Becca Wilson grew up living in apartments and rental homes, all of which had rules on how you could decorate the outside, so when she had the opportunity to do exactly as she pleased with her own home, she did just that.
It was 2020, and Wilson had decorated her front yard on Walnut Street with skeletons for Halloween. When it was time to switch holidays, she realized storing skeletons inside the home might be difficult. Instead of putting the skeletons away for the year, she decided to swap out their outfits for Christmas costumes.
Ever since that first December when “Clark Griswold” stood against the giant tree in her yard, Wilson has spent the beginning of each month rotating the Walnut Skeletons’ garb for all kinds of holidays. These costume changes have brought smiles to motorists and pedestrians on the busy thoroughfare for the past five years.
“I like making people laugh and making people’s day better,” Wilson said. And she has done just that with each passing month. Whether it be a skeleton mom in a robe holding her coffee mug while her child waits for the bus in September, or Queen Amidala and Princess Leia in May, the residents of Tigard look forward to the first week of each month to see what the skeletons are up to. Going beyond the traditional Shining Twins that mark the Halloween season has kept the skeletons a talking point in Tigard.
Last October, a passerby left Wilson a card expressing just how happy the decorations made them. “Every time we drive by your home, we smile and laugh. Thanks for bringing us joy,” the card writer expressed. They go on to say they were so touched by the community display that they would like to donate outfits to the skeletons’ wardrobe, something Becca primarily gets through thrift shopping and crafting accessories.
Wilson says she tries to keep the clothes mostly set but does try to add a little something extra each year. “This year for Valentine’s Day, I added wings made out of Dollar Tree hearts,” she said.
When asked if the skeletons have a personality or even a message to convey through their clothes, Wilson states they are a neutral decoration, and then playfully goes on to explain, “They are just bones…they are only meant to make people smile.” And she does admit she can see the positive effect they have had on community members.
“We’ve seen an increase in trick-or-treaters [over the years]. In 2019, we had none.”
When asked if she’d like to see other Tigard residents participate in a year-round decorating tradition, Wilson replied, “I’ve noticed more houses are actually leaving their skeletons out. I’m not saying I’m a trendsetter because I’m not; I’ve seen it all over Facebook. I don’t own the idea, so if it brings someone happiness, go for it!”
Wilson also mentioned there is currently a T. Rex skeleton on McDonald Street that gets a new outfit for every holiday, and that makes her very happy to see.
What’s next for the Walnut Skeletons? Wilson would like to take all the photos she’s compiled over the years and create a calendar so they can bring joy right into the homes of Tigard residents throughout the year.
She is also opening up a new coffee shop in Tigard that will have its own seasonally dressed skeleton throughout the year that you can visit. In the meantime, be sure to check out their Halloween costumes this month and follow them on their official Instagram page (instagram.com/walnut_skeletons).
Get ready to spook and be seen!
We want to showcase your amazing Halloween displays, whether they’re cute, creepy, or downright spectacular! Send us your best photos or videos, and we’ll share them on the Tigard Life Facebook page!
Here’s how to share:
Photos: Email them directly to mike@tigardlife.com, along with a short description and address so we can share the location
Videos: Since those files are usually too big for email, please use a fileshare app like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive and send us the link!
Don’t be shy—let’s make our social media frightfully fun!
