Thursday, October 1, 2026
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Cherryville, NC (WNN)- Halloween on Elm Street in Cherryville lasts much longer than just one day. It takes months of effort to transform the neighborhood into a huge attraction that draws thousands of trick-or-treaters every year.
This year, with the holiday landing on a Friday, around 2,000 kids are expected to visit. Homeowners have built impressive setups, including a life-sized Hogwarts Express and even a pirate ship featuring a moving Kraken.
Sande Abdlenour, who purchased her Elm Street home in November 2020, has created what might be Universal Studios' biggest competition. Her front yard features a detailed Harry Potter wonderland, including a life-sized Hogwarts Express train, a miniature Diagon Alley, floating candles, a Quidditch pitch, and the Forbidden Forest.
"The day I moved in, people said, 'You know, we do Halloween really big here in Cherryville on Elm Street,'" Abdlenour said. "I said, 'No one told me that when I bought the house.' They said, 'Oh, you have to go big.'"
Construction on the display began in July, with planning starting immediately after last year's Halloween. Abdlenour works with her older brother, her daughter, her daughter's boyfriend, her sister, and her niece.
The train, constructed from wood, metal, plywood, and foam, is designed to collapse for storage. Everything is handmade, including costumes for her family members who greet trick-or-treaters.
The train in front of Sande Abdlenour's home on Elm Street. October 30th,2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
Next door, Sadie and Dennis Broome have transformed their yard into a pirate adventure, complete with a ship originally built three years ago for a Little Mermaid theme. Julie King, who travels from Marietta, Georgia, to help with the display, said the interactive elements are a hit with children.
The pirate ship in the front yard of Sadie and Dennis Broome's home on Elm Street. October 30th,2025.
Mason Beam (WNN)
"Last year, the children got their pictures made with the pirates, with the pirate ship, with the pirate's wheel," King said. "They gave out swords, and they left with swords and bejeweled with golden necklaces."
The pirate ship features a working wheel and is surrounded by tentacles from the Kraken, mermaid skeletons, and pirate decorations.
A skeleton in the pirate ship in front of Sadie and Dennis Broome's home on Elm Street. October 30th,2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
Jessica Clippenger is marking her third Halloween on Elm Street with a cemetery setup that mixes creepy vibes with a bit of humor. This year, she added 15 tombstones to her display, which show off funny names and even pay tribute to Ozzy Osbourne.
The tombstones visible in Jessica Clippenger's front yard of her home on Elm Street. October 30th,2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
"I love all things spooky and skeletons and Halloween, and I wanted something also child-friendly but would make people laugh," Clippenger said. She begins buying candy in April to prepare for the crowds.
More decorations visible in front of Jessica Clippenger's yard on Elm Street. October 30th,2025
Mason Beam (WNN)
Trick-or-treating on Elm Street will start at 4:30 to 5:30 for kids. After that, from 5:30 to 9 p.m., people of all ages are welcome to visit.
Abdlenour, who came from an area where 40 trick-or-treaters was considered a big turnout, was initially skeptical when neighbors predicted 1,000 visitors her first year.
"They tell us the first year you'll have a thousand kids, and I'm like, 'No, you won't.' Yeah, you do," she said. Her previous themes have included "The Wizard of Oz," featuring the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, the Yellow Brick Road, and the hot air balloon, and "Under the Sea," where her daughter portrayed a mermaid on a throne with a giant clamshell.
Abdlenour is already considering leaving the train up through Christmas, converting it to the Polar Express after many visitors suggested the idea.
"It has been the most fun thing I've done," Abdlenour said. "People say, 'Why do you do it?' I'm like, 'Well, it's fun for me.'"
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