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Alpena home planning biggest Halloween display yet

(Photo Courtesy/Mike Beiermeister) Hundreds of pumpkins will line the front yard of Jessica Hatch on the evening of Halloween.

Alpena — For the past 15 years, Jessica Hatch has created a spectacle on her front lawn on the corner of Ferncliff and Willowdale Drive.

This year, Hatch is planning to have 147 pumpkins with lights and decorations to celebrate Halloween. She has friends and family come over days before October 31st to help carve and craft different designs into the pumpkins. For year 16, she has some new help from thousands of miles away.

“I’ve heard the stories about people coming by, but again, never seen it, so I’ll experience it this time,” said Friend of Hatch, Jurre van Herwijnen.

Herwijinen and Sara Parker traveled all the way from Germany to experience Halloween and help their longtime friend carve pumpkins for the event. Germany’s Halloween is very different from the way that Americans celebrate according to the two.

“Maybe I would carve a pumpkin, maybe there would be a Halloween party, but that’s about it,” said Pumpkin Carver Sara Parker. “It’s not the same like here.”

The two made a side trip up to Alpena as part of their travels to the Midwest where they used to live. The YouTubers met Hatch via her YouTube page Gone to The Snow Dogs.

The past few days, both van Herwijnen and Parker have helped Hatch carve 69 pumpkins. They have enjoyed the creative process and are excited to witness Halloween in the states. The 147 pumpkins and lights should be the biggest yet.

“I really enjoy how happy it makes people,” said Hatch. “I feel like Halloween is one of those holidays that people kind of forget about, and they don’t celebrate it as much as they could, and it’s just so fun for all ages… I just like seeing everyone coming here and being happy.”

You can catch the pumpkin and light display on Wednesday night. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/PumpkinPersonalities/