One of my favorite times of the year is Halloween and I know a lot of people don’t celebrate #Halloween for different reasons and that is okay because Charlie is one of those people. But David and I do and we can’t wait to visit Denton in October just like we can’t wait to visit Grapevine during Christmas. Would you want to join us?
For those of you who’ve never heard of Denton’s 31 Days of Halloween, you may be wondering what I’m talking about when I start throwing around words like Scary Chairy Orchard, Halloween adventures, local businesses, and a month full of spooky fun.
Well, let me introduce you! Denton’s 31 Days of Halloween is coming back, and Greatful Moments is going to be following along! And we’re not planning to make just one trip which may sound crazy but that is okay because I just might be.
My family is close enough to Denton that David and I can head up several times throughout October. If you’re in North Richland Hills, Fort Worth, Dallas, or anywhere around the DFW area, Denton can make a fun day trip too. So we’re thinking… Why not make an entire fall adventure out of it?
First Things First… What Is a Scary Chairy? This is the part that caught my attention a couple years ago when David first told me about the event that I couldn’t wait to go and check out.
Denton has a Halloween tradition called the Scary Chairy Orchard. The tradition began nearly a decade ago when Anne Pearson and Judy Smith created an orchard of cast-off chairs on Churchill Drive. The idea eventually moved downtown, where the City Hall courtyard becomes home to an entire collection of Halloween-decorated chairs.
People take old chairs and transform them into something completely new. Funny. Spooky. Silly. Creative. Strange and maybe even a little weird. Which makes this event even more fun to attend.
Then the chairs are displayed together in the Scary Chairy Orchard for people to walk through and enjoy. There are also contest categories such as Mayor’s Choice, People’s Choice, Best Individual Chair, Best Group/Business Chair, and more.
And here’s the part I love: You don’t have to be a professional artist. Individuals, groups, families, and businesses can participate. The official theme encourages participants to lean toward the kooky, goofy, and cartoonish side of Halloween rather than gore and horror.
Think Addams Family, not Texas Chainsaw Massacre. That’s something our family can work with! If your #Homeschooling and your children has a Art Class they could even create a chair to display which would have been fun when Charlie and Suzzane was homeschooling.
Now I wanted to share why Denton already holds some special memories for me. It’s where I met one of my best friends, Jennifer Wolf and she has decided I am her mom and I agree with that because my family loves her so much.
I remember Jennifer dressed as one of the characters from Beetlejuice. Her friend who was with her has since passed away, and those memories have become even more meaningful with time.
So when I think about going back to Denton, I’m not simply thinking about another place to visit. I’m thinking about memories. And now we’re going to make some new ones. And God willing and the Creek don’t rise I will get to see Jennifer and he amazing dog.
Now I have a question for you: … What If We Made a Scary Chair? That’s where this whole idea came from. David, Charlie, and I started talking about the Scary Chairy Orchard, and I thought:
“Why don’t we make one?” Of course, that sounds much easier than actually doing it. First, we need a chair. But that is okay Then we need an idea. Then we need supplies. And that’s where you come in.
We Need Your Ideas! What should our Greatful Moments Scary Chair look like? Should it be funny? Spooky? A little crazy? Should it tell a story? Should we use things we already have?
What could we find at a thrift store, garage sale, Dollar Tree, craft store, or even sitting around someone’s garage? I’m especially interested in unusual things that might otherwise be thrown away.
An old garden decoration. Artificial flowers. Plastic toys. Pieces of wood. Metal objects. Old Halloween decorations. Craft supplies. Something broken that could become something wonderful.
Because I truly believe: One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.And the Scary Chairy rules actually encourage participants to think outside the box and use different types of materials.
Want to Make One With Us? We’re also wondering if there are other families, creative people, makers, or small businesses who might want to join us. We’re thinking maybe five to ten participants.
You could make your own chair. Your family could create one together. Your small business could create one that represents your business. Or you could simply help us with ours. You don’t have to be an artist.
You don’t have to spend a fortune. You don’t even have to celebrate Halloween. You just have to want to make something and have a little fun. And If You Don’t Want to Make a Chair… That’s okay too!
Maybe you’d rather help us with another part of the adventure. We’re also thinking about putting together little Halloween thank-you treat bags for some of the Denton businesses we visit.
Nothing fancy. Maybe a piece of candy. A little hand sanitizer. A sticker. A coupon. A business card. A small sample. Just something to say: “Thank you for being part of Denton’s 31 Days of Halloween. We enjoyed visiting your business!”
