Halloween enthusiast continues unique spooky season tradition
For the past five years, Orillia resident Derick Lehmann has been hosting a unique Halloween show at his home every October weekend, turning the side of his home into a video projection board for various Halloween stories.
“I just love Halloween more than Christmas,” admitted Lehmann. “This is kind of just a fun thing for me to do for the kids.”
- Download the CTV News app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates sent to your email inbox
Lehmann says he always loved trick-or-treating in his youth and wanted to continue expressing his enthusiasm for the spooky season as he grew into his adult years. He was then introduced to projection mapping during a trip to Disney World.
“I noticed that in addition to the lasers and the fireworks, they were projecting characters onto the castle, and I thought, wow, that’s really unique,” recalled Lehmann. “I turned around and looked and they had four huge laser projectors to light up the castle with these characters. And I thought, wow, that'd look really cool on our family's home.”
Lehmann then did his research and worked with creators to make projected video blend in with the nuances of his home’s exterior. He projects elements from Halloween favourites such as Beetlejuice, Ghostbusters and Hocus Pocus among others in a 25-to-30-minute loop.
“We look at the base layer, which becomes the map of the house, and then we cut in the different video elements to react with our specific map and our specific home,” explained Lehmann.
The projection mapping Halloween show has become an October tradition for the Lehmann’s with people stopping by his home from Orillia and beyond.
“They were from all over Ontario coming by,” said Lehmann. “Most nights we get, maybe 100, 200 people, depending on how the weather is. It's been great.”
Lehmann also gives candy to the kids who stop by and collects food donations to support the Sharing Place Food Centre in Orillia. His projection shows take place on Friday and Saturday nights in October from sunset until around 10 p.m.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Families of Paul Bernardo's victims not allowed to attend parole hearing in person, lawyer says
The families of the victims of Paul Bernardo have been barred from attending the serial killer’s upcoming parole hearing in person, according to the lawyer representing the loved ones of Kristen French and Leslie Mahaffy.
'Bomb cyclone' batters B.C. coast with hurricane-force winds, downing trees onto roads and vehicles
Massive trees toppled onto roads, power lines and parked cars as hurricane-force winds battered the B.C. coast overnight during an intense “bomb cyclone” weather event.
'I'm sure Randy can answer': Liberal MPs defer to Boissonnault, PM Trudeau amid resignation calls
As the Indigenous claims controversy surrounding Randy Boissonnault continues to unfold, his colleagues are deferring questions about the embattled cabinet minister to him, and the prime minister.
'They squandered 10 years of opportunity': Canada Post strike exposes longtime problems, expert says
Canada Post is at ‘death's door’ and won't survive if it doesn't dramatically transform its business, a professor who has studied the Crown corporation is warning as the postal workers' national strike drags on.
BREAKING Canada closes embassy in Ukraine after U.S. receives information on 'potential significant air attack'
The Embassy of Canada to Ukraine, located in Kyiv, has temporarily suspended in-person services after U.S. officials there warned they'd received information about a 'potential significant air attack,' cautioning citizens to shelter in place if they hear an air alert.
Susan Smith to ask parole board for her freedom after serving 30 years for drowning her children
Susan Smith, the South Carolina mother convicted of killing her two sons by rolling her car into a lake in 1994 with the boys strapped in their seats inside, will ask a parole board for her freedom on Wednesday.
Leon's, The Brick under investigation for alleged 'deceptive marketing'
Popular furniture and appliance retailers Leon's Furniture Limited and its subsidiary, The Brick Warehouse LP, are under investigation for alleged 'deceptive marketing.'
Burlington, Ont. woman accused of accepting money for fake Taylor Swift tickets
As Taylor Swift is set to perform her final three sold-out shows at the Rogers Centre this week, many people who have fallen victim to an alleged ticket scam are trying to find answers to what happened.
Calgary gorilla died after being hit by a door: officials
The Calgary Zoo says its two-year-old western lowland gorilla named Eyare died after being hit by a hydraulic door at the rear of the exhibit.