Halloween on the Hill (HOTH) is an annual Halloween night celebration in Des Moines’ Sherman Hill neighborhood, in which residents go all-out to present the most creative yard decorations and spooky experiences for visitors.

With the pandemic, like many other celebrations and city traditions, HOTH took a pause in 2020 and ’21. But their comeback on Monday was bloody sweet.

This year’s HOTH brought back the classic “Thriller” performance in the center of the tour, and featured some new sights and sounds. Ooos and awws could be heard throughout the night, and even some screams as Halloween lovers walked past murderous characters such as Jason, Freddy and Pennywise.

Little Village’s Courtney Guein was there to capture some of the immersive fun and fright.

The return of Halloween on the Hill on Oct. 31, 2022, in the historic Sherman Hill neighborhood, included a photo line with Slender Man. — Courtney Guein/Little Village
A vampire skeleton bathed in red, Oct. 31, 2022. — Courtney Guein/Little Village
RIP to the hiatus of Halloween on the Hill on Oct. 31, 2022, in the historic Sherman Hills neighborhood. — Courtney Guein/Little Village
There appeared to be a gruesome hostage scene at this Halloween on the Hill house. — Courtney Guein/Little Village
A spooky but beautiful skeleton who died playing the music of his people at the 2022 Halloween on the Hill. — Courtney Guein/Little Village
A musical performance at the 2022 Halloween on the Hill. — Courtney Guein/Little Village
Two witch sisters roaming the streets of the historic Sherman Hill neighborhood during the 2022 Halloween on the Hill. — Courtney Guein/Little Village
The IT clown, Pennywise, with his signature red balloon in Sherman Hill on Oct. 31, 2022. — Courtney Guein/Little Village
A dance performance at the 2022 Halloween on the Hill — Courtney Guein/Little Village
A house of clowns lit in red for the 2022 Halloween on the Hill. — Courtney Guein/Little Village
The first Halloween display when you entered the 2022 Halloween on the Hill featured this tall chap and an eerie grate. – Courtney Guein/Little Village
Covered in spiderwebs under a black light sits a house participating in the 2022 Halloween on the Hill. — Courtney Guein/Little Village
An inflatable Ghostbusters Cadillac Miller-Meteor on Oct. 31, 2022 for Halloween on the Hill. — Courtney Guein/Little Village
Ryan Howell and his family embody what it means to be a pirate for the 2022 Halloween on the Hill. –Courtney Guein/Little Village
The return of Halloween on the Hill lit up the historic Sherman Hill neighborhood. — Courtney Guein/Little Village
People gather at a haunted house for Halloween on the Hill on Oct. 31, 2022. – Courtney Guein/Little Village
A skeleton wife and husband greet passersby during Halloween on the Hill on Oct. 31, 2022. — Courtney Guein/Little Village
The return of Halloween on the Hill lit up the historic Sherman Hill neighborhood. — Courtney Guein/Little Village
All creatures of the night were welcome for the return of Halloween on the Hill on Oct. 31, 2022, in the historic Sherman Hill neighborhood. — Courtney Guein/Little Village