Residents decorate for upcoming spooky holiday

The yard at 2424 Fairway Terrace in Clovis is covered with bats and spiders. That's because Jay and Kimberly Parmenter like it that way this time of year.

The Parmenters have been decorating for Halloween since 2000, always expanding their eerie décor.

Kimberly said they wanted to bring the "fun back into Halloween" by giving residents a place to build memories and receive delicious candy.

"We try to set up things that are great for family memories and photo booths," she said.

Visitors will encounter an array of 36 blow-up characters, from spooky animated films to classic horror stories. Jay said it takes five people and three weekends to rig all the props and lighting.

For those who've seen the display before, expect something you haven't seen before. The Parmenters are always looking to buy another inflatable or skeleton to add to their collection.

Some of the yard art is store bought, but Jay said other decorations are homemade, including a witches' caldron and a casket for their vampire slayer.

"There's houses around we look at and get inspired from. We went to a few cities also and got a few ideas." Jay said.

Kimberly said one of the biggest reasons they are inspired to decorate every year is seeing the excitement on children's faces when they walk up to their home. She said last year the Parmenter house received 1,300 trick-or-treaters admiring the decor and getting candy.

"Last Saturday there were 250-plus car loads of people here. I set up here and talk to the families while Jay hands out candy," Kimberly said.

"It's always good to see the smiles on kids' faces every year," Jay said.

Kimberly said Halloween is not always a scary holiday filled with gore and screams; it's a holiday to share everlasting memories with loved ones. For her, Halloween has been a strong family tradition since she was a kid and she wanted to share that with the community.

"Halloween for me is ... filled with very good memories with family and friends," she said.

The haunted display lights up nightly from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., so long as weather cooperates.

On Halloween night, the Parmenter have their garage open for families who are trick-or-treating.