Halloween decorations: shrunken head apples to electronic displays

October 3, 8:14 PMSF Family ExaminerTeri Stoddard

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photo courtesy of communicatescience.com

From having the kids carve apples into shrunken heads, to setting up elaborate electronic displays of horror, now is the time to start thinking about your Halloween decorations.

Want to venture beyond carving pumpkins into jack-o-lanterns?  Watch the video below to learn how easy it is to turn everyday produce into scary bodyless heads reminiscent of those found in Ecuador.  It takes at least two weeks for the degree of dehydration needed for the full effect, so plan to start this activity right away.

photo by t.stoddard

The apples will shrink quite a bit, so keep that in mind when choosing which type to purchase.  Safeway has large honeycrisp apples on sale for $1.99 lb with a Safeway club card.  Lucky is offering the same deal without a card.  At Smart & Final you can pick up a 3-lb bag of red apples for $1.99 with their SmartAdvantage card.  Raley's - Bel Air - Nob Hill Foods has gala apples for $1.49 lb.  (Sale prices good through Tuesday, Oct 6)  Don't forget to check your local produce specialty stores, warehouse stores and farmers markets for even better prices.    

photo by t.stoddard

If you're looking for something a little more high tech than produce, visit your local Halloween speciality store, Spirit Halloween.  Here you will find decorations galore and costumes of every size and style, as well as accessories and wigs. 

Every year these temporary retail outlets are set up and shut down in two short months.  Seventy percent of their sales occur during the last 10 days, so get in now to avoid the crowds.  Join the mailing list to receive coupons via email. 

The last two videos below show two of many spooky electronic displays that are set up and on display at the Concord Spirit Halloween store on Willow Pass Road, and should be at all locations.

How to: Shrunken Head Display

• Spirit Halloween Store
• 1840 Willow Pass Rd
• Concord, CA 94520
• Phone: 925-674-1310
• *MAP*  The website lists more locations.
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