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Looking for the best Halloween decorations in Fayette and Coweta counties? A Peachtree City software engineer has created a charming new website that helps residents find decorated homes, trick-or-treating locations, and local Halloween events — all on one interactive map.
The website, decked.boo, is the creation of Katie Holland, a Peachtree City resident who combined her love of holiday decorations with her professional experience in software engineering.
And while the website serves a practical purpose, its playful design — complete with smiling ghosts, pumpkins, and candy corn — makes exploring it part of the fun.
“It puts a smile on my face when I open it. It’s fun for me to be on. So hopefully others feel the same,” Holland said.
From a Halloween tradition to a new website
Holland and her partner moved to Peachtree City from Atlanta around 2023. One of their favorite activities was using the city’s Halloween Fright Lights map to plan routes through neighborhoods filled with elaborate decorations.
When that resource was no longer available, Holland missed having an easy way to discover the area’s most festive homes.
Rather than searching through multiple Facebook groups for recommendations, she decided to build something herself.
A software engineer who works for a large media corporation and is developing an AI consulting business called Holland Lane, Holland used newer development tools to create the initial version of decked.boo in approximately four hours on a Saturday.
“So it’s a selfish product,” Holland said. “It’s something that I wanted, but it’s something that I feel like other folks would definitely use too.”
The website began with Peachtree City but has expanded to include nearby communities, including Fayetteville, Newnan, Senoia, and Sharpsburg.
Find the decorations — and the candy
Visitors to decked.boo can preview the Halloween map without signing in. Creating a login allows users to explore specific locations in their communities.
Residents can submit their own decorated homes, neighborhoods, businesses, or Halloween events, including trunk-or-treat celebrations.
They can also identify their homes as locations where trick-or-treaters are welcome to stop for candy.
Holland said that feature could be especially useful for residents who enjoy handing out candy but don’t live in neighborhoods that typically attract large numbers of trick-or-treaters. The site allows homeowners to let others know they have candy and would welcome visitors, even if their neighborhoods aren’t traditional trick-or-treating destinations.
The website also allows users to build routes, check in at locations, leave comments, and rate their favorite displays. A leaderboard adds a little friendly competition, while a featured Haunt of the Night highlights a top-rated location.
Holland has also included safeguards for homeowners. Residents can report an address they don’t want listed, and submitted photos are reviewed before appearing on the site.
Although decked.boo works much like a smartphone app, there’s nothing to download. The mobile-friendly website can be bookmarked or added to a phone’s home screen.
A little whimsy goes a long way
Before becoming a software engineer, Holland worked as a musician. She sees a connection between performing for audiences and creating digital experiences people enjoy.
Her interest in playful design has also been influenced by her travels in Asia, including a recent trip to Taiwan and Korea.
“We don’t have to give up childhood wonder or whimsy just because we’re adults,” Holland said.
That philosophy is reflected in the website’s colorful, cartoon-like appearance, which stands apart from more conventional mapping tools.
It’s also reflected in Holland’s favorite Halloween decorations.
“I’m a huge fan of skeletons,” Holland said. “I love seeing some kind of display where the skeletons have run amok.”
Her own home features a few mischievous skeletons this year, although Holland said she didn’t have time to create the full Halloween display she had envisioned.
Christmas lights are coming next
Halloween is only the beginning.
Holland is already preparing a Christmas version of the website called Jingle Route, which will help residents find holiday light displays and seasonal events.
Visitors can sign up through the website to be notified when the Christmas experience becomes available.
The goal is to make it easier for residents to discover the creativity already on display in their communities, whether they’re planning a family outing, looking for trick-or-treating destinations, or simply enjoying an evening drive through decorated neighborhoods.
For now, Holland is encouraging residents to submit their Halloween decorations, candy stops, and events so more neighbors can discover them before Oct. 31.
Visit decked.boo to explore the Halloween map or add a location.
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