These 6 tips will keep your kids safe this Halloween
Halloween is just around the corner, but are you prepared? Here are 6 vital trick-or-treating tips you need to know to keep your kids safe this year.
Meagan Falcon, Corpus Christi Caller Times
Seven years ago, Darla Manteufel and her husband Jesse moved to Corpus Christi from North Texas, and since then, they have yet to have a single trick-or-treater.
Halloween has been the Manteufels’ favorite holiday ever since they can remember, so not seeing any trick-or-treaters for almost a decade has not sat well with them.
This year, Darla is determined to change that.
On Oct. 30, the Manteufels are hosting a drive-thru Beetlejuice-themed Halloween at their house on Doddridge for people of all ages to enjoy a safe and spooky holiday.
“We were thinking if I bought signs and put them out that maybe we could get some people that just wanted to drive through,” Darla said. “Since we wanted to do a contactless trick or treat, instead of the traditional trick-or-treat.”
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Darla said the theme of their event was decided upon after she found a life-size animatronic Beetlejuice online that she couldn’t pass up.
“He is 5 feet, 8 inches tall and he moves around and he talks,” Darla said. “When we went ahead and bought him we just kept buying things.”
The Manteufels, and a few mannequins on the front lawn, will be dressed up in the costumes of the other characters in the Beetlejuice cast.
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Alongside the Beetlejuice animatronic and mannequins, the Manteufels have set up an inflatable of the sand snake from the film as well as tombstones and other spooky decorations.
“We’ve had probably 100 people stop their car and tell us how good the yard looks,” Darla said. “It’s nice because I’ve never seen a trick-or-treater on this street.”
Darla has put together over 500 Halloween goodie bags for anyone who shows up. There will be bags with candy, sugar-free options, and goodie bags for those with allergies.
Those who come by will be able to take a bag off of a tray, avoiding the traditional contact of trick-or-treating. The Menteufels will donate bags that are left over to a local hospital.
In addition to their love of Halloween, the Manteufels wanted to give Corpus Christi residents and children a chance to celebrate the holiday after most events were cancelled in 2020.
“I think (my husband and I) both feel that we all need something to look forward to. It makes us happy to see everybody get together and smile,” Darla said. “Everything’s been so depressing the last two years and kids need something to be happy about, get dressed up for and have a good a time. Even if it’s just for a few minutes driving through and looking at something and getting a little treat.”
More: Fall 2021: Check out these festivals, pumpkin patches, haunted houses in Corpus Christi
If you go
What: Beetlejuice Halloween Trick-or-Treat
Where: 310 Doddridge St.
When: Oct. 30, from 6 p.m. to when the candy runs out
Christopher Howley covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Support more coverage like this at Caller.com/subscribe.
