Utah Neighborhood Transforms Into ‘Barbie Land’ for Halloween to ‘Bring Some Joy’

Wendy Grossman Kantor
·2 min read
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One town is opting for fun over fright this year with an all-pink collective theme

<p>Natalie Behring/The Washington Post/Getty Images</p>

Natalie Behring/The Washington Post/Getty Images

'Barbie Land' in South Jordan, Utah

Emily Tuggle loved playing with Barbie dolls growing up. Now, at 37, she's creating new memories as she and her neighbors have turned their homes into life-sized Barbie houses for Halloween.

After seeing the Barbie movie together, Tuggle and her friends decided to dress up as Barbies for Halloween. One of their daughters suggested they take it a step further and decorate their homes as Barbie houses, too.

“We all were like, ‘Absolutely,’ ” Tuggle, a nurse anesthesiologist, tells PEOPLE. "Immediately, I was like, ‘I'm pool party Barbie.’ One of the other girls was like, ‘I want to do Barbie's Dream House,’ We just kind of spun from there."

<p>Natalie Behring/The Washington Post/Getty Images</p> Chas Tucker and daughter Maile 10, at their 'Classic Barbie' house

Natalie Behring/The Washington Post/Getty Images

Chas Tucker and daughter Maile 10, at their 'Classic Barbie' house

She adds, "We did it because the kids thought it would be a fun idea, and we just thought we would bring some joy and some non-creepy stuff to Halloween.”

The neighbors recreated Barbie’s "hometown" in their South Jordan, Utah, neighborhood filled with white picket fences. “It looks like Pleasantville from the outside,” Tuggle says. “We're like, ‘This is the perfect spot to do Barbie.’ ”

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In late September, the first eight houses were decorated, and then 10 more joined the fun. The whole journey has taken off on TikTok at @paseo_forever, where neighbor Liz Teran has shared several videos of the festive street.

The attention is "just mind-boggling, but it's just been so much fun," Tuggle says. “It's brought a lot of joy."

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Plus, the project has gotten everyone out of their houses more.

“We're all going out at night and talking with each other and going, 'Hey, Barbie!' " she says, referencing a scene from the movie. “It’s creating more of a community.”

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