California Family Transforms Home into Elaborate Harry Potter Halloween Display
The Jacobson family in Sunnyvale has dedicated nearly a year to creating a magical, non-scary, neighborhood attraction.
A California family has turned their Sunnyvale home into a detailed Harry Potter-themed spectacle for Halloween, a project that took them nearly a year to complete.
The Jacobson family, residents of Sunnymount Avenue, have been creating elaborate Halloween decorations for the past six years, but this year's theme is their most ambitious to date.
Lindsay Jacobson, one of the homeowners, told KRON 4 that her priority was to create a display that was not frightening for younger children, given her background working with them. "We really start planning in November and December because, over the summer, when we have more time, we will actually be building the stuff for next year. In September, we are purely in the assembly and getting ready to go out phase," explained her husband, Quinn.
The display features iconic elements from the Harry Potter series, including a Quidditch hoop, Platform 9 3/4, and Hagrid's Hut. A notable recreation is the blue car from "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" tangled in tree branches, mimicking its crash-landing scene. The village of Hogsmeade is also represented, with nine shops incorporating magical, animated features.
Quinn and Lindsay Jacobson pose at their Harry Potter-themed Halloween display outside their home in Sunnyvale, California.
The couple told CBS that they enjoy seeing the community engage with their display, with visitors of all ages attending. The family's elaborate Harry Potter world is open to the public free of charge daily until Halloween, from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m., with optimal viewing conditions occurring after sunset.