Family going all out
FREMONT -- It wouldn't be all that surprising if an uninformed visitor driving down Pleasant Drive made a quick call to local authorities after seeing what's happening at the Binder house tonight.
More than likely, they'd see as many as 50 children standing in a heavy fog drinking blood, eating bugs and wandering around a picnic table covered with pickle jars filled with real cow organs.
It's just a party.
For the second year, Naquel Binder and her family will be holding what may be the biggest Halloween party in the area. The celebration serves a dual purpose, as it's also a birthday celebration for Amanda Binder, who turned 13 earlier this week.
"Everybody knows to come out to the Binders' at Halloween," Naquel Binder joked.
She's not kidding. At last year's celebration, several area residents stopped by on the driveway just to take photos. Spider webs covered the front porch of the home Friday night, providing a backdrop for plastic witches, skeletons, and some creatures that probably don't even have a name. The garage was cluttered with pumpkins, boxes of apples, and yes, pickle jars filled with real cow organs. Earlier in the day, Binder had driven to Ottawa County to pick up real cow and pig heads that sat in the refrigerator.
"Those are going to be the centerpieces," Binder said.
The Binders have been celebrating Amanda's birthday in style for years. Even when she was a baby, her grandparents would bring along a horse and carriage with monsters on it. But last year, the family tried something different, Naquel Binder said. Amanda's classmates were treated to a special party similar to the television show "Fear Factor." The family went out of their way to gross out the kids, with items such as peeled grapes representing goat eyes for a snack. In another contest, the students dipped their heads into whipped cream pies to dig out as many plastic eyeballs as they could. But those who made it through last year may have a tougher challenge ahead.
"Last year, it was mild for them," Naquel Binder said. "This year it's not going to be."
Along with normal food made out to seem more disgusting, there will be some food the kids may really not want to touch. Naquel Binder even ordered real maggots from California in barbecue and chocolate flavors.
Along with new Fear Factor-style games, the family also hired a professional Halloween company to set up a maze and haunted graveyard. Mike Holt, Matt Drake and a few others were busy Friday setting up black tarp that would eventually become a haunted maze in the back yard. The company, Grave Diggers, is mostly made up of actors and technical staff who have spent years working in haunted houses and low-budget horror movies.
Employees take the work seriously too. Holt said everyone at Grave Diggers is a horror buff, and they spend time at national conventions learning the newest makeup tips and developing new ways to scare people. Their only rule is there is no touching, and Holt said they're good at what they do.
"I've had an adult use his kid as a body shield one year," he said.
The dramatic party is nothing new to the Binders, who also have serious celebrations at Christmas and July 4. The neighbors are always invited as well, she said. Along with the unusual items, kids can also snack on popcorn balls, candy and a chocolate fountain. For adults, there will be dessert and stew. Naquel Binder credited her family for making everything come together. In all, the planning for the party took six weeks.
And what can guests expect Saturday night?
"Absolute and total terror," Holt said.
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