Woodbury Neighborhood Transforms for Halloween Event
The Royal Oaks community features over 100 decorated homes to welcome thousands of trick-or-treaters.
Updated on Oct. 21, 2026 in Seasonal Events
Live Poll
Do you think large-scale neighborhood holiday displays improve community cohesion in your local area?
The Royal Oaks neighborhood in Woodbury has transformed into a massive Halloween display destination featuring lights, animatronics, and a wall of over 70 pumpkins. Thousands of visitors are expected to attend as local residents coordinate street closures and candy distribution.
Why it matters
Residents organize the event to foster community connections, utilizing local business donations and a neighborhood candy fund to support the celebration. The massive turnout requires significant logistical planning and city coordination to ensure resident safety and event success.
Over 100 houses participate in the decorations, which include an extensive pumpkin wall featuring more than 70 items. Nightly displays run until 9 p.m. to accommodate the crowds.
The players
Joe Briol
He is a long-term resident of the Royal Oaks neighborhood who has lived in the area since 1996.
John Pundsack
He is a longtime Royal Oaks resident who has been part of the community since moving there in 1996.
The details
Displays throughout the neighborhood include animatronics and a custom pumpkin wall, with one specific yard featuring a Cessna plane. Volunteers use wagons to distribute candy to participating households, while street closures manage the high volume of foot traffic.
Timeline
The Royal Oaks neighborhood was originally created in the 1960s.
Joe Briol and John Pundsack moved to the neighborhood in 1996.
The Haunted Oaks event started in 2019.
Approximately 2,200 trick-or-treaters visited the neighborhood in October 2025.
The city closes streets to traffic on Halloween 2026.
Industry Dynamics
This neighborhood event highlights how residential areas originally designed for 3M employees in the 1960s have evolved into hubs for modern seasonal engagement. The transition reflects broader cultural shifts where local communities are prioritizing large-scale neighborhood identity events.
Families visiting Royal Oaks should prepare for road closures that restrict vehicle access to the neighborhood during the evening hours. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early, as the displays conclude their nightly run at 9 p.m.
The takeaway
The success of the Haunted Oaks event demonstrates how volunteer coordination and collective funding can create significant local impact. Residents interested in similar community projects can look to this model of using organized safety patrols and centralized candy funds to manage high-traffic events.
Further reading
Learn more about local traditions in Woodbury Seasonal Events.
Source note: This article includes information reported by MPR News.
Live Poll
Do you think large-scale neighborhood holiday displays improve community cohesion in your local area?
