Inverness house becomes Halloween wonderland
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Lara’s Halloween House is back!
Each year Inverness mum Lara Jayne McMillan sets up spooktacular displays at the family home in Castle Heather Crescent to celebrate the ghostly night.
While some among us close the curtains and turn out the lights to avoid guisers, Lara (39) throws open her front and back gardens for several evenings to children and their folks, ably assisted by son Aden (15) and daughters Alyssa (18) and Layla (13).
Sole parent Lara has created her Halloween House for about16 years following a tradition started by her mother Jennie Young when they stayed in Kinmylies.
She said: “Every year I create a display that’s a little different. I make a lot of my own decorations and I get a few new bits each year.
“Some people collect stamps, I collect the weird and the wonderful. I do this because I love the look on the faces of the kids and parents.”
This reason was reinforced four years ago when Layla suddenly became sick with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
Lara, who is Layla’s full-time carer, said: “Layla was a very active young girl, into gymnastics and horse riding, then after banging her head in a fall on ice at school she became ill.
“She is one of the main reasons that spurs me to continue doing the Halloween House each year. Layla cannot go out and I feel with the Halloween displays she can still have something of a childhood. She helped by writing signs and doing the sweetie bags.
“Covid also robbed a lot of kids of their childhood so I feel bringing some fun and happiness has never been more important.”
The Halloween House opens tonight until Halloween from 5.30pm-9pm. The front garden caters for younger children.
The McMillans, who have three pet cats, are this year accepting donations for the Inverness Cat Rescue charity which has helped them in the past.
