- April 25, 2024
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OAKLAND Joe Williams will introduce himself as “Holiday Joe.” For him, there is just no time like the holidays, when he recruits his entire family to carry hundreds of costumes, animatronics, antiques and other decorations down from the attic and display them all over the house and yard.
Williams started small in 1976, but his house at 15304 E. Oakland Ave. has become a highly sought destination for the holidays — especially Halloween.
“We started with one mask and a flashlight … and it keeps getting bigger and bigger every year,” Williams said.
On Halloween night, the house is open to the public and draws a crowd. Giveaways include full-sized candy bars, monster chili, soft drinks and glow sticks. Everything is free, including a tour of the inside of the house.
Guests can expect to wait hours in line for their turn to go through the indoor “scare rooms.” About 20 of Williams’ friends and family members dress up and participate as actors with two rules: No touching the guests and no risqué costumes.
Black curtains and strobes prevent guests from seeing too far in front of themselves.
“We have people that hear the screams and just turn right back around,” said Josette Williams, Joe’s daughter. “They won’t come in the house at all.”
Josette Williams recently graduated from the Joe Blasco Makeup Artist Training Center, and she’s looking forward to using new techniques she has learned while she helps everyone get ready for the big night.
“I’m trying to build up my makeup career as much as I can,” she said.
Every year, the house has an overall theme. This year’s theme is “Star Wars,” which has prompted the Williams family to purchase Storm Troopers and costumes that resemble characters in the new movie.
Because Halloween is on a Saturday this year, there likely could be even longer lines, and the festivities could last until midnight.
And if you don’t make it for Halloween this year, don’t worry. There’s another opportunity to marvel at the work of Holiday Joe just around the corner.
“After Halloween, we go right into Christmas,” Joe Williams said.
Joe Williams’ house was built in 1905 by a man who had become quite wealthy as a cucumber farmer. The farmer told his wife he would build her a house anywhere she wanted, and she chose Oakland because of family ties.
“The first 10 or 12 years we lived here, we’d hear a little girl say, ‘Mommy, Mommy, Mommy,’ and we didn’t have any little kids at the time,” Williams said. “We all heard it.”
The family named the potential specter “Miss Mary.” Williams said he doesn’t know who she might be or how she might have died.
He said there also have been cases of floating orbs appearing all over the yard in photos that people have taken of the house.
Holiday Joe’s Oakland House of Horrors
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 31.
WHERE: 15304 E. Oakland Ave.
COST: Free
DARE TO BE SCARED
The city of Ocoee is opening its eighth annual Haunted House to the public for four nights this month. Put on your brave face and head over to 951 Ocoee Apopka Road, Ocoee, from 7 to 11 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 17, 23, 24 and 30.
This year’s theme is “Abandoned Circus Fun House,” and a former farmhouse on the property will offer six or seven different rooms for guests to wander through.
A Haunted Walk will take attendees on a wooded maze with half a dozen scare zones.
Younger children can enjoy fun activities such as a bounce house, hayride, prizes, candy and refreshments.
Last year, the house was nominated as a Top 10 attraction by FloridaHauntedHouses.com. The house and the walk are each $5. There is no age limit; parents are asked to use their discretion.
For more information, visit ocoee.org or call (407) 905-3180. Attendees are encouraged to take non-perishable food items that will be donated to the West Orange Christian Service Center.
FAMILY FRIENDLY AFFAIR
Winter Garden will host its annual Halloweenfest from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, in downtown Winter Garden.
This event will feature entertainment, local vendors and family activities. Enjoy a safe night of haunted happenings along downtown Plant Street.
Contact Catherine Sinclair at [email protected].
