-through haunt with live actors (and maybe some dead ones). The Doyles’ front lawn is populated with characters from Halloween, Friday 13th, Nightmare on Elm street, The Exorcist, Trick or Treat, Phantom of Opera, Killer Clowns and many more characters. Scary but still kid-friendly. Live actors on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Halloween. Opening OCT. 13. Hours are 6 to 10 p.m. daily, through Halloween.

WILL COUNTY

Homer Glen

NEW IN 2018! 13115 SAGE COURT, HOMER GLEN -- A delightful, family-friendly cemetery with lots of blow molds.

Joliet

NEUFEARFIELD CEMETERY, 913 NEUFAIRFIELD DRIVE, JOLIET, IL -- A Joliet haunt with homemade props, featuring tombstones, a hungry fence, pillars of hell, Freddy and a female zombie. This year, the Fox-Rademacher family will play some fun Halloween tracks and classic rock to make it more inviting for the kiddos, but the lights and animatronics are up all week. On Halloween, the family will be handing out FULL SIZED candy bars to the first 300 trick-or-treaters. Will be fully operational on OCT. 12. Hours are dusk to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; dusk to 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, through Oct. 31.

NEW IN 2018! MAYHEM ON MAYFIELD AT HALLOWEEN, 2213 MAYFIELD AVE., JOLIET -- Watch out for Norman Bates mother! This unassuming split-level home becomes a haven for the dead, with animatronics that show off for visitors and on the big night.

NIGHTMARE ON STEVEN SMITH, 1321 STEVEN SMITH ST., JOLIET -- This yard haunt features music, fog machines and scary displays that just might come to life so watch out. This is a drive/walk by location and visitors are allowed to take pictures with the actors or of the displays.

ADDED! COUNT KUHAJDA’S HAUNTED HAUS, 1112 NICHOLSON ST., JOLIET -- Mark and Nancy Kuhajda have been haunting their block for over 20 years. An elegant front and back yard haunt. (Now we’re hungry for a bowl of Count Chocula.) The Kuhajdas will once again be accepting donations for 1Pet 1Vet, a great organization that trains rescue dogs as companions and services dogs for veterans.

EDGE OF MADNESS ON MEADOWSEDGE, 923 MEADOWSEDGE LANE, JOLIET -- Features a whole lawn full of animatronic props along with Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, Rosemary's Baby (or "Rose Mia's Boo Boo" as they say in MAD Magazine), Samara from The Ring, We have many props and are always the best decorated house in our neighborhood. “We have animatronic props along with Michaell Myers, Freddy Krueger, Samara from The Ring, and our special favorite, an animatronic Reagan from the Exorcist.” We hope Raggedy Ann is okay. Yard haunt will be available to view Oct 28 through Oct. 31.

Lockport

NIGHTMARE IN LOCKPORT, 1010 McCAMERON AVE., LOCKPORT -- After a long hiatus, the Ash family has resurrected their old beloved home haunt from the dead. Live actors on some nights but they’re not going to tell us when so visitors will just have to be surprised. This yard features wonderful homemade props, most of them stationary, but you never know what's going to come back to life. Say the Ashes: "We do this for our love of Halloween and to connect with those who love it too. It is ghoulish tradition."

ADDED! 20936 W McGILVRAY DRIVE, LOCKPORT -- Arachnophobiacs can conquer their fears and/or avoid the giant spider web and spiders altogether. An eclectic haunt that features an alien, haunted graveyard and the Bones family, who’ve waited a long time for trick or treaters.

Minooka

ADDED! DARKEN ASYLUM, 1416 S. SADDLEBROOK LANE, MINOOKA -- Located in the back of Minooka’s West Winds subdivision, Darken Asylum is a fun walk-through graveyard, boasting light/fog, music, projection special effects, static props and animatronics. Get your guts checked out in the autopsy room, or revisit your old Mrs. Beasley doll in the creepy doll room. Did we mention the clown tent? The homeowners have paid painstaking attention to every detail to give your family (and friendly) experience. Open every day from 6:30 to 10 p.m. through Oct. 31. Candy every night, and full-size candy bars and treats on Halloween. We are collecting donations for “Be the change Minooka” looking for everyday items that can help the homeless, a full list of items can be found on our Facebook page.

ADDED! THE NIGHTMARE HAUNTED HOUSE, 509 E. HUNTER LANE, MINOOKA -- You may want to bring an extra pair of underwear. The Nightmare boasts multiple scares that might make you wet yourself. This is a true haunted house except that it’s in a garage. The haunt features ten talented and skilled live actors to scare the snot out of looky-loos each night it is open. Costumes are homemade and a makeup artist to make everyone look ghoulish. If you make it through the haunted house you may get a piece of candy, or even a flower from the doctor if he likes you. Open 6 to 9 p.m. OCT. 12, OCT, 26, OCT 27 and 4:30 to 9 p.m. OCT. 31. Ask about the less scary for little kids PG tour!

