I love that Dept 56 is continuing adding more pieces for Hocus Pocus. This one will definitely be one to add to the collection! I don't know if you know this or not, but it is a real house in Salem, MA.
@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl Indeed it is. I live in Massachusetts and have been to Salem. I've seen this house and also Allison's house, which is the outside of the Ropes Museum. I wonder if Dept 56 will release that eventually.
Carl, Thanks for showing these off! I'm cautiously optimistic for the new Trick or Treat Lane piece and the Witch building. I think it will come down to lighting for me as I don't expect Department 56 to branch into the amazing mechanics found in Lemax pieces. The last two buildings I bought from Department 56 were actually due to them being lighting gems, The Kraken House and Monstertini's. I've never really been into Witches as a Halloween genre. They, warewolves, spiders, and zombies have been at the low tier for me. HOWEVER... After discovering your channel, and Doug from Spooky Villages, showcasing just how much both Department 56 and Lemax go all out with this genre, it's changed my tune. Dept 56 The Candy Cauldron and Lemax Wanda's Wicked Cupcakes and Wicked Garden Coven are some of my favs. So I'm looking forward to seeing the new Department 56 Witch building this year. As for everything else... Let's just say... I'm glad Department 56 saved me some money. Only one piece this year stands out to me, the giant 7 inch Skeleton. That's the only Department 56 piece I envision buying this year. Let's just say, I'm at a crossroads Carl in my village collecting. I just don't have the room, or want to alter other rooms, to fit more and more. Sure, it feels good to have all the pieces one wants, and the need to collect everything I want is strong, but I had to come to a realization for me, the fear of hording. You've seen my new Theme Park village. It's gargantuan! The construction of the shelves alone was a huge undertaking for my brother to build, and of course, the expense of buying all the pieces. And if I'm going to spend that kind of money, my village pieces are no longer going to be kept in boxes. They're going to be enjoyed year round. My brother has put up MANY MORE shelves in another room in my house, so I can start displaying everything I have, or at least the majority. Buying more for the sake of just wanting something isn't going to be in my wheelhouse any longer, and that's going to be HARD for me. Shiny new things are always going to beckon and I have to be strong enough to skip things that I don't ABSOLUTELY want. But here's the great thing... The Villaging hobby grows new people year after year, and with so many of them sharing videos on TH-cam, I can live vicariously through them. Now, just living vicariously is a lot harder than it sounds, I'm still going to want stuff, but Department 56, Lemax, and others, are really going to have to step up their game. Department 56 pieces can't merely be just "cool" anymore. They're going to have to be EXTRAORDINARY! Not to mention, most likely will have to compete with what I already have. I was lucky to get into Villaging a long time ago, back when things were more reasonably priced. Department 56 has always been expensive, but they've been jumping the shark quite a bit these last few years with these $200+ average building prices. And Ebay has proven that these prices are too darn high. I got both The Kraken House and Monstertini's brand new from third party sellers for under $200 each. Asking $200 for a building better give it the ability to fetch my slippers and make me pizza :) Thanks again Carl for this video and have great one! vgv
I’m so excited! I agree on the Hocus Pocus house, it will be a great addition to the spooky mansions of old. And though I don’t do witch hollow, I have to have the brew shop and the awesome cars. Going to be a great trick or treat lane year. Saving up my $$ right now! Also, curious if a one has seen the 2025 releases for the Grinch village…my other weakness.
Do you think there will be mid year introductions? They said there will be two new series coming from Halloween, the Harvest series is one, what will be the second?
I agree these prices are high, but I checked with an inflation calculator and it said $125 in the year 2000 would be worth $230 today. So I guess that’s in line with inflation. Almost doubled, but that is better than the REAL houses here in Pasadena which have gone up about 5x over the last twenty years.
@geoffreyhdavey agree-everything has gone up! Was at Michael’s the other day and was looking at the Lemax Christmas pieces and wondering how they sell them at that price looking the way they look!!
@@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl oh that’s too bad. I know how you loved them and made space for 2 more. I guess you can always add in the Egyptian Crypt. Haha.
Looking pretty good, oh yes, it is spendy. I might only do a few items for sure this time.
Same!!!
I love that Dept 56 is continuing adding more pieces for Hocus Pocus. This one will definitely be one to add to the collection! I don't know if you know this or not, but it is a real house in Salem, MA.
I do-one of the most visited for this particular series I would imagine!
@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl Indeed it is. I live in Massachusetts and have been to Salem. I've seen this house and also Allison's house, which is the outside of the Ropes Museum. I wonder if Dept 56 will release that eventually.
Perhaps next year?!
