Kenosha County residents can look forward to a festive Halloween weekend as the 2026 Spooky Spirit Awards winners are officially announced. The county’s community‑driven contest drew 37 nominations, narrowed to 23 finalists, and received 455 verified votes. Nine displays earned an award, and each will remain illuminated for the holiday weekend.
Top honors and family traditions
The family behind the county’s top‑vote‑getter transformed their yard into a glowing graveyard of red‑lit skeletons, pumpkins and a giant purple bat outlined in lights. They noted that Halloween has been their favorite holiday for over 15 years, beginning with a modest graveyard display that grew into a neighborhood attraction.
Finishing second in the public vote, the Potato House display lights the yard nightly and adds fog, bubbles and music for Halloween. The family, eight years into the tradition, hands out candy, potatoes and other treats, and recently added a bubble fog machine and a KFC chicken scene to the spectacle.
Special recognitions
The Sleepy Hollow Favorite went to a Twin Lakes yard west of I‑94, where ghouls, reapers and glowing tombstones line a tree‑lined path in red and orange. The Broomstick Landing Zone award highlighted the most dazzling lights, with Weathersby Lights offering a full light show set to music on 94.1 FM from Sunday through Thursday evenings and extended hours on the weekend.
StoneField Cemetery earned praise for its lit‑up graveyard, spooky audio and fog machines that create a haunting atmosphere for trick‑or‑treaters. Peterson’s Pumpkin Patch was recognized for classic jack‑o‑lantern charm; the family has run the patch since 2009 and uses a donation box to raise money for Kindred Kitties.
The Mad Scientist’s Lab award went to Gothic Cemetery, a handmade display featuring 20 gravestones, a crypt, a tomb and pillars. The family, five years into the effort, changes the theme each year and begins construction in April.
Creature of the Corn received the best family‑friendly fright award. Towering cornstalks surround a green‑glowing witch’s cauldron, and the family, decorating for 20 years, crafts the corn‑field creatures from sticks collected on walks.
The Ghost Story Award recognized the Brown Bay of Dead Souls for its cohesive pirate‑themed scene, complete with a Kraken and nightly hours from 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
How the contest worked
Eligibility was open to any home, business or organization in Kenosha County. Kenosha.com scored each entry on creativity, visual impact, craftsmanship and theme, then selected 23 finalists for the tour map. Public voting ran from Oct. 21 to Oct. 26, with one vote per email address; all votes were reviewed for duplicates and invalid addresses.
In addition to the nine award winners, the contest added three new honors: a Fright Night Runner‑Up, a Sleepy Hollow Favorite for the top display west of I‑94, and the Ghost Story Award for the best overall themed scene.
Visiting the displays
All finalists remain on the tour map and most will stay lit through Halloween night. The route is organized in driving order across four routes, making it easy for families to plan an evening that starts with the award winners and continues through the remaining displays. Three West Side winners are clustered on 62nd Place and 63rd Street, offering a convenient three‑award stop.
Visitors are reminded to stay on sidewalks or in their cars, keep music volume low and watch for trick‑or‑treaters, especially on Saturday night. The county’s “Haunted Hot Spots” highlight neighborhoods with additional decorated homes.
Looking ahead
The Spooky Spirit Awards were a first for Kenosha.com, showcasing the dedication of families and businesses who invest hours of planning, wiring and construction in chilly October weather. The contest’s success has already spurred interest in the upcoming Holiday Light Tour & Spirit Awards, which open for nominations on Nov. 27. Residents can sign up for the free Kenosha.com newsletter to receive the latest updates.
Original reporting: Kenosha.com — read the source article.
