Hanover Avenue transforms into a Halloween celebration

Braxton Hare, Contributing Writer

Located in the heart of the Fan District, Halloween on Hanover Avenue is an annual event where  residents decorate their homes with intricate and themed Halloween displays, creating a festive environment for families and community members.

This event has become one of Richmond’s prominent Halloween attractions, known for its strong community participation. Thousands of visitors each year come to trick-or-treat, view the decorations and enjoy the holiday atmosphere, according to 12 On Your Side.

Residents said they spend weeks preparing their displays, turning the avenue into a popular destination for Halloween enthusiasts of all ages.

Halloween on Hanover Avenue was regarded as one of the best trick-or-treating spots in the nation in 2016, according to the Wall Street Journal. 

Loranne McQueen, a homeowner on Hanover Avenue, said she actually moved to the street specifically for its Halloween festivities. Since relocating, she has been decorating her home for the past five years.

“The energy on Hanover Avenue during this time of year is unmatched,” McQueen said, “Every year, I look forward to seeing all the families and kids’ faces light up when they see the decorations.” 

Many homes like McQueen’s feature elaborate setups with lights, sound effects and interactive elements. Decorations include spooky scenes, playful themes such as “The Wizard of Oz” and Richmond-inspired motifs like pumpkins carved with the city’s skyline, that bring a unique local flair. 

“Every year I always do a spooky pirate theme for my decorations,” McQueen said. “It started with just a skeleton and a pirate ship and has only grown ever since.” 

McQueen said she feels that while the decorations are an important part of Halloween on Hanover Avenue, it is the community gathering that matters most. 

“Halloween on Hanover Avenue has brought me way closer to my neighbors and others in the area,” McQueen said. 

She said the event has been a great way to meet people she would have never met otherwise. 

“Halloween here brings everyone out and it really feels like the whole city comes together,” McQueen said. “It’s such a great way to build connections and celebrate with neighbors and new friends alike.” 

Her advice for those who are attending for the first time is that parking can be tricky and to bring a big bag because there is a lot of candy, she said.

Benjamin Diddle, another Hanover Avenue resident, decorated his home for the festivities this year. 

“Halloween is already my absolute favorite holiday, but living on Hanover Avenue has only made me love this time of year all the more,” Diddle said. 

Diddle said he has decorated their home for the past seven years with the help of his family members. 

“We start decorating pretty early on this year — I think we put our first decoration up toward the middle of September,” Diddle said. 

After participating in the event many times, Diddle said he feels confident and excited to pass out candy to a multitude of Richmonders on Halloween. He actually created his own “candy chute” that slides candy from the front door right into trick-or-treaters’ bags. 

“The candy chute is such a fun way to pass out treats. It adds a little extra excitement for the kids and they absolutely love watching the candy slide down to them,” Diddle said. 

Diddle said it is a great way to keep things easy and safe while still joining in on the Halloween fun.

In addition to the candy chute, Diddle’s home featured orange, purple and white lights hung around the windows and fake spider webs across their doorway and bushes. 

“Each year, we just keep adding more and more decorations to make sure there’s something that grabs your attention and makes you feel part of the Halloween magic,” Diddle said. 

Diddle believes the event has something for everyone, from young kids excited about trick-or-treating to adults who enjoy the creativity of the decorations and the festive atmosphere, he said.

Richmond native Jess Compton said that this was her first time attending Halloween on Hanover. 

“The creativity that goes into each house is just amazing,” Compton said. “You can really feel the community here.” 

Her favorite house featured an entire graveyard scene with tons of tombstones, skeletons and a coffin. 

“It was so realistic, it actually gave me a little scare when I first walked by,” Compton said. 

Compton was surprised at how friendly everyone was. She said it was fun to see families and kids all dressed up, laughing and enjoying the decorations.

“It really shows how much people care about coming together and celebrating,” Compton said. “I’ve met some people here who live just a few streets away from me.”

Compton was pleased to see all ages participating, from little kids to grandparents. She said she will be back next year. 

“Hanover Avenue really knows how to embrace the Halloween spirit,” Compton said.