Many residents are starting to get in the spirit of the holiday with scary decorations going up across town. In New Ulm, State Street is usually known as the center for Halloween fun, but one couple on North Payne Street might give them a run for their money.

The front yard of Nick Brown and Lexie MaCann’s home is overrun with skeletons. Some tower over their Payne Street home, others crawl out of the ground, and at least one is riding a horse.

Some decorations, including his plague doctor and headless horseman, are hooked up to motion sensors to give people passing by an extra scare.

Some of the decorations are custom-made. The horse-pulled hearse was assembled by scratch. Brown also made a skeleton fountain that deposits green water into a toxic waste barrel.

A circle of witches gather on the front yard of a home on the 600 block of South State Street.

This is the second year in a row that Brown and MaCann have gone all out in decorating for the holiday. Brown said he does it for the kids and families who want traditional holiday decorations besides just Christmas.

“I hear all the kids laughing and screaming as they walk up,” Brown said.

The decorations have attracted many families. Brown said when he first moved to his home three years ago, he only received 11 trick-or-treaters on Halloween. Last year after putting up the decorations the numbers increased to over 250 trick-or-treaters.

The display is very impressive during the day, but Brown and McCann recommend walking by at night to get the full effect.

The display will remain up through the holiday.

The 12-foot skeleton at the corner of Broadway and Center Street has returned for the Halloween season. The skeleton helps advertise the New Ulm Nightmares haunts at Brown County Fairgrounds.

For those who cannot wait six days for Halloween, there are several other holiday activities happening in New Ulm this weekend.

New Ulm Nightmares will open its haunted house attractions Friday, Oct. 25, and Saturday, Oct. 26 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Brown County Fairgrounds. This year’s haunts are “The Manor” and “The Woods.” From 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. Sat. Oct. 26 the brave visitors may experience a no lights–black out–haunt and “The Manor.”

Tickets are $15 for the regular line, which includes entry to the Fairgrounds, free parking and both haunted house admissions. For $20, guests can skip to the front of the line for both haunted houses, get free parking and enter a secret VIP room in “The Manor.” Escape rooms cost $5 each, while pumpkin’ chucks cost $5 for three chucks.

New Ulm Nightmares also offers a kid’s day on Oct. 26 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., where kids can visit the Fairgrounds and the haunts with no scare actors and lights on during the day and candy is given out. This family-tailored event has a $5 entry fee.

New Ulm Nightmares will offer a final haunt from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Halloween night.

An animatronic plague doctor and a homemade horse drawn hearse greets guests to the home of Nick Brown and Lexie McCann on the 500 block of North Payne Street.

From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 26 local businesses will be celebrating the annual Halloween Hop. Trick-or-treaters will be encouraged to visit local businesses throughout New Ulm for candy and treats. Nearly 40 businesses are participating in this year’s Hop.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, the Brown County Museum will hold a Halloween scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt will take place inside the museum and feature a variety of activities and candy for children. Spooky prizes will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for those with their eyes peeled when stopping by to pick up candy. There will be free admission to the museum also during this time.

Schell’s Brewery will be hosting a Shell-O-Ween event from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. The brewery will host fall festive games all day. Trick-or-treating at the brewery will be held between 2-3 p.m. A costume contest with judging will begin at 3:15 p.m.

Early Childhood Family Education will hold its annual Trunk-or-Treat from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26 in the Jefferson Elementary Parking Lot.

Jersey’s Sweet Spot is hosting the fifth annual Trunk or Treat from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at 188848 Highway 14. The Trunk or Treat will include a haunted trail and treats.

Schaefer’s and ROC Truck Club will also be hosting a Truck-or-Treat starting at 5 p.m. at 1000 N. Front Street in the parking lot between Schaefer’s Crane Service and Minnesota Valley Testing Labs.