If people want to help contribute something small for those bags, we’ll share more about that as the plans come together. Because it’s Halloween. Everybody likes treats! 31 Days of Halloween Is Bigger Than One Event
One of the things I love about Denton’s 31 Days of Halloween is that it’s not one event happening at one location at one specific time. Different businesses, organizations, and community groups participate throughout October.
Events happen on different days. They have different hours. Some are geared toward families. Some are for adults. Some are spooky. Some are silly. Some might be exactly what your family is looking for. That’s why we’re going to use the official Denton Halloween calendar as we plan our adventures.
Explore the Official Denton Halloween Calendar
The 2026 celebration runs throughout October 1–31, so you can pick the events that fit your family rather than trying to squeeze everything into one weekend.
🗺️ We’re Going to Make Several Trips Denton is close enough to us that we don’t have to rush. Why go all the way to Denton for one Halloween event and immediately turn around and come home?
Why not make a day of it? Maybe we’ll grab breakfast. Maybe we’ll find a local coffee shop. Maybe we’ll have lunch. Maybe we’ll go shopping. Maybe we’ll discover a small business we’ve never visited. Maybe we’ll take pictures and explore.
And then we’ll go enjoy whatever Halloween event brought us to Denton that day. Food. Shopping. Exploring. Halloween. Sounds like a pretty good day to me. And if you’re in Fort Worth, Dallas, North Richland Hills, or somewhere else nearby, you can do the same thing. You don’t have to make it a huge vacation. Sometimes you just need a destination and a little curiosity.
This Could Be a Homeschool Field Trip, Too! I’m also seeing a homeschool opportunity here. Think about everything children could learn while exploring Denton. They could study: Art and design by looking at the Scary Chairy creations.
Upcycling and recycling by learning how old objects can become something new.
Small businesses by visiting local shops. Geography and mapping by planning their route. Photography by documenting the trip. Writing by keeping a Halloween adventure journal. Budgeting by planning food and shopping expenses. And then come home and create your own Halloween project. That’s not just a day out. That’s a field trip!
And Denton Will Be Part of Our Halloween Gift Guide We’re also going to highlight Denton’s 31 Days of Halloween in the Greatful Moments Halloween Gift Guide. Because sometimes the best gifts don’t come in a box.
Sometimes a gift is: A family day together. A meal. A shopping adventure. A homeschool field trip. A new place to explore. A funny picture. A memory. Or a day that everybody talks about for years. Experiences make wonderful gifts. And Denton gives us plenty of opportunities to create them.
If you’re thinking about making your own Scary Chairy, don’t wait until October! Registration is already open.
August 12: Registration opens
September 19: Online registration closes
September 24: Chair drop-off, 4–6 p.m.
September 25: Chair drop-off, 4–6 p.m.
September 26: Chair drop-off, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.
October 1: Scary Chairy Orchard opens
October 23: Winners announced at 5:30 p.m.
October 31: Final day of the exhibit
November 3: Final day for chair pickup
Chairs must be original creations, safe for public display, able to withstand the outdoor elements, and appropriate for an all-age audience. Wood, plastic, and metal chairs are accepted; upholstered and porous chairs aren’t.
If you want to participate, be sure to read the official rules before starting your project. Register for the 2026 Scary Chairy Orchard. And There Is Help Finding Supplies Scary Chairy participants can also receive a special discount from Thistle Creative Reuse on qualifying second-hand creative materials.
That makes me want to go treasure hunting! Because the goal isn’t necessarily to buy everything new. Look around first. What do you already have? What can you reuse? What can you repurpose? What can you find that somebody else doesn’t want anymore? That’s where the really fun ideas can begin.
We’re Just Getting Started Today we’re introducing you to Denton’s 31 Days of Halloween. But this isn’t going to be the last you hear about it from Greatful Moments. Between now and October, we’re going to be:
🎃 Planning our Denton adventures
🪑 Trying to create our Scary Chairy
🛍️ Finding places to shop
🍴 Looking for places to eat
👻 Watching the Halloween calendar
🎒 Finding homeschool opportunities
🍬 Planning our thank-you treats
📸 Taking pictures
❤️ Making memories
And as we get closer to October, I’ll be highlighting the events that David and I are interested in visiting so you can decide which ones might be fun for your family too. We’re not trying to do everything. We’re going to pick the things that make us say:
Help Us Get Started! Before you leave, I want your ideas!
What should our Greatful Moments Scary Chair become? And what strange, wonderful, or unusual item do you have sitting around that we might be able to turn into part of it? Leave your ideas in the comments and help us build this thing!
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates