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This year, we kicked off our annual Halloween party with our DJ spinning on the ones and twos, blasting all the hottest jams that kept youth glued to the dance floor, including the classic line dances everyone loves. The night was packed with fun, from our Zombie Eyeball Toss to pumpkin carving, and let us just say… those pumpkins turned out amazzzzzzzing. 

Our Cursed Zone also made a terrifying return this year and in a big way! Youth could choose to simply walk through the eerie spectacles or take things to the next level by embarking on the quest for the Secrets of the Sigils. Four mysterious sigils were hidden across the themed areas of the walk-through, each guarded by clues (and a few mischievous staff spirits) ready to guide anyone who found themselves bewitched and bewildered. 

One young person shared how impressed she was with the setup, calling the entire scene “so beautifully staged.” She loved the thrill of searching for each sigil, (her favorite being the spider pulley puzzle,) and couldn’t stop admiring the glowing Halloween murals with its haunting UV details. 

We ended our Halloween festivities with a trip to Hundred Acres Manor and the chills started way before anyone made it inside the haunted house. Four staff transported 12 youth to the haunted house, and as we approached the castle, young people spotted a sign that read, “Enter at your own risk." That was the moment fear fully kicked in. 

We had one incredibly brave soul who stepped through the castle doors… only to turn right back around after hearing the screams echoing inside. But just as she tried to make her escape, a clown came sprinting after her from the entryway, sending her (and all of us watching) into full Halloween panic mode. 

The rest of our fearless crew pushed forward together. Shaken like leaves, we inched our way through the darkness, clutching onto each other every time we heard the next blood-curdling scream, the banging walls, or the roar of a chainsaw revving up nearby. We stumbled our way through many areas of the property including the South Valley Hospital, the Voodoo Graveyard, the Folklore, the Sisterhood, and Hallows Eve. Each of us came face-to-face with zombies, creatures, monsters, and every other product of your nightmares. 

And somehow, somehow — we all survived and made it out of the castle aliveeeee!