09/01/2026
The Festival of Frights
A 2026 Halloween outdoor decorating contest for residents of Swift Current, Saskatchewan.
Do you have a knack for Halloween decorating? Do you enjoy putting on a front yard/front porch display for the entertainment of trick-or-treaters, the general public or yourself? This is the contest for you!
Enter your name, address and contact number by Noon, October 13, 2026 for a chance to win some great prizes! If your display will be ready before October 13th please also tell us the date!
The Rules:
1) Have a front yard or front porch outdoor Halloween display up for viewing by October 14, 2026 (must be within Swift Current city limits).
2) DIRECT MESSAGE THE PAGE, with your entry information by NOON ON OCTOBER 13: Your entry information includes: NAME, ADDRESS and CONTACT NUMBER.
3) Have your display ready for final judging the nights of October 14-16. Your judging night and time will be random but no earlier than 6p or later than 10p. Be sure to have the lights on! Dark displays will not be judged. Judges may look at your display prior to the first night of judging as part of the pre-judging and organizational requirements.
That's it!
Judging will take place October 14th through the 16th, 2026 by executive members of the Swift Current Haunters club and guest judge(s). Winners will be notified by phone and/or Facebook messenger to arrange the prize presentation. See the judging criteria at the end of this post.
The Fine Print:
By submitting an entry you agree that: There will be prizes for first, second and third place as well as three honorary mentions and a best representation of theme prize. There will be one prize for the Haunters Hall of Fame which is open to any past first place winners (category only is active if two (2) more first place winners are decorating any given year). There will be a people's choice prize awarded based on voting tallies from a public online poll conducted from the Swift Current Haunter's page and votes from guest and celebrity judges. There will be an additional prize award for the children's duck hunt contest Halloween night. There may be random prize draws and in such cases the details of the draws will be posted to the Swift Current Haunters FB page in advance. The decision of the judges is final. Prizes must be accepted as awarded. There is no cash value. All entrants will have their name and address published, with no compensation, on the Swift Current Haunters page along with photo(s) of their displays for promotion of the contest(s). All entries will automatically be added to the 2026 Road Trip address list, posted on the page, for the enjoyment of all. Previous contest years first place winners are only eligible to compete against each other in the Haunters Hall of Fame category if minimum entry numbers condition is met. MEMBERS OF THE SWIFT CURRENT HAUNTERS CLUB ARE INELIGIBLE TO COMPETE.
Judging Criteria
The Festival of Frights
We want every entry to have the best chance to win a prize. These are the primary criteria that judges will use during the 2026 contest. USE THESE AS YOUR GUIDELINE WHEN PLANNING YOUR DISPLAY. It is important to remember that this contest is based on creative ideas, decorating standards and implementation and final effect achieved that demonstrates the spirit of Halloween. Size, volume, money spent, etc. on your display does not factor in therefore everyone has the chance to impress and potentially win a prize.
Sensory Experience: Utilization of audio, motion, lighting, special effects, fog or tactile elements to enhance the experience.
Lighting Design: Use of colour, shadows and spotlights to highlight key areas and create mood.
Curb Appeal: The immediate visual impact when viewing the yard from the street. Does it stop traffic?
Layout & Composition: How well is the space used? Is the yard cluttered or is there a clear focal point and balanced placement of props?
Originality of Theme: Is it a unique concept or a fresh take on a classic theme?
REMEMBER. You can build your display as you want, however these are the key elements the judges will be looking for and judging on. Let's see your spooky stuff!
