The spine-tingling delights of a haunted Halloween are around the corner, with a few frightful offerings in the local area both for the whole family and for adults.
While the Williams Haunted House is not running this year, people looking for a ghastly walk can venture through the Blue Quills’ haunted house this Thursday, if they dare.
Blue Quills’ Jennifer Ramsay is organizing the event alongside Sharon Jackson, and she notes this is the fourth year that the university is organizing the event meant to raise funds and goods for the students’ food bank.
“It’s well-used and we can never have enough food for the food bank. We’re always running low,” she said, explaining the reason for holding the event, with admissions and food donations going towards the bank.
The Thursday evening includes kids’ activities, games and treats in the gymnasium, with kids able to do everything from decorate cookies to take part in a mini-haunted house, that’s less scary than the main attraction.
The main haunted house will include some popular movie themes, like the 2017 movie It about a shape-shifting demon, or scary dolls.
“There’s definitely going to be live people dressed up and action throughout,” said Ramsay, encouraging parents to be aware of their kids’ limitations or fears in deciding whether or not to take them through it.
Blue Quills itself provides atmosphere, as she notes, “It’s an old building – it’s got the scary vibe. And it was a residential school, of course.”
Children attending will leave with treats, and books donated by the university’s literacy department. Admission proceeds are $3 with a non-perishable food item, or $6 without a food donation.
More and more people are becoming aware of the haunted house night, and with that, she’s hoping for an “amazing turnout” from everyone in the wider community.
On the night of Halloween, another family-friendly event will be taking place, offering treats and games, as the St. Paul Recreation Centre plays host to Safe and Sweet Halloween.
Lynn Smid, Town of St. Paul FCSS director, said the long-running annual event will include a dozen kids’ carnival games with Halloween themes, like a ring toss, ping-pong and bowling activities from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., followed by a presentation from Flying Bob.
“He’s a one-man, three-ring circus,” she explained, adding Flying Bob will give a 50-minute presentation that’s fun for the whole family. “We wanted to keep it so it wasn’t a scary thing.”
The price of admission is $2 a child. Local businesses sponsor treat bags for the kids, while people can also get food to eat, with a hot dog sale at the site going towards supporting the local animal shelter.
Safe and Sweet Halloween is run as a partnership between FCSS, Parent Link, the St. Paul Youth Council and the St. Paul Municipal Library.
