Cool trend in Halloween decorations - Christmas lights

Clinton Street - Multi-colored lights with carefully applied webbing

Halloween decorations are going up fast and furious in my little hamlet of Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn. People go a little nuts around here this time of year and Carroll Gardens is home to some of the coolest Halloween decorations anywhere.

Part of the fun is spotting the trends in Halloween decor. Last year it was giant, fuzzy spiders and body parts (check out my Halloween Round-up 2011) and this year a new trend is emerging: Christmas, or "twinkie" lights, applied with a generous hand.

White webs, white lights, white ghosts - spooky!

Of course, Halloween fanatics (and you know who you are) have been using Christmas lights since the dawn of time for their festive displays, but this year the effect seems to be going mainstream.

These are no Yuletide leftovers. Sure, there are the classic, white Christmas lights, but there are also colored lights - one color per strand - in hues like purple and orange! Huzzah!

For the spookiest Halloween look, though, nothing beats white on white - sparkling white lights wrapped in wispy webs and a skull or two - especially when everything's swaying in a cool, autumn breeze.

How to decorate a fire escape for Halloween? Add lights & voila!

And if you're wondering, "Just how do I decorate a fire escape for Halloween?" look no further than a few strands of colored twinkies and an extension cord. This fire escape on Court Street also boasted a line of mini light-up Jack O'Lanterns, if you want to get fancy about it.

Who knew that one day it would be socially acceptable to have your Christmas lights up year 'round. Let's celebrate!