2024 Halloween Village Building of the Year

[@ad-sd-vids5332]

The fright night cinema was sold out at basically every Michaels, but they let me buy the one they had on display

[@mariannemeyers]

Fright Night Cinema was the only piece I bought this year. It is a classic and after watching your review, that sealed the deal. I tend to fill my villages with things I do in real life - library, bookstore, etc - and I go to movies a lot. One year, my husband and I did a big yard display of the Blob, so it is sentimental, too.

[@RhettBunch]

Fright night Cinema is amazing...I darted for it as soon as I saw it in the store

[@Thejanjan39]

Thanks for this review! I'm sorry that I've missed so much of your season (life!) but I always enjoy your reviews. That Cyclops house is really cool; hadn't heard the brand before. Love the "Lemax cover band" description. And the Fright Night Theatre is awesome!! And I am a horror movie person.

[@bread-guy001]

Great list and video! This is one of the few years where my personal list diverges for yours (though the Cinema is undoubtedly great and a good sequel to Mortis Theater), but I would have to say the #1 building (I count facades as buildings here) for me is the Creepy Pumpkin Patch. #2 would have to be the Cursed Ruins, but it’s an extremely close match up. I too love both the pumpkin and castle themes, and hopefully Lemax comes out with another Black Castle-like piece in the coming years! Funnily enough, I predicted the Phantom Castle would be your (and many others) top piece at the start of the year, so the cinema really did stand out in the end to defeat that giant! EDIT: Honorable mention is definitely the Pumpkin Motel, a great piece!

[@SpookyVillages]

Great list! I also do plan to talk about my collection, in re: to your comment on patreon!

[@bigmama042608]

Little tip guys.. for the movie theatre- a awesome accent idea, get one of the lemax billboards, play a bit on your computer.. using your printer and some modpodge you can easily custom a billboard to be a “coming soon” movie poster sign to put near your theatre..

[@TheMelissaWasHere]

Someone on Reddit said you should take a Q-tip and clean off those theater ghost attachments with alcohol.

[@that_chad_guy2]

Lol a lemax coverband! I love that analogy

[@JasonPelett-mg3be]

What bout Mr boogedy an old Disney Halloween movie 🤙 cool u brought up Doug

[@desireetman]

The witch candy cottage is my #1, cinema #2 and phantom castle #3. I was lucky enough to find some older pieces like castle on spooky hill and cursed ruins. Looking forward to setting up many village venues soon ❤Thanks for your coverage on all things spooky village 🖤🧡

[@Geraldine671]

For me, my list would be: 1) Lemax Smoke & Mirrors Magic Shop 2) Lemax Fright Night Cinema 3) Fgsquare Cycloptic Manor Runner up: Fgsquare No Landing Zone I’m a big fan of Disney’s Haunted Mansion so I love that Lemax used elements of it in the magic shop. I love horror films so I had to her the cinema (bonus for having The Blob in there). You were the one to actually convince me to order the Cycloptic Manor after watching your video about it. My order just came in yesterday and I immediately loved it! They also had the ufo-themed house and I’m so glad I ordered it too! The lighting on it is awesome!

[@brendamiller3670]

The funny thing is I had no plans to buy the cinema this year until I saw your review. It just looked so much better in your review and in person than the picture. Hubby loved it too so we snagged it early. Thank you for your awesome reviews and the time and effort you put in to your videos!

[@countrycandle1460]

Luv ya Doug......awesome pics. I love the farm stuff too. Made my own corn maze for my village this year. WELL....Outgrown my village as I used to put it on top the fireplace and even extended the platform....Still not nowhere enough room. Made more platforms and risers and using my 8 foot craft table this year. And don't laugh......started putting it up. I have a TON and bought more of course this year so hell I'm going to enjoy it. Happy Halloween Everyone!!!!!!!

[@brendamiller3670]

I have also started building my village. Last year it was 6x3.5, this year 8x4. We don't talk about how much is bought for it in this house LOL I may or may not have just returned with more electronics for it. Kinda not pleased with most of the new stuff not coming with cords. This year I made sidewalks and a cobblestone town center with the Cinema as the focal piece. If I had a separate room it would stay up all year just so I don't have to rush and get everything done in 2 months.

[@sameichner7289]

I was unaware of FG Square before your video / bought this piece and the ghourd gathering ghouls for my pumpkin patch theme - thank you !

