Turn down many side streets or stick to the local throughways and you will see that Cranston is getting into the Halloween spirit, with pumpkins galore, all sorts of ghouls and some friendly competition among neighbors.

At 46 Elm Drive in the Garden City neighborhood, passers-by will find Jim and Sue Perry’s home with more than 600 carved pumpkins on display. Jim has been doing this for the past 15 years. To keep the display fresh, he uses craft pumpkins rather than real ones.

Many of the jack-o-lanterns feature musicians, entertainers and Halloween characters from movies and cartoons. His lawn decorations also include themes with lighting dispersed for ambience.

Over at 152 Laurens St. in Auburn, Robert and Kemberly Rastella are again doing what they love – celebrating all things Halloween. Each year their lawn display grows and people have already begun to drive by to see the progress. Highlighted this year are a moveable 7½-foot-tall werewolf, a demented 11-foot-tall clown, a 12-foot spider and so much more. With so many moving parts and loud noises, children of all ages will delight as they trick or treat.

Also be sure to take time to travel to Pawtuxet Village to see the many scarecrows either sponsored or designed by business owners. Each year, the village holds Scarecrow Contest.

(Text by Meri R. Kennedy / photos by Steve Popiel) 1