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Display is fun, not scary, for trick-or-treaters Continued from page 1 9 · Thursday, October 18, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com Hopedale Mall, 1515 Rebecca St., Oakville t ravel@mctavishtravel.com OR visit www.mctavishtravel.com McTavish Travel · 905.827.1100 CLEARANCE SALE! AVAILABLE AT: THOMASVILLE'S BIGGEST Burlington Burlington 2269 Fairview Street Burlington Ph. 905-631-6000 *SEE STORE FOR DETAILS. O. A. C. *ONLY 12 MONTHS DON'T PAY FOR Ont Reg No 1437985 coming with his various ghosts, ghouls, vampires and witches complemented with a fog machine, spooky music and strobe lighting. The Oakville resident estimates he has spent something in the area of $25,000 to put together his Halloween masterpiece. The time commitment is considerable as well, said Wirtz, as it takes him six days to set everything up and three days to get it all packed away after Halloween. The reaction to all of this preparation has been exceedingly positive with Wirtz stating in the lead up to Halloween last year, about 150 cars would pass by his home each day to check out his haunted property. These daily visits jumped to 250 cars per day after the project received some publicity in The Oakville Beaver. On Halloween night, about 220 trick-or- NIKKI WESLEY/ OAKVILLE BEAVER / @halton_photog treaters summoned up enough courage to SPOOKY: Just one of the ghoulish spectacles knock on the goblin-guarded door and ask for waiting for trick-or-treaters and other visitors at candy. the home of Todd Wirtz at 111 Solingate Dr. Wirtz was happy to learn some of these little visitors had pleaded with their parents to bring them from clear across town just so `burn in hell' because of his Halloween decothey could trick-or-treat at Wirtz's `awesome' rations. house. Wirtz just laughed the incident off. Not everyone who has seen Wirtz's yard "I said, `Buddy, grow up. It's not devil's has approved of it. night. It's Halloween. It's candy, chocolate, This year, Wirtz said a man called him a it's dressing up and going door-to-door,'" said devil worshiper and told him he was going to Wirtz. "It's not something bad." Wirtz said most other feedback he's received about his exhibit has been positive. Some residents, he said, have offered to chip in for the hydro he uses to light his freaky gallery while another neighbour brought him doughnuts and coffee as he was setting up. Wirtz said his own Halloween memories are not great, as he grew up in Québec and Winnipeg where trick-or-treating usually took place with a foot of snow on the ground. "I want to make it better for them than what I had," he said. Wirtz said his Halloween exhibit is lit 6:3010 p.m. nightly until Halloween. UPSTAIRS If Hallowe'en, with its ghosts and goblins is your favourite time of the year, you will enjoy escorted tour company Cosmos Vacations' Treasures of the Balkans and Transylvania tour in 2013. The 13-day tour takes travellers deep into Hungary, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania ­ where they visit the perennially-creepy Bran castle. Built in 1377, the castle was inhabited by Vlad the Impaler ­ better known as Dracula. The escorted coach tour also takes in several medieval towns, legendary castles and fortresses . . . each more imposing than the last. If you prefer getting your shivers on this side of the Atlantic, Cosmos is offering Hallowe'en in New Orleans next year. You will experience the city at its "spooktacular" best, exploring shadow-filled streets, haunted happenings and hearing tales of ghost hunters and things that go bump in the night. The tour also includes spiritual Savannah ­ proudly known as one of the most haunted cities in America. Just in case that is all too creepy, this escorted tour takes in less shiver-cities including Nashville, Memphis and Orlando. Cosmos is part of the Globus Family of Brands. Book any Cosmos Vacations 2013 tour by 30OCT12 and save $100 per couple. Call us for details. www.cosmosvacations.ca Paul Gauguin Cruises has announced a 2-Week Sale featuring select departures. Only six sailings are eligible, featuring one-of-a-kind itineraries: 7-night Tahiti & the Society Islands, 02MAR, 09MAR and 04MAY13; 11-night Cook Islands & Society Islands, 12JAN and 16MAR13; 14-night Marquesas, Tuamotus & Society Islands, 02FEB13. Savings offered on these select voyages are on top of the previously advertised special offer of 50% off standard cruise fares plus included airfare from Los Angeles. With only 332 guests per sailing ­ and incredible savings like these ­ space is sure to fill up fast. You must book by 27OCT12 to take advantage of this special offer. Call us soon! www.pgcruises.com P.S. the recently refurbished m/s Paul Gauguin has been named one of the "Top 20 Small Cruise Ships" by Condé Naste Traveler fourteen years in a row ­ 1998 to 2012! WE'VE MOVED SPINE-TINGLING HOLIDAYS PAUL GAUGUIN SALE Call us for reservations!