As a kid, I was glued to the TV every fall.

I remember Hocus Pocus’ premiere, I saw Casper in the theater, my mom taped the Olsen twins’ Double, Double, Toil and Trouble and I’d anxiously read the TV listings to plan my life around every other Disney Halloween special the ’90s had to offer. I loved the stories well enough, but what really captivated me was the scenery—the towns that went all in for fall. Streets lined with pumpkins and corn stalks, houses decked out with glowing jack-o’-lanterns, trees wrapped in orange lights, porches stacked with hay bales and scarecrows.

The movies always showed small towns transformed into cozy autumn wonderlands, where everyone seemed to take part. I remember thinking how magical it would be to live in a place like that—where a whole community joined in to celebrate the season. In my Northern Indiana hometown, we carved a pumpkin or two, but our streets never looked like those movie sets. I assumed that kind of picture-perfect fall only existed on screen.

Then I moved to Minot.

There just might be as many houses decked out for fall and Halloween as there are for Christmas—and that’s saying something. I’m not talking about a couple pumpkins on the stoop or a wreath on the door. I mean giant skeletons lounging in Adirondack chairs, webs stretched across rooftops with enormous spiders tangled in the strands, inflatable ghosts bobbing in the wind, and faux graveyards sprouting in front lawns. There’s something delightful about driving down a street at dusk and spotting a 12-foot Frankenstein waving from the yard.

Maybe it’s not just Minot. Statistics show Halloween decorating is on the rise across the country, but even ten years ago—before the craze for giant skeletons—Minot was ahead of the game. My theory? Christmas decorating in North Dakota usually involves bitter wind, frozen fingers, and the risk of slipping on ice while stringing up lights. By contrast, putting up a giant spider or pumpkin display in September can be done in short sleeves. I suspect Minot’s enthusiasm is partly because autumn décor goes up in fair weather, and partly because this community just loves a reason to celebrate.

And it’s not just the houses. The whole city leans into the season. A quick scroll through the local events calendar shows at least five haunted houses, more than ten trick-or-treat events, not to mention all the other Halloween and fall festivities happening this month. For a town of fewer than 50,000 people, it’s an impressive lineup.

I love this especially because North Dakota isn’t exactly a fall-colors destination. But somehow, Minot delivers that same sense of small-town fall magic I used to dream about from my couch as a kid. The crisp air, the pumpkins on porches, the sense that everyone can be in on the fun—it feels like stepping into one of those TV-movie towns I used to envy.

I’m not really one for horror—so you won’t catch me at a haunted house. But I love how Minot embraces each season. As a mom, I’m glad my kids get to grow up in a place where the neighbors’ front yards spark their imagination and the community calendar fills with playful events that bring people together.

Maybe the excitement around Halloween is partly fueled by the looming cold—we know what’s coming, so we’re determined to squeeze every last ounce of warmth and festivity out of autumn. Or maybe it’s part of a bigger trend of people wanting to celebrate every season more intentionally. Whatever the reason, I’m grateful for it.

Because living in North Dakota has taught me something: when you embrace each season as it comes—whether that’s glowing jack-o-lanterns in October, twinkling displays December, or the bistro lights on the patio in June—life feels a little richer. Every season here has its own flavor, and it’s worth savoring.

Drive around after dusk, grab a pumpkin spice latte, and take in the giant skeletons, glowing ghosts, and cheerful jack-o’-lanterns. You might just feel like you’ve stepped onto the set of a classic Halloween movie. And for me, that’s a childhood dream come true.

Next week, I’ll be swapping skeletons for screen time to talk about my case of “tech neck”—and how chiropractic care is helping me straighten up again.

For more on living well in North Dakota, visit amyallender.com or follow @HeyMinot on Facebook and Instagram.