‘Clown house’ provides city tradition

Shortly after the school year begins, Bexley comes alive with signature fall charm. Leaves blaze with color, the cheers from Friday night football games echo across town and cool breezes signal the change of season. For one house on a cozy corner in South Bexley, there’s a special tradition that adds to the town’s fall spirit. 

Ian and Cherie Garriott’s home on the corner of Charles Street and Montrose Avenue is typically indistinguishable from the rest, but in mid-September, the plain and well-kept yard is filled with clown-themed items from flags to life-sized figures. 

Ian and Cherie didn’t plan to start an elaborate tradition when they moved into their home in 2007, Ian explained.

“We did a real minor Halloween decoration,” he said. “It was nothing crazy.”

In following years, the number of decorations increased, and starting in 2010, they began to add clowns.

The first clown was Motown Philly, and Ian said the number of figures and props has only grown since then. 

He added the newest addition to the crew, Dr. Clown, is a good example of how the clown-making process works. 

“I started working on him a year ago in my brain, drew a little drawing and now he doesn’t look anything like the stick figure I drew,” he said.

The props, made out of PVC pipes, wood and chicken wire, take around three weeks of work to come to life. Although the couple recognized they are frequently buying items for new characters, he added they try to be mindful of the materials they use.

“We do a lot of recycling and try not to buy a whole lot of stuff,” he said. 

Once the figures are constructed, Ian said his wife Cherie makes the costumes the clowns wear in the display.

The Garriotts said they see anywhere from 10 to 50 visitors a night in the weeks leading up to Halloween. On the actual night of trick-or-treating, over 1,000 people come see the house. With so many attendees, Ian said he is glad his friends and coworkers from the fire and police departments can come to help the night run smoothly. They typically bring a fire truck and close off the street to keep things controlled.

“It creates a safer environment here for everyone,” Ian said. 

The production on Halloween night is special, as it features family members and friends dressed in clown costumes, Ian explained.

Cherie said she loves how Bexley has adopted their Halloween ritual. 

“The community has embraced it,” she said. “They appreciate it, they enjoy it, they look forward to it every year, and that’s what I would call success.” 

Sophomore Aarav Peter said he has fond memories of visiting the clown house.

“I remember first going when I was 6,” Peter explained. “It was really fun, and it was cool to see how many people were there.”

Peter said the house is an amazing experience for kids, and visitors have a great time seeing the props and being immersed in the experience. The fog and other special effects greatly contribute to the overall experience, he added.

“Whenever I’m in South Bexley on Halloween, I love to go,” he said.

Junior Cece Meyers said she first recalled seeing the clown house when she was around 5 years old. 

  “I remember there being a big jack-in-the-box that I was terrified of when I was a kid,” Meyers said.

Meyers, who lives near the Garriot’s home, said living so close to the house feels cool and special.

“I’ve always loved it,” she said. “It’s a really fun thing to look forward to.”

Once the festivities are over, Ian begins tearing down and storing the props, Cherie said. She added the elaborate set up and tear down processes will ultimately lead to the pair simplifying the decorations in the future.  

Since they started placing clowns in their yard, Cherie explained the couple has enjoyed seeing neighborhood kids grow up. The support from the community, she said, helps motivate them to continue to put the effort into their creations. 

“All the weird ideas are his, though,” Cherie said. 

Published and digitized October 2025.