Top 5 Halloween Village Buildings of 2023 - Lemax Spooky Town / Department 56 Halloween

[@SpookyVillages]

Clarification- Full Moon Diner WAS/IS available at Michaels this year! My apologies for misspeaking! By the end of the season here, I'm all twisted up!

[@kat66meow]

Wicked Garden Coven is truly in the higher up best pieces. I actually ended up getting it because of your review. Thank you so much for your videos! 🖤😻🖤🐈‍⬛🖤🦇🖤⚰️🖤

[@SpookyVillages]

Thanks I'm glad you enjoy the piece!

[@tracyking2349]

I agree with you Halloween villages by Carl on KZbin is amazing

[@SpookyVillages]

Carl is the best. He is extremely knowledgeable and his how-to's are a great resource. I love his displays

[@Epicspectating]

Carl is so freaking awesome. I love his tutorials.

[@fuzzynaylors9022]

Love the Full Moon Diner

[@raypursley3639]

It's my first piece, but I saw the wicked garden coven and had to have it. Don't know how to set up a display but hey I'll do something. Just found your channel love it.

[@SpookyVillages]

Welcome to the madness! Enjoy your first display!

[@Scorpion.1992]

I picked up the same piece Doug, I was at Michael’s this past weekend and seen the supernatural yard decor house. I was lucky I got the last one.

[@javierdealba6868]

thanks for your opinion 😃 still I can't wait for how is gonna look I love Halloween 🙌🙌🙌

[@JennyRebs]

I know it’s not the most popular one, but my top building this year is the Haunted Aquarium. My husband and I got married at the Long Island Aquarium this past April and I thought it was funny that they came out with an aquarium the same year. Plus, he loves anything Cthulhu, so the Cthulhu sign on it makes it even more special.

[@SpookyVillages]

I know a lot of people would agree with you on the Aquarium! It barely missed my list and it's an awesome themed building!

[@mikegonzalez503]

I'm having trouble finding it anywhere

[@SpookyVillages]

@@mikegonzalez503 apparently Lemax's restock shipments for dealers have taken a very long time, so it's been sold out for awhile. I know that the restock is about to happen though!

[@Epicspectating]

I looooove my Kraken house. I was on the fence bc of the price but it looks so great in person. It’s the only piece I have lit on my counter so far and it’s on every night. You have me rethinking the Wicked Coven. 🤔

[@Scorpion.1992]

I Really wish department 56 would acquire the license from universal to come out with a Michael Myers animated house🙏🏼 I’ve been bugging them for years to come out with Michael Myers house! I know for a fact if they came out with a house like this, it would completely sell out💯

[@spectroman71]

OMG, I would love that. Here's hoping.

[@treatortreat]

Such a good video, as usual! I always have a good time with you Doug!

[@SpookyVillages]

Thank you for watching!

[@dricedt]

Full moon diner was at every Michael's I went to (West coast) it's where I picked mine up.

[@SpookyVillages]

Thanks for this, i misspoke in the video and I'll pin a clarification comment! I was thinking it was online only for some reason as my local store didn't have any of them

[@The_Sandcrawler]

I got the wicked garden coven for my wife. The motor/gear noise is very loud.

[@MarkFloyd7451]

Maybe you should return it. Mine is not noisy at all.

[@SpookyVillages]

If it's excessively loud and you are able to, I'd return/swap it!

[@spectroman71]

Welp, I guess we are on the same page. Wicked Garden Coven is the one and only piece I've bought this year!

[@kend6359]

Love the Kraken house, if you look up Kraken house you tube you see someone in New Orleans does their house for Halloween in the same style.

[@SpookyVillages]

Just looked this up and that is super cool!

[@downtownbrown35]

Can’t wait to see your display!

[@Degoat6171]

Agreed

[@SR-no8sr]

House of Shadows and Samantha's are on my yo get list.

[@caronbluejr]

@spookyvillages do you know if the full moon diner will be restocked?

