Berkeley's Halloween Tradition Strengthens Every Year

BERKELEY, NJ — It's spooky season for Advanced Furnace & Air Duct Cleaning. While ghosts, goblins and zombies may not be for everyone, it's a major attraction at the 1039 Route 9 location.

Father and son owners Rich and Bill Spano said the community pulled together to get the elaborate Halloween display back up and running after a fire devastated the attraction in 2016. According to the Spanos's, they lost almost $20,000 worth of decorations in the fire. A hearse that had been donated to them had been completely destroyed while other decorations were heavily damaged.

"In two days, Halloween was back and it was really amazing how the community came together," Rich Spano said.

The display began a decade ago with a small inflatable set up. People would come by and talk about the set-up, and it just grew. This year's display opened earlier this week.

The Spanos's crashed a car into their trailer for a zombie car accident display. Concerned citizens called the police, so they put up a large sign displaying the words "Caution Fake Accident."

Police also found issue with people stopped on Rt. 9 to take photos of the display. But every year, Rich Spano gets letters thanking him for the hard work that's put in to setting up the decorations. Vinny Mcnamee, the owner of Tronix in South Toms River, helped with the electrical work.

Last year, they did not erect the display because a new office was being constructed. The Spanos's got a lot of emails and phone calls from residents wanting to know where the display was.

This year, they look to have old horror movies playing on the big screen in the rear of the lot. Every year the same families show up to admire the display.

The decorations take two to three weeks to set up. According to Bill Spano, there were 20 or 30 people watching movies the other night.

But it's not all doom and gloom at Advanced Furnace & Air Duct Cleaning. They also do a Santa's Workshop complete with Santa and Mrs. Claus. Children can take photos with Santa, watch movies and get refreshments. Everyone gets a gift and the event is free of charge.

"Between the Christmas and Halloween events, we have 5,000 people attend," Bill Spano said.

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