By Julia Train
Ari Goldberger isn’t a Halloween fanatic, but he does love bringing the community together through spooky home decorations.
Goldberger, an attorney, transformed his Margate home, located at Pembroke and Ventnor avenues, into a must-see Halloween odyssey.
He first purchased a Margate property in 2005 and has been a part-time resident since, splitting his time between New Jersey and Florida. Goldberger moved to his current residence in 2011.
His interest in the elaborate decorating began with a memorable party during the summer of 2019, when he hosted a celebration for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing and Woodstock.
After a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he decided to host a Halloween party in 2021.
What started as modest decorations on his front lawn quickly spiraled into something much grander.
Encouraged by a friend, he ventured to Home Depot, where he discovered towering decorations—a witch, a wolf and other larger-than-life figures that would become the cornerstone of his displays.
“The following year, I went a little crazier and people loved it,” Goldberger said. “It became an attraction. So this year, I stepped it up even a little bit further.”
Each year, Goldberger has had a different theme for his Halloween presentation, which he calls “Mischief Night in Margate.”
Last year’s “Saturday Night Thriller” combined the energy of disco with the spookiness of Michael Jackson’s classic, “Thriller.”
This year’s is “Circus Bezerkus,” which features circus music and characters like a 13-foot-tall Jack Skellington, an animatronic Pennywise from “IT,” with Georgie next to him and a host of playful clowns covering every inch of his property.
The sides of his lawn are also decorated, with skeletons seated on a bench and on a waterfall on the right side and, on the left, a 12-foot skeleton atop a roof ledge.
Goldberger emphasized the joy these decorations bring to the community, inviting people to experience the magic for themselves.
When asked about the preparation involved and where he stores the decorations, Goldberger chuckled and said he’s often asked those questions.
He started decorating right after Labor Day and is still putting the finishing touches on his display. As for after the spooky season ends, Goldberger keeps the decorations in his basement for now.
“I think I’m going to need a storage facility soon,” he said, as the decorations have taken over his basement.
Another question Goldberger said he’s often asked is how much it costs to create the spectacle.
“It’s a lot less than you’d expect,” he said.
His approach to decorating is resourceful; he combines new items with those from previous years.
“Most of the clowns are new this year, but I have a lot already,” he said. “I get a lot of bang for my buck.”
Beyond the decorations and parties, he emphasizes the significance of his work in bringing the community together.
“One of the reasons I like Halloween is because it’s for everyone, all ages. I get a big mix of people, and people show gratitude, and nobody’s complaining, nobody’s arguing, everybody’s just smiling,” he said. “That’s the way I’d like the world to be. I know it sounds ideological, but this is a little small piece of happiness and joy and unity.”
Julia is a recent Rider University graduate, where she studied multiplatform journalism and social media strategies. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, trying new coffee shops, photography and the beach. She can be reached at juliatrainmedia@gmail.com or connect with her on Instagram @juliatrain
