Our Ghostbusters Halloween Decorations: Full Reveal!

Step inside a spooktacular Ghostbusters display featuring giant Stay Puft, Slimer selfies, ghostly steeds, and a ring-toss challenge!

Ghostbusters Halloween yard display

Our own summary of the original — the full post and photos live at epbot.com.

About this

A detailed walkthrough of a full-front-yard Ghostbusters Halloween display, shown from daytime setup through the night-time reveal. The author describes how each piece was built and rigged — an inflatable Stay Puft climbing the house, a Slimer photo op with a proton pack, slime trim on the gutters and door, Zuul's fog-filled dog house, and the lighting that ties it together — plus a marshmallow throwing game and the costumed characters who will host. It reads as both a tour and a practical how-they-did-it guide for anyone attempting a similar theme.

The plan

the only rain-free day in the 10 days before Halloween — Stage a full trial run before Halloween, ideally on the one rain-free day, to test the whole setup.

the week leading up to Halloween — Watch the weather forecast closely, since the plan depends on a clear night and rain would ruin it.

Halloween night — Plan to be outside the whole evening to help coordinate photos and run the throwing game.

before Halloween night — Invite local friends to come by, with the hope that more costumed characters will join in.

setup day — Mark a clear path to the front door with yard stakes and caution tape, since the driveway is too narrow to walk when the car is parked.

setup day — Route the walkway so guests stay clear of extension cords and lights they could trip on.

throughout the trial run and on the night — Wrangle the inflatable in wind by re-attaching lines and dragging Stay Puft back into position as support structures get knocked around.

yearly — Patch the Thestral's rib cage where the old putty has cracked off or through.

Halloween night — Set up the No Ghost symbol throwing game to the right of the proton pack on the driveway.

while handing out prizes on Halloween night — Stress to parents (not the kids) that the slime putty prizes are not edible.

Decoration ideas

Mr. Stay Puft inflated and climbing the front of the building, lit by a white spotlight plus a subtle flickering orange flame light so he still reads as mostly white.

Slimer photo op with a proton pack mounted on an adjustable stand; a steel bar holds the wand in place and the stand legs are wrapped in caution tape.

Proton stream from the pack made from blue EL wire, which looks especially good in the night shots.

Slime trim along the gutters and window edges made from dollar-store plastic tablecloths held up with widely spaced thumbtacks — two tablecloths covered the whole front of the house, and the thin plastic holds up even in wind.

A plastic "No Ghost" wall decoration hung in place of a wreath, with a strand of LED lights taped inside so the thin plastic glows well.

Orange front door dressed with slime and caution tape.

Tim the Thestral, nicknamed "Ghost Horse" to fit the Ghostbusters theme, standing in the yard with his eyes still working.

Zuul's dog house with a fog machine inside, a flickering green light on it, and a head cut from pink insulation foam, painted and suspended on black velvet.

Battery spot light under the eaves lighting Slimer's face, plus a ground spot lighting the whole scene when someone stands at the pack.

Plastic bones stuck into the bare dead patch of the yard so it reads as an intentional dug-up grave.

Giant googly eyes floated as an idea for the overgrown planter area where the pumpkin usually sits, under the giant vine bush.

Ghostbusters soundtracks blasted all night long (omitted from the videos for copyright reasons).

Yard stakes plus caution tape marking a clear path from the sidewalk to the front door.

Activities

Photo op at the proton pack and Slimer setup — put your arm over the metal support bar for the most convincing illusion.

"No Ghost" symbol throwing game: kids chuck a marshmallow through the ghost's mouth to win a prize, set up to the right of the proton pack on the driveway.

Costumed characters mingling with guests: John as his own Ghostbuster in a faux khaki jumpsuit, the author as a gender-swapped "Louise Tully", and friend Karen as Dana, plus any local friends who join in.

Performing the On Our Own rap in the Tully costume.

Handing out tiny slime putty jars as game prizes.