The fundraising model behind the Halloween display at 26 Dawson Road in Worcester separates visitor donations from the cost of running the show: Alex Cornwell pays the operating expenses himself, while donations collected on-site support Why Me & Sherry’s House. The free-to-visit display includes nearly 200 inflatables and a garage packed with animatronics.
Cornwell builds the display himself and starts decorating on September 1, NBC Boston reported. Why Me says visitors can drive or walk up the driveway and asks them to park on the same side of the street as the house.
The cause is personal for Cornwell: he told NBC Boston that he was diagnosed with cancer at six months old. Why Me & Sherry’s House supports families dealing with childhood cancer. Spectrum News 1 reported that donations from the display go to that cause.
Every Dollar Goes to the Charity, Not the Decorations
Cornwell told NBC Boston that he covers the costs of running the lights and inflatables himself, rather than using donations for those expenses. The arrangement allows the donations to go to the charity, and helps explain how the display functions as a fundraiser as well as a neighborhood attraction.
Reports have put the display at slightly different sizes. Spectrum News 1 reported 164 Halloween inflatables and about four weeks of setup, while NBC Boston described nearly 200 pieces alongside a garage full of animatronics. Both accounts show how far the display has grown from its early years.
From 40 Inflatables to a Neighborhood Fixture
Cornwell told Spectrum News NECN the tradition began in 2019. Spectrum News 1 reported that the first display had about 40 inflatables and that the 2025 Halloween display had 164; its more-than-200 figure was for the Christmas display.
The display extends beyond Halloween. Cornwell told Spectrum News NECN that his Christmas display is larger, and CBS News Boston has reported that the holiday version had reached 270 inflatables, with eight more waiting to go up. The Telegram has reported that Worcester homeowners also create elaborate Halloween displays across the city, from skeleton pirates to self-playing organs.
Weather Dependent, With a November Teardown Looming
The display’s hours depend on conditions. NBC Boston reported that it can be seen on evenings when the weather is nice and not too windy, so visitors may want to check conditions before heading over. Spectrum News NECN reported that the decorations come down starting November 1, a teardown that typically takes three to five days.
What Why Me & Sherry’s House Provides
According to Why Me, Sherry’s House provides no-cost lodging to families while a child is receiving active treatment at a New England area hospital. The organization also lists family fun events, social visits and a food pantry among the services and activities offered there. Why Me’s history page says 13-year-old Sherry Shepherd conceived and created the organization during her four-year battle with cancer. The Telegram reported in 2024 that Sherry’s House had opened about 20 years earlier in a refurbished former church pastor’s house in Worcester’s Tatnuck neighborhood.
In a city with many elaborate Halloween yards, the Dawson Road display pairs a large seasonal attraction with fundraising for a cause connected to Cornwell’s own experience.
