A mum of four who has become famous for her spectacular Hallowe'en decorations is taking things “even further” this year, and raising money for a great cause in the process.
Cumbernauld resident Paula Dewar, 46, is the mastermind behind what locals call ‘The Hallowe'en House.’ Paula told Glasgow Times that she started decorating her home a few years ago due to her lifelong love of the spooktacular holiday.
“I’ve always liked Hallowe'en,” Paula said. “I loved going trick or treating as a child.
“Then taking my kids trick or treating, I remember their disappointment when people wouldn’t answer the door, or they would have their lights off. And I thought, ‘I don’t want that for my children, or for the other kids in the community either.’
“So one year I decided to decorate the house. I just do it because I love Hallowe'en, and I love to see the kids enjoying it. It’s for the kids and the community.”
Paula says that the decorations - which take a whole month to put up - seem to get more elaborate each October. This year, she’s taking over the entire walkway outside her house to create a ‘tunnel experience.’
“The family think I’m mad,” she said. “It does seem to get bigger and bigger every year.
“We start at the beginning of October. It's a full month long process. I get my son to go up the loft to get the decorations down, then I go round the shops and buy more.
“My son is always saying ‘mum, there’s no room in the loft, stop buying more Halloween stuff!’ So I think I’m going to have to start putting some of it in the shed.”
Preparations also include filling over 300 Hallowe'en bags with treats to give out on the day. For the first time this year, Paula will be leaving out a voluntary donation box. All funds raised will go towards the Craighalbert Centre, which supports kids with motor impairments.
“People always tell me that I should put a charity box out,” Paula said. "I’ve always thought ‘that’s not really what I’m doing it for, I’m doing it for the kids.’ But it’s an opportunity to raise a bit of money for a good cause.
“My older daughter Courtney is disabled, so we decided to give any funds raised to a local disability charity, the Craighalbert Centre. They do amazing work.
“But there’s absolutely no obligation to donate. I’m very happy for people to just come in, take their photos and chap my door for a wee bag of sweeties.”
Paula’s daughter Amber, 23, says that people come from all around to see the house.
“It’s definitely become known locally as ‘The Hallowe'en House,” she said. “People come from neighbouring towns to see it, because it is such a big thing.
“I used to work in Bishopbriggs. A couple of years ago, somebody was showing me these photos at work, saying ‘oh my god, look at this house in Cumbernauld, this is Hallowe'en madness.’
“And I said ‘yeah, that’s my mum’s house.’”
Amber says that despite the craziness, the joy it brings to local kids makes all the effort worthwhile.
“The kids adore it,” she said. “They chap the door to say ‘we love your house!’
“When you see the excitement on their face, how happy they are and how magical it is to them, you feel like you’ve accomplished something.”
More information on the Craighalbert Centre can be found at: https://www.craighalbert.org.uk/about-us.
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