[@valentine4055]

Great reviews this season, Doug! They were so effective, I ended up purchasing 8 buildings: Samantha's Supernatural, House of Shadows, Haunted Estates, Raven Hill, The Haunted Aquarium, Full Moon Diner, Wicked Garden Coven and the biggie - The Kraken House! That one broke the bank. Here in Canada, I had to order from another province, and it ended up costing me $390.00 CAD! 😞 My favorite village is my Carnival, and so I'm always excited to see the yearly ride offering but wasn't too crazy about the Dungeon of Terror and opted to go with the unique Haunted Aquarium as my new carnival addition. Thanks so much for the fabulous Ghostly Carnival backdrop. It looks great - love it! Looking forward to what you will show us next year!

[@spookyboyjones9373]

Like the mantel village idea. Couple flat buildings, couple trees, couple figures, string of lights ... Done !

[@Kat_Nguyen]

For me the top building for dept. 56 is Kraken House & the top building for lemax is House of Shadows. My personal favorite piece of the year is the dept 56 Rest in Peace Crypt 2023.

[@SpookyVillages]

I've somehow never really had experience with the D56 Crypts!

[@FlyingRaven]

I ❤ the Kraken House that’s legit!

[@ittakesavillagekelly]

Any other year, Kraken House would be my top piece, but Samantha's is maybe my new favorite piece of all time!

[@crstlprsn]

Hey Doug. Did you have to get permission film Lemax building soundtracks? I'd love to film my village but worried about copyright.

[@SpookyVillages]

Nope, never had an issue filming the soundtracks of the buildings!

[@crstlprsn]

@@SpookyVillages That's great! Thanks for the response!

[@ramtruck21]

Along with your top buildings of the year, you should do a review of your top three accessories. Even if you don’t own them. It could the fountain the bridge or any figurines.

[@SpookyVillages]

My top 3 of the year would be the D56 Knight, the D56 TOT Lane sign, and then the lemax fountain or bridge!

[@CassidysWorkshop]

Great Top 5 as always. I like the idea of the facades on a mantelpiece! I may regret in years to come not getting House of Shadows. I have a number of haunted houses, and I love the windows on it. But all the "yard stuff", the scooter, bird bath, and mailbox just turned me off. Like they went to their spare parts bin to add details. If I do get it I'll replace those items with creepier things.

[@SpookyVillages]

I think that's a very fair look at it- some of those pieces don't totally gel

[@CassidysWorkshop]

I was just watching Landon's review, and his take was the scooter and ball imply a kid went in the house and never came out. That's creepier than I would have ever thought, and I now see those details in a different light. I may have to get it now. Don't know what that says about me. LOL

[@donnareed-k7v]

Hi, Sorry but I don't like Samantha's house with the cut outs. The cut outs just don't move me. My pick for the small ones is Wicked Wigs and the Funeral parlor, both cute and good lighting even though small plus I love they are making so can put in batteries. Can't wait to see your village.

[@marcusgeiger6298]

I like the scarecrow house quite a lot, I wasn’t even planning on getting it from the pictures but seeing it in person made me get it. It’s also perfect for a pumpkin patch theme

[@michaelrivera8665]

Dungeon of Terror is my favorite. I like a lot of the smaller ones this year. Samantha's Supernatural is my 2nd favorite, House of Shadows 3rd then House of the Scarecrow 4th, then a tie for all of the cottages :)

[@SpookyVillages]

I understand someone liking Dungeon of Terror the most this year. This also may be the first year since I've been doing this year end top 5 list that the big annual Lemax amusement park ride isn't on the list. I had a few issues with mine from the box that I had to correct and also REALLY liked a lot of other offerings which is why I didn't put it on there. I never tried any of the cottages this year! A lot of people love them.

[@Thejanjan39]

My favourite from Lemax is the House of Shadows. I prefer understated, rather than too much animation and too much light. For me understated is much more eerie, and the fright factor can be enhanced with display, like a lot of trees, cobwebs, or whatever is built around the building. Didn't buy it, but perhaps another time if any are available at other retailers. I'm looking forward to seeing your displays!

[@SpookyVillages]

I understand why that would be your favorite! I think it's many folks fave of the year!