It's been a busy few weeks for Bellbird resident Brandi Livermore and her family, as they put the finishing touches on what's possibly the most elaborate Halloween display in the Hunter region.
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They have constructed a Halloween maze, which will be open to the public three nights, and will raise funds for the John Hunter Children's Hospital.
A popular American tradition, which has origins in ancient Celtic times, Halloween is beginning to find its place in Australian culture.
It's not unusual to see groups of children dressed on costume on the evening of October 31, and more and more families are keeping a bowl of lollies by the door, just in case trick-or-treaters come knocking.
Brandi - who moved to Australia from the United States 15 years ago - says she has definitely seen the popularity of Halloween in Australia grow, especially in the last couple of years.
She set up her first Halloween maze at her Bellbird home last year, after running out of candy in the years beforehand.
"We were just going to do it for fun, but then (her grandson) Chayton's school was doing Jump Rope For Heart, and he asked if we could raise money," she said.
Last year's maze raised $1000 for Jump Rope for Heart, and this year six-year-old Chayton chose the John Hunter Children's Hospital as their beneficiary.
There's a very special reason behind his decision - his baby brother Wyatt, five months, will have heart surgery at the hospital next Tuesday.
This year's maze is about "quadruple the size", Brandi says, and features a "scarer" at every turn.
The Halloween maze will be open at 45 Kendall Street, Bellbird from 7pm to 10pm this Friday and Saturday night, and on Halloween itself (Thursday, October 31).
Entry is $5 per person, with all proceeds to go to John Hunter Children's Hospital.
Find out more at the Facebook event page 'Halloween Haunt Maze'.