The family transforms its pirate ship display into an immersive Halloween experience, featuring live actors on October 31.
On October 31, the family will take the experience further by welcoming relatives from out of town to help bring the display to life with live actors. On Hanson Avenue, Rick and Kathy Stys have been transforming their property since 2010. In 2024, they won the Beautification Commission’s Halloween contest. Tyrus and Melissa Napier have also built a neighbourhood favourite since 2019, featuring a crashed UFO, horror-film-inspired scenes and a haunted graveyard.
A growing community of residents is keeping the tradition alive through imaginative displays that bring neighbors together and give trick-or-treaters something extraordinary to remember, according to the City of Sterling Heights. Robinson maps out how visitors should move through the installation, deciding what they should see and feel at each stage, according to the City of Sterling Heights. Across Sterling Heights, Michigan, Halloween is more than a night of costumes and candy. It is a season of elaborate transformations, when ordinary front yards become haunted graveyards, mythical creatures emerge from the shadows, and homeowners turn their properties into miniature horror attractions. For Nathan Robinson and his family, Halloween decorating has evolved into an elaborate storytelling exercise. “Their latest is a pirate ship, lit in deep blue, ringed by skeletal sailors, and meant to call to mind a ship going down to a supernatural watery grave. Nearby, creepy clowns add another layer of unease to the unfolding scene. The Sterling Heights residents, who have been building their displays for years, approach the yard as a carefully planned experience. His wife and five children contribute to the process, from planning and construction to sharing videos of the finished spectacle. Robinson is part of a wider community of Sterling Heights residents who dedicate substantial time and creativity to Halloween. What began as a modest cemetery has grown into a collection of skeletons, themed installations and custom props. Tyrus gives pirate buffs decorating tips and sells used props at their latest show.