[@RYAN799]

Great pick for village piece of the year. You should give old movies a try, The Bride of Frankenstein is my favorite Universal movie, but start with Frankenstein and Dracula.

[@thegamerdad5444]

I look forward to these reviews every year, thanks for all the work you put in

[@bigmama042608]

i made my "coming soon" movie bill board out of "spooky town" billboard i picked up on amazon- tip- 3 shrunken movie posters fits nicely - i did a dark grey back ground- i put pet cemetery, psycho and ghostbusters (ghostbusters would be frightening to a town full of monsters)- i added "coming soon" at the bottom printed on regular printer paper and attached using mod podge - i gave 3 coats modpodge to seal it... wish i could attach a photo - looks wicked amazing

[@CassidysWorkshop]

That was a great Top 3 (so to speak), Doug. I laughed at the "Lemax cover band". I'm looking forward to what FG Square does. Sure wish we had a Menards here in the East. Also, I'm glad my wife liked the Freight Night and we got one early. It's growing on me. Anyway, Happy Halloween. Thanks for all the videos!

[@SpookyVillages]

Happy Halloween!

[@buschleaguers75]

i felt the theater was going to be the piece of the year as well. my gal didnt care for it. i was like what? you are crazy. i think the sleeper piece is the pumpkin motel. i absolutely love that pumpkin motel. it is personally my favorite piece of the year.

[@gregjorgensen7271]

100% agree that the cinema is the best building this year. The color, the posters, the references. Yes it makes me feel things when I see it.

[@stevek6293]

Fright Night is selling for $130-150 on eBay. Like others say, it’s nowhere to be found at Michael’s, glad I got one in early July.

[@triiistone]

Bro is solidified as a legend after mentioning Doug's Halloween Adventure.

[@SpookyVillages]

I watch this every year after my kids are done Trick or Treating. It's always my Halloween capper. It probably hits me in the nostalgia feels more than anything!

[@timothypietrzak5684]

IF.... the cinema had some movement, like the ghost moved back n forth I would've bought it... I did get the cyclops house, had some broken parts but works great and is my first piece from that company , (bought the out house as well)

[@tedmatthews1048]

Please do a end of the year recap with Landon, Kelly, and Ryan. It's been a few years since one has been done. Thanks

[@spookydookie4046]

Hey Doug! We always see your cool Halloween villages, but I have to wonder, are you as passionate with your Halloween house decorations? Do you follow themes? Given that you prefer the Halloween themed movies, have you ever seen The Halloween Tree? It was written by Ray Bradbury and narrated by Leonard Nimoy.

[@SpookyVillages]

Thanks for the recommendation, I've not seen that before! I do love my Halloween decorations but I really don't do much of it due to villaging- that's where my decor budget gets spent!

[@annablackburn4328]

I agree with your top choices for this year and also, YESSS the vibes of the Nickelodeon Halloween specials that ran in the 90’s!! I remember watching Mark Summers’ Mystery Magical Tour every single year 🎃

[@SpookyVillages]

I LOVE the Market Summers special! One of my favorite things would be watching a marathon on Nick the Saturday before Halloween. It was amazing! I still watch Doug's Halloween Adventure every year on Halloween! I usually watch it when winding down before bed, after turning off the porch lights post- trick or treating!

[@stevengentry9396]

I like the comment you made about the absence of animation being a positive. I'm leery of buying pieces that have a lot of moving parts; it just seems to be a waiting game of 'how long until it breaks'. An exception for me was the A-Maze-ing Pumpkin Patch, which I couldn't resist because I love pumpkin patch stuff.

[@mfeyko]

What's everyone's opinion on turning off lemax and departments 56 houses with a wall switch? Assuming they're all plugged into a power strip

[@CrystalClevelandYT]

Excellent choices! The cinema odd a no-brainer for me too. I’m probably going to need to get that Cyclops manor. I don’t have Menards where I am, but it’s cheaper on their site than at FG’s. I also noticed that they have a pretty cool circus tent and ufo crash. Super compelling pieces for me! You saying that they might only be one year is going to send me into FOMO though. Hahaha

[@scottudave4499]

This video was nine days ago, and at that time there is nothing left of spooky town at Micheal’s

[@Sharkhunt947]

I need your help please 💀😈💀 love all your videos. I just this week purchased the LEMAX roller coaster and love it. I never knew about the facades. I bought the LEMAX Creepy Pumpkin Patch today. It’s such a great design and the lighting is out of this world. What are the names of the other facades because I want to buy everyone. I appreciate if you can tell me the the LEMAX Halloween facades. Thanks

[@thehauntedspot8873]

Great choices!

