Middletown, NY Community Rallies Behind Family Halloween Display

One Hudson Valley community is coming together in hopes of bringing back a popular trick-or-treat stop this Halloween season.

Is a Popular Orange County Halloween Display Not Going Up This Year?

A GoFundMe page is making the rounds in Orange County and has Halloween fans wondering if a popular trick-or-treat stop will be going up this year.

Caitlynne Morrissey organized a GoFundMe to "Help Highland Avenue's Decorator Continue His Tradition." The house in Middletown draws thousands of trick-or-treaters every year for Halloween.

However, an incident last year involving "a little 6$ fountain firework" ended up costing Halloween decorator David Wardell $750 in fines. Morrissey explains that Wardell "now is posting that he no longer will be doing it [his Halloween display]." Caitlynne goes on to add:

The amount of people that come to Highland Avenue just to see his house is incredible. I really feel that this is unfair and a lot of people feel the same way.

With that, Morrissey is asking the community to consider donating to the $750 fine as well as donating a bag of candy to the cause. So far, the GoFundMe has raised $1,111.

Will the GoFundMe save the Highland Avenue House before Halloween?!

Middletown, NY Community Rallies Behind Halloween Display

We reached out to David Wardell, the owner of the Highland Avenue house and Halloween display, and learned the fate of the popular Halloween display.

Wardell tells us he's been decorating for the last 15 years and "I usually get between 1500-2000 trick-or-treaters each year."

On Facebook Wardell writes:

It is such a good feeling that the community values what I do and would rally behind me. I guess I have a lot of work to do before Halloween.

Sounds pretty promising to me!

We'll keep you updated with the Highland Avenue display in Middletown, New York, and update this story with more details.

Halloween Displays Across The Hudson Valley

While we wait for the Wardell family's Halloween display for 2024, there are a few others we're looking forward to seeing as well.

The Dellamura Family in Poughkeepsie, New York has been going all out on their front lawn for spooky season for the last few years. And 2023 was one for the books!

Take a look:

Poughkeepsie, NY Family Has Halloween Fun with Hauntingly Charming Front Lawn Display

As the sun goes down in Poughkeepsie, the Dellamura Halloween light display will illuminate the nights and frights!

We can't wait to see what they come up with this year! Here's a glimpse of the Dellamura display from 2022:

Poughkeepsie, NY Family Turns Front Yard into 'Haunted Graveyard' For Halloween 2022

This Poughkeepsie, NY culdesac has taken a hauntingly fun turn. Where is your favorite Halloween decoration display?

Best Halloween Themes for Hudson Valley Towns

We asked people from the Hudsn Valley to tell us what Halloween decoration best represented their town and here are some results. Feel free to chime in with your town and its Halloween theme. We will be happy to add it to the list.

Gallery Credit: Paty Quyn