New Lenox

MANOR OF EVIL, 2867 FERRO DRIVE, NEW LENOX -- This little corner of hades has been featured on NBC 5 Chicago and too many local papers to count.The haunt features a full frontal facade over the original brick exterior. Every piece is handmade from wood, including a large breathing skull over the entry the blows smoke. Spikes, skulls, spider webs and chains adorn this haunt. A custom-made "web chair" stands over 9 feet tall and visitors are welcome to take their photos. Watch out for 9-foot-tall chained spider, A large evil cross on the roof beckons the ghosts of Halloweens past. A professional sound system blows out an eerie bone chilling tone. Many nights a large creature known as master can be seen roaming the estate while his skeletons keep guard. Any time is good to view this haunt, but dusk and night are best.

NEW IN 2018! 1710 STONEBRIDGE COURT, NEW LENOX -- A new entry in 2018. The yard haunt features animatronics and , viewing now until Halloween lights go on at dusk till 10 , live scarers on Halloween night.

DEATH AMONG US, 573 LENOX ST., NEW LENOX -- A late add last year that were happy is joining the tour o’ scary yards in 2018. Operating daily until 10 p.m., through Oct. 31.

NEW IN 2018! NIGHTMARE ON NEWCASTLE, 535 NEWCASTLE DRIVE, NEW LENOX -- We believe that the couple that builds Dr. Frankenstein’s lab in their garage together -- stays together. Luann and Mike Lodes have been turning their yard into a nightmare for 21 years. Spooky, but not too gory or bloody for little kids -- the Lodes’ target audience. Display includes a graveyard full of old tombstones but the dead still somehow make their presence know. Beware of the spirits in the Field of Streams. Visitors are encouraged to get out of their cars and tour yard and walk into the lab. Beware of the ‘punny’ tombstones. The display will be up Oct. 12. Lights go on at dusk and on ‘til 10 p.m. weekdays; 11 p.m. on weekends. Halloween’s go-to candy list includes giant Pixie Stix and airheads for the ultimate sugar rush.

NEW IN 2018! 2912 LEVEN AVE., NEW LENOX -- Skeletons and creepy dolls on deck chairs. Need we say more?

NEW IN 2018! 1276 SIERRA RIDGE, NEW LENOX -- There’s something spooky everywhere you look, including skeletons trying to get into the kids’ room to the front lawn graveyard. Eerie music intensifies the ambience. Created by Chris Meadows and daughter, Addison, who share a love for Halloween. The display is active every night through Halloween starting around 7-ish.

ADDED! 250 IAN AVE., NEW LENOX -- Walt Disney couldn’t have done a better job himself with this animatronics-doesn’t-have-a-name-yet yard display in New Lenox. Available for viewing 6:30 to 10:00 p.m. through OCT. 31. They Brauers' will be passing out mid-grade candy, not terrible and not full-sized candy bars. Somewhere in between. Check out the youtube video.

Plainfield

NEW IN 2018! THE HAUNTED CASTLE, 5301 MEADOWBROOK ST., PLAINFIELD -- Check out the motion lights as purple bats and white ghosts fly out to you, synced to creepy music and low lying fog. The yard haunt is lit from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. through Nov. 2. Goody bags will be handed out to younger kids on Halloween, including Halloween tattoos and bubbles, and candy for the older kids.

1907 CATON RIDGE DRIVE, PLAINFIELD -- We love the skeleton dog chasing the skeleton in this kid-friendly display. Timmy’s in the well!

THE COTE’S HAUNTED YARD, 6907 TOWNSEND BLVD, PLAINFIELD -- Brian and Jessica Cote offer a backyard walk through for families to enjoy. It's kid friendly, not scary and there is a scavenger hunt for kids. Nothing jumps out at you. The haunt features animatronics, lights, fog and a lot of homemade props. “My husband and I love Halloween. We were married on Halloween and of course had a costume party wedding. One day for trick or treating is not enough to share our excitement and joy of this holiday,” says Jessica. The haunt is open from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and of course, on Halloween, weather permitting.

ADDED! HEADLESS HORSEMAN, 13240 SKYLINE DRIVE, PLAINFIELD -- Features skeletons of all kinds, headless horseman, lights, a couple of projects and lots of skulls. Fog machine and sound effects on Friday and Saturday night. “We have made quite a few of the props, fire, moon, tombstones, horseman, garage door decor and more. No live actors, but good display,” says the homeowner. (Thanks for the submission, Ella!)

Romeoville

ADDED! LOST SOULS GRAVE YARD, 724 UNION AVE., ROMEOVILLE. -- This front yard grave yard has many skeletons, skeleton dogs, as well as hand-made and store purchased animated props. You will find a skeleton horse pulling a hand-made wagon with a wooden coffin. Some of the grave stones have pop-ups behind them. There are glow in the dark skeletons and swinging bats also. The cemetery gate has animated ghost, gargoyles and scary music playing, as well as a skeleton window display. On Halloween night, treat bags will be given out. If raining, some of the animated props will not be displayed. Feel free to get out of your car and walk around the grave yard fence area.

Shorewood

DOMUM DIABOLI HAUNTED HOUSE, 411 BROOK FOREST AVE., SHOREWOOD, IL -- You will SHRIEK when you go through the walk-through haunted house that goes through the garage and into the backyard to the haunted cemetery. Live scarers will be prowling about. Yikes! Open 7 to 10 p.m. OCT. 19, OCT. 20, OCT. 26-28 and OCT. 31.

>>>Also check out:

Illinois Haunted House Guide 2018

Best Chicago-Area Pumpkin Patches 2018