South Ward Scare brings frightful fun back to Paris
Rubyyy Jones
Cultural Correspondent
Halloween spirit is taking over Paris, and nowhere is it more frightfully festive than in the town’s south ward, where residents are once again transforming their homes into spooky spectacles for the annual South Ward Scare Hallowe’en House Decorating Contest.
The South Ward Scare Map was first created in 2020 by local business owner and organizer Tiffany Martin, but it wasn't until 2022 that the tradition of roaming the neighbourhood streets to admire elaborately decorated Halloween homes began to take shape. Since then, the annual tradition has continued to grow, with more households joining the spooky festivities each year. It’s exciting to watch this tradition grow, whether they’re decorating their own place or heading out to see what everyone else has created in the south end of Paris.
Martin created these festivities out of her love of community and Halloween of courses.
“I grew up in the ’80s, which was a pretty fantastic time to be a kid at Halloween! My parents were always huge Halloween decorators. My mom dressed up to greet the trick-or-treaters, and my dad and I would carve 20 pumpkins together and enjoy roasted seeds while watching The Great Pumpkin (with Charlie Brown) or Monster Squad (highly recommended cult classic),” explained Martin. “They made it feel like something really special, and that has definitely stayed with me.”
Decades later, Martin said her South Ward Cemetery display in her Washington Street front lawn is her way of carrying on that excitement. “I love the creativity of decorating and creating new elements every year; seeing people stop, look around, discover things and enjoy it, it is a huge part of the fun. Halloween gives us all an excuse to use our imaginations and be a little weird together!”
For Martin, the South Ward Scare is about more than elaborate decorations and frightening displays. It's about bringing neighbours together, encouraging creativity and spreading a little Halloween magic throughout the community.
“I love that something as simple as sharing a map can become an evening out for a family or a tradition people look forward to. There’s a lot of creativity and generosity in our community, and this gives us a fun way to celebrate it.”
Her advice to anyone considering joining the fun is simple: don't be intimidated by the size or extravagance of other displays.
“No display is too small or too big! You don’t need a huge budget, a yard full of animatronics or something terrifying to take part; a few pumpkins, homemade decorations or a friendly Halloween scene can bring just as much joy,” Martin said.
While she appreciates a good scare, Martin says some of her favourite displays are those that embrace the lighter side of Halloween.
“As much as I love creepy and spooky, I’m always surprised by how much the cheerful, whimsical displays warm my Halloween heart. A display doesn’t have to give you nightmares to make you smile and capture that Halloween feeling.”
The appreciation from neighbours and visitors has also made the annual tradition particularly rewarding.
“I’m also still surprised by how many lovely compliments our house gets. You spend so much time putting it together because you enjoy it, and then someone tells you how much they look forward to seeing it each year - that means a lot. The growing community support and excitement have been one of the best parts of doing this.”
Residents can also get involved without decorating their own homes. Donations of prizes are welcome for the contest's three categories — Most Festive, Best Surprise and Spookiest Presentation — along with candy donations to help keep up with the growing number of trick-or-treaters.
Martin knows firsthand just how popular the tradition has become. Her own elaborate display at 56 Washington St. attracts more than 300 costumed visitors on Halloween night, all eager to see what creative surprises she has dreamed up for the occasion.
The 2026 contest is shaping up to be bigger and better than ever, with nearly 30 homes registered on the South Ward Scare Map. While some homes are listed individually, others are part of entire streets getting into the Halloween spirit. And it's not too late to join the fun! Residents can still add their decorated homes to the map at https://tinyurl.com/SouthWardScareMap. For more information or to get involved, visit the South Ward Cemetery Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SouthWardCemetery.
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