There are times when we long to step into an alternate universe, to become someone else, live in another era, or exist in a completely different world. Halloween gives many of us that chance. Whether we want to be rock stars, characters from our favorite movies, or simply let our imaginations run free, this is the moment we can do it.
For some, the holiday is also a nostalgic return to childhood. One homeowner in the Shenandoah neighborhood remembers growing up in the Avenues, where her Mexican immigrant neighbors would transform their house for Día de los Muertos. Inspired by those memories, she now goes all out every Halloween, filling her yard with more than a dozen towering horror movie characters that move, screech, and moan at the press of a button.
Other homes along the street join in with decorations of a happier disposition. On Halloween night, the entire street feels like the Las Vegas Strip — alive, glowing, and crowded with costumed creatures. You can’t walk a few steps without bumping into one. And honestly, I’m grateful that’s the only place I do bump into them. I’d be far less enthusiastic if they popped out of a bush while I was taking my dog out in the middle of the night.
Of course, there are people who actively seek such encounters. Danny Stewart is one of them. He spends his time investigating and documenting incidents of the supernatural, the interdimensional, and even the extraterrestrial. This season, he shares some of his most intriguing findings.
Every neighborhood celebrates Halloween (or doesn’t) in its own way. Taylor Hartman tells us how Ogden embraces the season, while Brandi Christoffersen introduces us to Park City’s enchanted Victorian cemetery.
But sometimes, real life is far more brutal and frightening than anything we imagine, especially when it comes to abuse. Connie Lewis shares the story of Gil Ma from Farm Animal Rescue, who endured abuse as a child and now devotes his life to saving mistreated animals. I first learned about Gil when I unexpectedly found myself with too many roosters and needed to find a safe place for two of them — somewhere they wouldn’t end up in someone’s chicken soup.
And speaking of chicken soup, this month we also highlights some of the best places to enjoy brunch in Utah. Because, scared or not, one still h-as to eat.So, as the nights grow longer and the air turns colder, we invite you to step into the strange, the spooky, the heartfelt, and the delicious with us. Whether you’re chasing ghosts, rescuing roosters, or just looking for the perfect brunch spot, this October Utah Stories celebrates all the ways we confront and savor the season.
