Halloween at our house was always too much fun. We had "ghost" stuffed full of crumpled newspaper that slid down a rope to scare the kids. In later years, it dropped directly in front of you from above. (much scarier). One year, my dad dressed in a mechanics jumpsuit, donned a mask and hid in the bushes with the electric hedge clippers.
In this century, it seems like it's all about technology and the ludwig house is the place to go to learn more.