"Take Back Halloween" started four years ago and it's generally gotten a little bigger and a little more extravagant each year. After some churches in the town we grew up in tried to steal Halloween from the fun and spooky time it used to be with their "Fall Festivals" and "Best Biblical Character Costume" competitions, my friend Josh Carnes and I decided the best thing we could do was reclaim it.

So the first year Carnes came down to Dallas and we've done the last two years in Chicago. This year we're doing a combination of Kansas City and Springfield. Basically we take 3-5 evenings in a row and go non-stop with haunted houses, horror movies, and candy. Lots and lots of candy. We typically eat at delicious restaurants, spend at least one night doing almost nothing, and this year we'll even be having spicy steaks (I can FINALLY get a grill where I live!).

Past guest appearances have been made my brother Caleb, Ashley Bergeron, Alyssa Meadows, and a host of other fine folks. My friends Dave and Anna have typically shown up when they can and my wife even gets in on the scary action. This year we'll be adding a couple of others to the festivities as well. It's one of my most relaxed and favorite times of the year.

To check out photos of our fun times from this year, take a look at our Halloween 2008 Photo Album, which will be updated nightly.

Tags: "Take Back Halloween", candy, haunted houses, food, horror movies