[@kath3509]

Fright Night Cinema just screams nostalgia so I had to pick it up this year. Thank you for the reviews, definitely now have my eye on the Cycloptic Manor. Unfortunately Menard's plays the "rebate" game, as in you send it in, and just never receive it. May look into buying it direct.

[@xxreptylexx]

Doug PLEASE tell me you and your kids have seen The Halloween Tree?! Based on the Ray Bradbury book of the same name. It's a classic!!!!

[@bradleyg2010]

When are the village scene setters coming?

[@SpookyVillages]

I'm hoping to do another batch of them next year!

[@odellrivas1029]

Dept 56 2025 pieces are on Enesco site.

[@SpookyVillages]

We play to do a live on this in a week or so! They are still needing to put a couple photos up!

[@odellrivas1029]

​@@SpookyVillages I saw many photos that were removed. The only piece in Halloween I did not see is The Mad Scientist House, I believe that will be this year's Trick or Treat Lane piece.

[@SpookyVillages]

@@odellrivas1029 yep, that's the one I'm most excited to see!

[@videogamevegas]

Doug, Great picks! Phantom Castle is my pick of the year for Lemax and the Fright Night Cinema is an AMAZING choice. I love having them both! I did try to post a comment on your video of the Cycloptic Manor, but the random bot unfortunately took it down. But I was able to post it in the comment section of my video called "My Comment To You Is Here." I think I have a couple there for you. I was going to HIGHLY RECOMMEND Department 56's Monstertini's Nightclub to you, but the site shows that it's a 2023 piece, so it wouldn't have fit in this list. Doug, YOU HAVE GOT TO SEE THIS PIECE! The flashing sign out front is striking and the psychedelic reflections that project onto the walls and ceiling from the rotating Martini glass on top have to be seen to be believed! I can fully recommend this one if you want a worthy new Department 56 piece. Pictures don't do it justice. I can't wait for your Halloween Village reveal this year. I'm hoping to have one as well! Happy (Early) Halloween! vgv

[@SpookyVillages]

Happy early Halloween to you as well! I am actually out of the country for the whole end of September and return in early October, so I'm not going to be displaying much of anything this year! The Monstertini piece is neat piece from D56- it doesn't really fit any of my themes but I do think they did a good job on it. I feel like D56 needs a shake-up creatively! I will check out your comment where you said you left it! I can assure I am not removing anything here!

[@videogamevegas]

Spooky Villages, Yeah, the site has a bot that scans for comments that it deems breaks terms of service, but it's so random and wrong that it removes comments that are fine. Luckily I found that workaround :) Yes, there is a life outside of the internet :) If you don't get to display this year (or little), no worries. I went years for awhile not displaying. I agree with you on D56. They really need to innovate and not just rely on name recognition :) Have a great time where ever you travel! vgv

[@ad-sd-vids5332]

Me and my brother have been developing a movie idea where everyone in the world is a sentient zombie and all the buildings look like lemax spooky town I need it to be real

[@mydecor641]

You may have not seen my comment I left in an older video but was wondering if you knew Dept 56 released the Hocus Pocus Sanderson Sisters cottage and accessory piece? I know you did the witches cottage in a previous village so might be of interest to you or maybe not. Thought it was very cool they ended up making a Hocus Pocus line for this year. I hope to pick it up before its gone but personally cant really afford it

[@SpookyVillages]

I did see that yes, I'm just not big on licensed buildings. The Hocus Pocus property is cool and is probably my favorite license they have, but I'm just not into those pieces really.

[@makeupjunkie6790]

I want the cursed ruins but I bought another lemax piece that fogs and this is my second season and It does not work and there is nothing lemax will do and it has only been 9 months

[@Larry_Love]

Do you buy Lego sets? They have some amazing Castle stuff.

[@dubuyajay9964]

Isn't it a bit soon to be calling this?

[@goawwy]

Not at all

[@TheMelissaWasHere]

Why? All of the pieces are out.

[@dubuyajay9964]

@@TheMelissaWasHere It's just It's not October yet.

[@goawwy]

The theater is nice but they dropped the ball, no animation or sound. The mansion is much nicer.