ED DiBrango builds Halloween attractions in his front yard because he gets a kick out of doing it.
But in the past couple of years, he's managed to get some money for Securing Emergency Re-sources through Volunteer Efforts, a Manassas-area charity that gave him a hand a while back when he lost his job and couldn't pay his electric bill.
"They helped me out 15 years ago when and it's my way of giving back," DiBrango said.
A 20-by-50-foot pirate ship with live, sword-bearing pirates and air cannons was this year's feature attraction in DiBrango's front yard, 8944 Winterwood Ct., Manassas.
"We used the entire front yard to do it," DiBrango said of the pirate ship that he built with help from his friend, Patrick Perez, who came from Chantilly to help with the project.
Perez built the cannons and ship's helm, said DiBrango, the pirate captain.
This year's attraction brought in $240 in donations for SERVE
Last year, donations came in at $280.
DiBrango's neighbors and regular Halloween visitors will remember the previous year's attractions that included a cornfield maze, a graveyard, a wizard cave and a Frankenstein exhibit.
"We do something new every year," DiBrango said. "Every year, we've gotten bigger and better."
The pirate ship won't be making a return appearance and DiBrango isn't saying what he has in mind for next year.
"We're already dreaming. We start the day after Halloween," DiBrango said.
He said he figures he and Perez owe originality to their regular visitors.
"They enjoy coming out to see what we're doing now," he said. "We have a good time."
DiBrango estimated that the pirate ship drew more than 600 visitors.
Manassas Bureau Chief Keith Walker can be reached at 703-369-6751.
Email
Facebook
Google
Twitter
Favorites
More
Advertisement