We saw a recent nationwide poll that shows 41 percent of Americans start decorating for Halloween the first week of October. That is the case in Hamilton (photo above), where a couple of yards have already been given over to cobwebs and blow-up Halloween cartoon characters.

The big number from that decorating poll - 82 percent. That's how many U.S. homes will do at least SOME Halloween decorating this year. And the most popular creatures and such - pumpkins, spiders, witches, bats and at the top of the yard-arm - skeletons. In Hamilton, the yard decorations are intense on the south end of town. In fact, the large amount of trick or treaters have caused some neighborhoods to have traffic restrictions on Halloween night to give the walking goblins and ghosts some added safety.

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The scary COVID pandemic has eliminated most "haunted house" attractions for two years now. The Daly Mansion Haunted Hayride and Murder Mystery Night were cancelled again. However, we can count on the outdoors "Field of Screams," along US 93 north of Hamilton, just a bit south of Victor. It's already in operation. They've included more attractions for the little kids this year, too. And, the Hamilton Downtown Association is having its annual Kids Halloween Parade on Friday, October 29 at 4 p.m. with trick or treaters invited to grab some treats at participating businesses on Main Street.

Back to the poll, the results showed people spending an average of 3 hours decorating their homes for Halloween. That may not be the norm in Montana, but Halloween is definitely in vogue. If I can steal a line from the original "Frankenstein" movie - It's Alive!

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