Selden family’s epic haunted yard is raising money for childhood cancer research

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For Mike Giordano and his son, Salvatore, Halloween has always been more than costumes and candy — it’s a tradition that’s brought their Selden neighborhood together for five years.

“It was really a bonding moment between me and my son, who’s now 18,” Mike Giordano said. “And we still love doing it.”

What started as a few simple decorations has since grown into a full-blown Halloween walk-through at their home, located at 284 Dare Road. Each year, they’ve added more — from eerie driveway setups to elaborate scenes covering the backyard and beyond.

[Keep scrolling for a spooky tour.]

“The first year it was small,” Mike Giordano laughed. “Then it just grew to this.”

*Salvatore (left) and Mike (right) Giordano outside their spooky Selden house. Photo by Julianne Mosher*

The attraction is free to the public and open nightly from 6 to 10 p.m., offering a “PG-13” experience that still draws visitors of all ages. Inside, guests encounter multiple themed rooms — including a clown room, creepy nursery, and even a terrifying Christmas scene — plus a graveyard, butchery, and more than 100 animatronics.

Salvatore, now a seasoned scare actor, greets guests as a chainsaw-wielding clown at the front gate. Neighbors and even actors from other local haunted houses pitch in, volunteering their time to help deliver the chills.

But this year, the Giordanos added something new — a way to give back. Mike’s daughter, Isabella, a student at Stony Brook University, set up a donation box benefiting The B+ Foundation, a charity that supports childhood cancer research and families in need.

“There’s no charge to get in,” Mike Giordano said. “But the box is there if anyone wants to donate.”

Since adding it last week, the family has already raised a few hundred dollars.

The Giordanos began setting up in September — “late for us,” Mike Giordano joked — and plan to keep the display running through Halloween, weather permitting.

“It’s a good environment and it’s a lot of fun,” he said. “Everybody comes in scared but leaves smiling.”