From now until Oct. 31, a special Halloween event is taking place just across the Delaware River in Lambertville. Memory Maker’s Trail of Magic is decorating the town’s streets and local businesses’ window displays with spooky sculptures created by local legend Dolores Dragan. 

For the last 20 years, Dragan has been best known for her Halloween House at her home on North Union Street. What started as a small window display eventually grew into an elaborate setup on her front lawn, drawing thousands of visitors.  

With her decorations, Dragan hoped to help children make memories that would last them a lifetime.  

But after last Halloween, Dragan decided it was time for the Halloween House to retire. Not wanting locals to miss out on the magic, she spoke with Lisa Shippy-Woods, her neighbor and executive director of the Lambertville Creative Arts Fund, a local nonprofit organization.  

The pair began to brainstorm ways to keep the event alive and the Memory Maker’s Trail of Magic was born. 

This city-wide celebration, organized by the Lambertville Creative Arts Fund, is displaying sculptures in over 40 businesses and community spaces.  

The organization has worked hard to bring the Trail to life. Lorraine Cahill, a local artist and friend of Dragan, serves as the Artistic Director and helped with the installation of the figures and the design of each display. Local volunteers have also been instrumental in making the Trail possible. 

“You can feel their love for Dolores’s art in the way they work, and that spirit, combined with Lorraine’s vision, has turned this into something really special,” said Shippy-Woods.  

Now, visitors can take self-guided tours and experience the magic of Dragan’s displays for themselves.  

The hope is that the Trail becomes a new tradition for the city. 

“We want today’s children to grow up with the same sense of wonder that Dolores’s Halloween House inspired, and for future generations to wander Lambertville each October, making new memories of their own,” Shippy-Woods said.  

Already, they’ve seen an outpouring of love and support from residents and local businesses alike. Families who grew up with Dragan’s Halloween House are excited to see her work carry on in a new form, sharing the Halloween spirit with a new generation. 

“For longtime Lambertville residents, there’s a deep sense of relief and joy that Dolores’s creations are not only being preserved but are still woven into the life of our town each October. It feels like the whole community—children, adults, shop owners, and neighbors alike—is celebrating together,” said Shippy-Woods.  

So take a trip to Lambertville this October for the Memory Makers’ Trail of Magic, and experience these fantastic Halloween creations yourself!

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