Highlands residents recall their best Halloween memories

One of Lois Johnson's Halloween costume creations for her three children was so big, it took a U-Haul truck to move it while trick-or-treating.

The outfit in question was a large paper-machet dinosaur that young Kelly, Ken and Kristin Johnson wore that particular All Hallow's Eve.

"I think that was the worst, yet totally funny costume she designed," Kelly said. "It was huge, but my brother, sister and I could all fit into this dinosaur.

Growing up, Halloween was always a big thing in the Johnson home and Lois would always create her kids' costumes personally.

"Costumes were always, always a big thing," Ken said.

Now that Kelly, Ken and Kristin are in their late 20s and early 30s, Lois has set her sights on the next generation - Kelly's 2-year-old daughter Kara and Ken's son Clint, age 3.

This was the first year she designed outfits for the young cousins. The costumes are, without question, the epitome of adorable - Raggedy Ann and Andy.

A Johnson family tradition begins

Lois refers to her Halloween costuming adventure as "just something to do."

The hobby began when Kelly was around 2 and the family was living in Englewood. Her daughter was competing in the Pioneer Days' Little Miss Englewood competition and Lois made both the dress and circa 1920s-style swim wear for the bathing suit competition.

At this point, Lois had found her niche.

"I just kept making costumes," she said. "It was just something to do."

Lois admits that some of the costumes got "really elaborate" and "huge." One year, her kids went as a knight in shining armor and two damsels in distress, complete with ponies built around them.

Another year, they went as life-sized versions of Homer and Marge Simpson's offspring.

That year was particularly memorable for Ken, who stepped out as Bart Simpson.

"It looked just like the Simpsons," he said. "I'm just glad I wasn't Maggie."

Kelly's favorite year was when Lois designed costumes based on characters from "The Wizard of Oz."

"I was Dorothy, down to the ruby slippers and Toto in my basket, my brother was the Scarecrow and my sister was the Cowardly Lion," she said.

Ken's memory was not quite as rosy. He remembers the Scarecrow outfit as the most uncomfortable one he ever wore.

"He just whines a lot," Lois joked.

A Halloween tale straight from the UFO capitol of North America

Judy McCarter is no longer a child, yet she still enjoys celebrating Halloween.

This year, she's planning to dig out a past witch costume and give it another go around for a holiday party in Avon Park.

Halloween 1974 was a lot different for McCarter, who was only 9 years old and living in her birthplace of Roswell, N.M.

It seems fitting for McCarter to have a great Halloween memory in the same town where the government allegedly recovered alien bodies and other debris from what conspiracy theorists claim was a UFO crash site.

Her memory, however, is not a scary one or one that features little green men. The setting for this particular Halloween story was a holiday event sponsored by the local country radio station.

"They had games set up and things you usually have at a carnival," McCarter said.

Suddenly, a young McCarter felt a hand on her shoulder. She knew it wasn't her dad, because he had gone off in another direction.

Fearful, McCarter brought up her foot and was ready to kick. As she turned, she saw her father walking toward her with a big grin on his face.

The culprit was her favorite disc jockey at the radio station.

"The DJ never knew how close he came ... to getting his foot stomped by a 9-year-old," McCarter said.

McCarter's evening was also memorable for some of the other attendees at the event - the women in habits.

"Not too far from the radio station was a convent," McCarter said. "The nuns were in costume that year."

And what were the nuns wearing? According to McCarter, one of them was disguised as a witch.

2009's most popular Halloween disguises

In less than a week, Highlands Countians will have the chance to make some more "spooktacular" memories.

The question is, what will they be dressed as while they're crafting the perfect Halloween tale to be told for years to come?

A recent story from CNNMoney says the top costumes this year will pay homage to many of 2009's celebrity deaths, most notably, the King of Pop.

"When you go to a party there will be a person dressed as Michael Jackson, no doubt," said Jalem Getz, president and CEO of Buyseasons Inc.

Other dead celebrities you might expect to see are Farrah Fawcett, Ed McMahon and infomercial staple Billy Mays, according to the report.

Other popular choices are vampires, reality stars turned bitter enemies Jon and Kate Gosselin and Heath Ledger-inspired Joker costumes.

Consumers plan on spending an average of $20.75 on costumes, $17.99 on candy, $14.54 on decorations and $3.02 on greeting cards, the report stated.