Halloween May Be Lubbock’s Favorite Form Of Rebellion

Just when you think you can predict Lubbock, along comes Halloween.

Lubbock is a very, very conservative place. Sometimes that creates a bit of a pressure-cooker situation. What I mean is that eventually, the people who don't necessarily want to fit in find their own ways to act out—and sometimes they act out in really big, creative ways.

We've seen that happen here before. Some incredible musical creativity has come out of West Texas, and I’ve always believed part of that comes from having to create your own excitement. When you're surrounded by boredom, expectations and people telling you what you're supposed to be, sometimes the natural response is to make something loud, weird and completely your own.

Halloween May Be Lubbock's Newest Creative Rebellion

The same thing that happened with music seems to be happening with Halloween.

I'm sure there are any number of churches around here that will tell you your giant skeleton is demonic and your inflatable Snoopy holding a pumpkin is some kind of false idol. Sorry, I'm going to pause for laughter here.

The end result, though, has been an explosion of Halloween decorating unlike anything I've seen before.

Last year was absolutely crazy, and my neighbors are already showing out this weekend. I've seen giant skeletons peeking over fences. I've seen witches that appear to have flown straight into trees. There are yards filled with gravestones, bushes covered in spiderwebs and front porches that look like somebody spent the entire summer planning their October takeover.

And I could not be happier about it.

Because I don't think it's just about Halloween anymore.

Every Halloween decoration is a tiny declaration that the family behind it loves to have fun. It’s a chance for people to step outside the box and be a little crazy. It’s a way for some people to be a little weird, all under the guise of a holiday.

Maybe that's why Halloween works so well here.

Read More: What Ghost Stories Surround Lubbock's Historic Downtown Baker Building

In a place that sometimes likes everybody standing in the same line, Halloween gives people permission to step out of it.

It's a small act of rebellion—and judging by the yards I'm already seeing around Lubbock, that rebellion gets a little bigger every year.

I’ll close with a thank you—and a little something I’ve been using lately:

Keep Lubbock Spooky!