Homeowners across Baldwin County have been decorating their homes since the start of September in preparation for Halloween. The décor ranges from handmade characters to inflatables and everything in between.

According to the National Retail Federation, American consumers will spend a record $10.6 billion this year on Halloween, up from $10.1 billion in 2021.

Consumers are spending that on:

• $3.6 billion for costumes
• $3.1 billion for candy
• $3.4 billion on decorations
• $0.6 billion for greeting cards

Bear Point's Gentlemen's Cabaret

Halloween is big business but it is also big fun for homeowners and passersby. In Orange Beach's Bear Point neighborhood Christopher Whelan has created a display he hopes will make people's day brighter.

Photos of Whelan's gentleman's cabaret display have been making the rounds on local social media. His home, located on Armadillo Avenue always has a few resident skeletons but he has outdone himself with the décor this year.

"I already have what some would call an eclectic house and yard, so I just decided to kick it up a notch. I found it humorous skeletons doing inappropriate things," Whelan said.

He has been working on the display since the end of September and is constantly tweaking things here and there.

Whelan's display of skeleton's is doing everything from working and drinking at a bar and playing music in a band to dancing on a pole. Despite the risqué nature of the skeleton's activities, Whelan said he has not had any complaints from the neighbors.

"As far as the neighbors are concerned, if there were any complaints, they haven't been addressed to me personally. Everybody seems to drive by, take pictures and laugh hysterically," Whelan said. "If I made somebody's day brighter, I'm happy with that."