Bloomfield Halloween display draws crowds, complaints

24/7 LiveNew York CityNew JerseyLong IslandNorthern SuburbsConnecticut ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTBloomfield Halloween display draws crowds, complaintsA popular Bloomfield Halloween attraction is drawing renewed attention amid noise complaints and alleged vandalism. Toni Yates reports.ByToni Yates Wednesday, October 28, 2026 9:29PMShareFollow abc7NY on GoogleBLOOMFIELD, N.J. (WABC) -- For more than 20 years, a Halloween display at a home on Lakeside Avenue in Bloomfield has drawn thousands of visitors in the two weeks leading up to Halloween.The display, created by James Joanow with the help of friends and volunteers, features an elaborate haunted attraction stretching from the side yard to the back of the property."We love doing it. We plan in late July and we decorate right up to Halloween night," Joanow said.Among the attractions are animated displays and themed sets."Yeah ... this is what we call the catacombs ... Kids go crazy when they come here because they see things you don't see at most decoration sites," Joanow said.The attraction, located at 226 Lakeside Ave., has become a popular Halloween destination, but Joanow said not everyone is a fan."There's only one problem. There's someone who's such a non-fan, they took it out on James. He says someone put nails in his driveway ... his car rolled over those nails and he got a flat tire. I mean, here we are talking about a guy who puts his heart and soul into this Halloween display for thousands of people to enjoy" Eyewitness News reporter Toni Yates said.Joanow said complaints have also been made about noise from the display, which he said operates only between 6:30 p.m. and 10 p.m."The 2 officers that were here ... they were very respectful. They told me there's a dozen anonymous complaints. Just about too many people walking around and the noise here. So they had to do something about the complaints. I guess that's what their version of doing something was. But we stayed open till 10 because that's what ordinance allows us to do," he said.Joanow said he has tried to be accommodating and noted that the display's run is nearly over."It all comes down Halloween night ... after 10 o'clock. Usually, we start at 11 o'clock at night at we take it all down. We stay out till 3 or 4 in the morning," he said.The display is scheduled to remain open through Halloween night before it is dismantled.----------* Get Eyewitness News Delivered * More New Jersey news* Send us a news tip* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts * Download our connected TV app Submit a tip or story idea to Eyewitness NewsHave a breaking news tip or an idea for a story we should cover? Send it to Eyewitness News using the form below. If attaching a video or photo, terms of use apply.Report a correction or typoCopyright © 2026 WABC-TV. All Rights Reserved.Related Topics ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT BLOOMFIELD HALLOWEENWatch LiveON NOWTop StoriesFormer NYPD sergeant sentenced in fatal Taconic crash1 hour agoAbout 14 arrested after protesters block Brooklyn Bridge10-year-old boy killed in Bronx e-bike battery fire; 4 others critical9 minutes agoBottle thrown at school bus injures child26 minutes agoGun found on campus sparks concerns33 minutes agoHayden Panettiere's death investigation closed by South Carolina police3 minutes agoNYC Marathon brings major travel changes1 hour agoAccuWeather: Sunnier and milder2 hours ago