GRAND RAPIDS — Halloween decorations keep getting bigger and better.
Jeffrey Broking always loved Halloween, and he has been creating a display of decorations alongside family members for the past several years, just south of Grand Rapids on Crystal Springs Loop.
"It slowly got bigger every year, and we just put it on for kids, but now we're putting it on for the neighborhood and trying to raise money for St. Jude's," Broking said in a recent Bright Spot conversation on the KAXE Morning Show.
Broking has dealt with seizures in his life and was once talking with a young cancer patient during a hospital visit. They were both big fans of Halloween, so Broking started sharing photos of his decorations with this boy. The boy told him about Skeletons for Hope, a nationwide effort to support St. Jude's Children's Hospital.
Broking said raising money for St. Jude’s is deeply personal to him because he doesn’t think any family should have to go through the experience of a child’s illness.
"Everything's completely free when they go through St. Jude's, so that's awesome," he said.
There is no cost to visiting the Halloween display, but the public is invited to scan a QR code to make donations to St. Jude's. Visitors are welcome to park in a nearby yard, or along the road, to walk through over 60 skeletons, animatronic creatures and lights.
"Nothing can touch you if you stay in the path," Broking noted, although a few decorations may move toward you.
Broking and his family usually start decorating after Labor Day and aim to be open by Oct. 5 each year. You can stop by anytime, but it's best viewed at night. The address is 20415 Crystal Springs Loop, just south of Grand Rapids.
Listen to our full conversation above to learn more about Broking's love of Halloween and his favorite scary movies.
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The Bright Spot is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.
