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Halloween showdown: 2 OC neighbors stage fierce haunted house rivalry

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In Lake Forest, two families spend thousands of dollars trying to outdo each other each Halloween, building over-the-top haunted house attractions.

An annual Halloween showdown is about to take place between two Orange County families.

They have spent thousands of dollars to transform their suburban homes into their darkest nightmares. This year, Donald Julson is building a haunted maze on his parents’ driveway, while across the street, Clay Stevens and his daughters will blow up a huge circus tent filled with nefarious clowns.

Hundreds of visitors are expected to visit the spectacle on the night of Oct. 31. It's part of an annual tradition on Loganberry Lane in Lake Forest. Over the years, it’s become a playful rivalry between the families, each vying to see who can get the most screams in the neighborhood. 

KPCC's Wendy Lee reports

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