Sourced from 4 news outlets · most facts from BC Hydro · no points in dispute. How we sourced this
Halloween is staking a larger claim on B.C.’s front lawns, with glowing displays, inflatables and moving decorations.
Key facts
- BC Hydro says elaborate residential Halloween displays in British Columbia are increasingly rivaling Christmas as the most-decorated holiday of the year.
- BC Hydro’s survey found that four in 10 households that decorate for both Halloween and Christmas said they decorate just as much or more for Halloween than Christmas.
- More than 80% of respondents said Halloween decorations have become more widespread over the past decade, and nearly two-thirds said Halloween has become one of the biggest decorating holidays of the year.
- The survey reported that more than 20% of households use inflatables and 16% use animated or moving decorations.
BC Hydro says elaborate residential Halloween setups are increasingly rivalling Christmas as the province’s most-decorated holiday. “Halloween decorating has gone from a few pumpkins on the porch to some seriously impressive displays,” said Mora Scott, spokesperson for BC Hydro.
Halloween Decorations Rival Christmas
Among households that decorate for both holidays, four in 10 said they put up just as much, or more, for Halloween than for Christmas, according to BC Hydro’s survey.
More than 80 per cent of respondents said Halloween decorations have become more widespread during the past decade. Nearly two-thirds said Halloween has become one of the year’s biggest decorating holidays.
The shift is visible in the kind of displays people are choosing. More than 20 per cent of surveyed households use inflatables, while 16 per cent use animated or moving decorations.
Earlier Starts, Longer Evenings
The decorating season is also stretching beyond Halloween night itself. BC Hydro found that 27 per cent of respondents switch on electric decorations at least 15 days before Halloween.
On a typical evening, 37 per cent leave displays running for four to six hours.
The survey points to some efforts to manage that use: about 44 per cent of respondents said they use a timer or smart plug while decorations are on. BC Hydro recommends timers and smart plugs so lights and inflatables run only when needed.
Hydro Urges Energy-Saving Choices
For households adding lights to the annual display, BC Hydro recommends LED lighting, saying LED holiday lights can save about $40 over the holiday season. The utility’s advice is aimed at keeping costs down as displays grow larger and the decorating period lasts longer.
BC Hydro conducted its online survey from Oct. 16 to 20, 2026, drawing on 815 British Columbians aged 18 and older who belong to the Angus Reid Forum. The utility said a probability sample of that size would have a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
How outlets covered it
- CHEK News (CHEK Media Group) — “Halloween decorations ‘starting to rival Christmas’ in B.C., says BC Hydro”, Oct. 30, 2026. By Adam Chan. Led with rising extravagant Halloween displays outside homes. Quoted BC Hydro spokesperson Mora Scott. Not in the other reports here: BC SPCA Halloween safety tips for pets and wildlife.
- NanaimoNewsNOW — “Halloween decorating rivalling Christmas for power consumption: BC Hydro”, Oct. 30, 2026. Led with British Columbians’ increased Halloween spending and power consumption.
- Castanet — “More people decorating for Halloween, using more electricity”, Oct. 30, 2026. By Darren Handschuh. Quoted BC Hydro spokesperson Mora Scott. Not in the other reports here: the increased Team Power Smart Reduction Challenge reward for income-qualified households.
- Island Social Trends — “Electricity-powered Halloween decorating up in BC”, Oct. 30, 2026. Quoted BC Hydro. Not in the other reports here: the survey’s probability-sample margin-of-error comparison; decorations being set up after Thanksgiving.
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| Most key facts come from one source, BC Hydro, as reported by 4 news outlets. Outlets repeating the same statement do not confirm it independently. |
9 key facts · 0 independently corroborated · 9 from statements or releases · none disputed
How we put this together: we compare reporting from the outlets above, draft with the help of AI tools, and an editor checks every story before it's published. Our methodology.
