Halloween House Brings Hogwarts to Bay View
Elaborate Harry Potter display includes interactive features, a Hogwarts Express train car and a hidden tribute to Dolly Parton.
Aubrey Jannene rides the Hogwarts Express at A&J’s Halloween House. Photo by Jeramey Jannene.
You don’t need to travel to London or find a magical brick wall to board the Hogwarts Express. Just head to Bay View.
A&J’s Halloween House is back for 2026, and this year’s theme is “Harry Potter.”
The annual Halloween display created by Andy Reid and Jamie Beauchamp-Reid at 2943 S. Clement Ave. has transformed a stretch of the residential street into the wizarding world made famous by author J.K. Rowling.
The elaborate display, which now extends beyond the couple’s own property to neighboring homes, features a collection of familiar characters, magical creatures and recreations of locations from the books and movies.
There’s Hagrid’s hut, Gringotts Wizarding Bank, the Great Hall at Hogwarts and a collection of characters ranging from Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort to Dobby the house elf. A dragon, a giant spider and a troll add to the spectacle, as well as He Who Must Not Be Named.
But this isn’t simply a collection of static decorations.
The high-tech display incorporates video screens, animated elements and buttons visitors can press to trigger different effects. One of the most elaborate features is a passenger car from the Hogwarts Express at Platform 9¾. Visitors can climb aboard and watch a video journey to Hogwarts, complete with a view of Milwaukee passing by and Dementors flying overhead.
There are also moving portraits of Hogwarts professors, including Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagall. Watch closely and you’ll even spot an unexpected guest: the late country music legend Dolly Parton, who died in August at age 80.
It’s the latest in a long line of elaborate Halloween displays by Reid and Beauchamp-Reid, who build a new scene from scratch with their friends each year.
In 2025, the theme was “Scooby-Doo,” complete with a nearly full-sized Mystery Machine, a two-story haunted mansion facade and a replica pirate ship. The 2024 display featured ancient Egypt and pyramids, while past years have included “Wheel of Fortune,” “Beetlejuice,” clowns and “Ghostbusters.”
The couple’s projects have become increasingly elaborate, with months of design, construction and technological tinkering required to bring each new theme to life.
And while the display is a popular seasonal attraction in Bay View, it also serves a larger purpose.
For 11 years, A&J’s Halloween House has raised money for Pathfinders, a Milwaukee nonprofit that provides support to young people facing homelessness, housing instability and other challenges.
Last year, the couple celebrated the fundraiser’s 10th anniversary by setting a goal of raising $100,000 in cumulative donations.
They exceeded it.
Their donation tracking website shows that the annual displays have now raised more than $102,000 for Pathfinders.
The organization supports young people ages 11 to 25 through housing assistance, safety services, mental health resources and other programs. It also operates housing programs specifically serving LGBTQ+ youth and young adults.
In a 2025 interview with Urban Milwaukee, Pathfinders communications manager Katie Kuhn said donations from the Halloween display were especially valuable because they come without the restrictions often attached to grant funding.
The flexible contributions allow the organization to respond to the individual needs of the young people it serves.
The event has attracted media attention beyond Milwaukee, including a feature on ABC’s “Live with Kelly and Ryan.”
The couple announced earlier this week that the 2026 display was complete, save for a few lighting adjustments.
“Finally all set up!” they wrote on social media. “Best viewing is at night. Lots of really great media to see.”
The display is illuminated from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It will remain up through Halloween.
The attraction is free to view, with donations to Pathfinders encouraged. Visitors should view the yard displays from the public sidewalk.
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