West Philly maps 100 Halloween spots

More than 100 locations have been added to a new interactive map in West Philadelphia that catalogs local Halloween displays. The registry serves as a directory for residents and visitors seeking decorations across the neighborhood.

Dyresha Harris created the West Philly Fright Registry to centralize information about haunted houses and themed scares. She describes the project as a one-stop shop for all things wicked and west. The tool allows neighbors to register their homes so families and enthusiasts can identify specific attractions by location.

Participants submit their information through a Google form accessed via a QR code. The map uses distinct icons to indicate whether a stop offers candy or hosts specific events. Harris noted that the system helps local neighbors connect with the wider community of Halloween revellers.

The registry lists homes featuring various fright elements, including rows of skeletons, creepy clowns, and large eyeballs. Harris is currently finishing her own display, which she described as timely and spooky with a circus theme. She warned that those afraid of clowns might want to skip her stop, as the design draws inspiration from the horror story It.

In South Philadelphia, David Kroblen has decorated his block for more than 20 years. His setup includes spider webs, animatronics, a bat skeleton, and a flying witch. The witch hangs above the sidewalk, roughly a story above the ground, suspended by 300-pound weight fishing line wrapped around a pole across the street to his window.

Kroblen told 6abc Action News that his display has been years in the making. He said the decorations will come down after Halloween, at which point he will begin preparing for Christmas. Residents have until Friday to sign up and be included on the West Philly map.