MILAN, Ill. — If you drive past 3rd St. E in Milan, it's hard to miss the elaborate display of Halloween fun covering the front lawn of Anna and Sean Svec's home. Angie Puckett saw how hard the couple works every year to bring some Halloween joy to the community and nominated them for the Pay It Forward award, sponsored by Ascentra Credit Union.
“Its just kind of gotten bigger and bigger every single year it goes and I just think it’s wonderful that they do this for the kids and the families of this community," Puckett said.
It all started in 2019 with a 12-foot skeleton.
“My father named him Tiny," Anna Svec said.
Thus, Tiny's Trick or Treat was created. The Svec family has hosted the annual tradition at their home for the past four years.
“Kind of brings our family together and just for the kids, for fun and especially for kids that can’t go to a hundred houses to get candy. They can just come to one house and they get their buckets full," said Anna Svec.
The family starts assembling the display in early September every year. They want to show kids that Halloween isn't just about frights and scares, but about having fun.
"We have candies, we have treats, we have snacks. This year our giveaway, we have a different giveaway every year, is these lanyards and we have a big glow stick that goes on it," said Anna Svec.
You can drive past the home when the weather is nice to see the display, but on October 31st they welcome everyone to come walk through, take pictures, and load up on candy. They truly made their home the place to be for trick-or-treating.
The Svec's enjoy that all their family and friends come together to help, but they also love sharing this with their community and neighbors.
“Favorite part is watching everybody’s faces when they come up and actually get to walk through it and see the different displays. Each year we just keep adding to it, and it gets bigger and bigger," said Sean Svec.
You can learn more about Tiny's Trick or Treat — and find out when you'll be able to visit them this Halloween — on their Facebook page.
Do you know someone that goes above and beyond for his or her community? News 8 and Ascentra Credit Union would like to help you Pay it Forward to them. Click here to nominate someone you know.
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