'Midnight on Morton' returns to haunt Batavia this Halloween

BATAVIA – Zachary and Andrea Sage weren't sure if they were going to decorate their Batavia yard for Halloween this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

But after several people asked if they were doing the "Midnight on Morton" interactive display again, they changed their minds.

"Anytime we would be in the yard doing yard work, people would pull over and ask if we are still doing the display," Zachary said in an email. "The feel we got from the community is that it's something to look forward to and some much-needed magic. It's outdoors and is visible from your car, or [there's] plenty of sidewalk space to stroll around the display and keep socially distanced."

The Sages are members of the Chicago Haunt Builders group, which is a group of Halloween enthusiasts who build and create elaborate yard haunts, Zachary Sage said.

This year, the couple has several new additions to the display, including a 12-foot-tall skeleton; a coffee-drinking, pop-out-of-the-coffin skeleton; evil oak trees; rising zombie; splitting tombstone; and more than 12 new grave markers.

The display, which the couple has been doing for four years, is family-friendly and can be viewed from cars. It is free to view the yard; the couple is asking for donations for Animal House Shelter in Huntley. There is a drop-off station called "Coffin for a Cause" where viewers can place their donations. A list of needed items can be found on the "Midnight on Morton" Facebook page.

The display is at 714 Morton St., Batavia, where it will remain up until Nov. 1.