Carl,
Thanks for showing these off! I'm cautiously optimistic for the new Trick or Treat Lane piece and the Witch building. I think it will come down to lighting for me as I don't expect Department 56 to branch into the amazing mechanics found in Lemax pieces. The last two buildings I bought from Department 56 were actually due to them being lighting gems, The Kraken House and Monstertini's.
I've never really been into Witches as a Halloween genre. They, warewolves, spiders, and zombies have been at the low tier for me. HOWEVER... After discovering your channel, and Doug from Spooky Villages, showcasing just how much both Department 56 and Lemax go all out with this genre, it's changed my tune. Dept 56 The Candy Cauldron and Lemax Wanda's Wicked Cupcakes and Wicked Garden Coven are some of my favs. So I'm looking forward to seeing the new Department 56 Witch building this year.
As for everything else... Let's just say... I'm glad Department 56 saved me some money. Only one piece this year stands out to me, the giant 7 inch Skeleton. That's the only Department 56 piece I envision buying this year. Let's just say, I'm at a crossroads Carl in my village collecting. I just don't have the room, or want to alter other rooms, to fit more and more. Sure, it feels good to have all the pieces one wants, and the need to collect everything I want is strong, but I had to come to a realization for me, the fear of hording.
You've seen my new Theme Park village. It's gargantuan! The construction of the shelves alone was a huge undertaking for my brother to build, and of course, the expense of buying all the pieces. And if I'm going to spend that kind of money, my village pieces are no longer going to be kept in boxes. They're going to be enjoyed year round. My brother has put up MANY MORE shelves in another room in my house, so I can start displaying everything I have, or at least the majority. Buying more for the sake of just wanting something isn't going to be in my wheelhouse any longer, and that's going to be HARD for me. Shiny new things are always going to beckon and I have to be strong enough to skip things that I don't ABSOLUTELY want. But here's the great thing...
The Villaging hobby grows new people year after year, and with so many of them sharing videos on TH-cam, I can live vicariously through them. Now, just living vicariously is a lot harder than it sounds, I'm still going to want stuff, but Department 56, Lemax, and others, are really going to have to step up their game. Department 56 pieces can't merely be just "cool" anymore. They're going to have to be EXTRAORDINARY! Not to mention, most likely will have to compete with what I already have.
I was lucky to get into Villaging a long time ago, back when things were more reasonably priced. Department 56 has always been expensive, but they've been jumping the shark quite a bit these last few years with these $200+ average building prices. And Ebay has proven that these prices are too darn high. I got both The Kraken House and Monstertini's brand new from third party sellers for under $200 each. Asking $200 for a building better give it the ability to fetch my slippers and make me pizza :)
Thanks again Carl for this video and have great one!
vgv
I completely agree and understand-great points all around! Thanks for the insight!!!
One of my cats is named Luna. Maybe I need to get that coffee house now lol
Thank you for sharing these with us!
Hahah-without a doubt you should get it!!!
Thank You!
You're welcome!
Sweet man...good stuff coming. I betcha you already have ideas for your new villages!!!!
You know it! All kinds of ideas floating around!!!
Wow! The Phantom Five are super expensive!
I know!
I’m so excited! I agree on the Hocus Pocus house, it will be a great addition to the spooky mansions of old. And though I don’t do witch hollow, I have to have the brew shop and the awesome cars. Going to be a great trick or treat lane year. Saving up my $$ right now!
Also, curious if a one has seen the 2025 releases for the Grinch village…my other weakness.
Agree!!! I’ll keep an eye out for the Grinch stuff!!
Thanks for the info!
You bet!
Do you think there will be mid year introductions? They said there will be two new series coming from Halloween, the Harvest series is one, what will be the second?
Great questions-I’m not entirely sure at this point. Guess we’ll all have to wait and see.
Love the houses but the prices are out of control. Over $200 for a house. 😳
Crazy world we’re living in for sure!
I agree these prices are high, but I checked with an inflation calculator and it said $125 in the year 2000 would be worth $230 today. So I guess that’s in line with inflation.
Almost doubled, but that is better than the REAL houses here in Pasadena which have gone up about 5x over the last twenty years.
@geoffreyhdavey agree-everything has gone up! Was at Michael’s the other day and was looking at the Lemax Christmas pieces and wondering how they sell them at that price looking the way they look!!
Thanks Carl. Love some of the new accessories for sure. No 2025 RIP Crypt?
Sadly the crypts ended in 2023.
I didn’t realize that was the final year. What a bummer. Do you know why they stopped?
@@HalloweenVillagesbyCarl oh that’s too bad. I know how you loved them and made space for 2 more. I guess you can always add in the Egyptian Crypt. Haha.
@geoffreyhdavey I don’t…perhaps they just weren’t selling that good????
Not helping my addiction!
Haha-or mine!