As Halloween approaches, one Sarnia resident is gearing up to provide some serious spooky entertainment for locals. Brandon Putt, a driver for Sarnia Transit, has turned his family home at 1030 Parkwood Avenue into a spectacle with over 26 animatronics, fog machines, and plenty of Halloween spirit.
Every year, Sarnia Transit runs a Halloween tour, which has been a huge source of inspiration for Brandon. “It pushes me to make the display bigger and better each year,” says Brandon, as he prepares to set up this year’s attractions. The display is already live on Friday and Sunday nights from dusk until just after 9 p.m., and Brandon plans to extend it to include Saturdays if a bus tour is scheduled.
However, the labour of love is not without challenges. “We take everything down and store it inside at night, so we’re only running it two nights a week for now. The rain isn’t good for the circuit boards,” Al Putt, Brandon’s father explains, emphasizing the amount of effort that goes into protecting their ever-growing collection. Despite the workload, he says it’s all worth it.
One of the newest additions this year is a Jack Skellington animatronic from The Nightmare Before Christmas, a clear hit with visitors. Guests are welcome to walk up the path to experience the full display, where they’ll encounter everything from foggy scenes to one particularly eerie animatronic that turns its head a full 360 degrees. “You can’t get this one anymore,” Brandon’s father proudly remarks while helping to store items for the evening.
Brandon’s love for Halloween dates back to his childhood, and his father confirms that the passion runs deep. “My son is crazy—he had a collection of over 400 Halloween movies growing up. He loves the scary stuff, and now I guess we love it too!”
For Brandon, it’s more than just a display—it’s a lifelong hobby. “I don’t go on vacations or spend my extra money on other stuff. This is what I like to do!” he says, grinning. His dedication shows in the detailed setup, from intricate animatronics, costumes, and atmospheric fog.
If you’re in the area, this is one Halloween display you don’t want to miss. Keep an eye out for updates on extra viewing nights, and be sure to stop by Parkwood Avenue to see the spooky magic in action.