Manor Lakes mania

Young Abigail and Hannah enjoy the Manor Lakes Halloween event. Photo: Supplied/Roy Birch

By Alesha Capone

The Manor Lakes Halloween event is set to return this year, even bigger and spookier than ever.

One of the event’s organisers, Maria Lodola-Price, said the idea for the annual fundraising event was born in 2012, when she and her husband joined their neighbours, Stephanie and Hadyn Pettingill, to decorate their houses for Halloween.

“We became known as the ‘Halloween houses’ by kids in the area,” she said.

The event became a fundraiser for the Starlight Children’s Foundation, and now attracts thousands of visitors every year.

Ms Lodola-Price said they were hoping to raise more than $4000 for the foundation this year.

“We’re expecting around 2500 people to attend our Halloween event,” Ms Lodola-Price said.

“Our display includes a realistic cemetery, animatronics, life-size audio-visual projections and spooky sound effects. There will be a costume contest with great prizes to be won and we will be handing out 150 kilograms of lollies for trick-o-treaters.”

Members of the Victorian Cosplay Society will be dressed in cool costumes that you can get your photo taken with on the night, there will be also be face-painting and balloon animals, food trucks, popcorn, fairy floss, Halloween-themed cake pops and cookies for purchase.

The Manor Lakes Halloween event will be held on Thursday, October 31 from 5-10pm at Dalrymple Boulevard. Dance Nation Academy – DNA will perform about 7pm.

Details: bit.ly/2kfDIyD or incelebration.gofundraise.com.au/page/ML_HALLOWEEN