Surrounded by darkness, you know something is there, waiting, watching. Your heart races as your eyes adjust to the lack of light. It’s a haunted house and you’re on high alert, you know something will eventually pop out and you’ll shriek in terror. But, despite all of this you know it’s just a fun frightening way to spend an evening in October.
With Hallowe’en just around the corner, the Heward Haunted Rink has been set up to provide two nights and a day of entertainment to the surrounding area. Open Friday, Oct. 23, Saturday, Oct. 24, and Sunday, Oct. 25, it’s a great way to get in the Hallowe’en spirit.
“We’re set up in the curling rink this year,” Chantelle Duxbury, President of the Heward Rec Board, explained. “We started from scratch. We used to set up in the other side and have to tear everything down quickly in order to get ice in for skating. Last year we tinned the roof of the curling rink and Trevor Dayman – TD Electric – out of Arcola came and put up a new panel box and he put electricity through the whole side because this side just had power at the front.”
Setting up this year are approximately 10 volunteers and although Duxbury, who is a Hallowe’en aficionado, has planned 11 of the14 spooky haunted rooms being set up by the volunteers, three rooms are a mystery even to her right now.
“Vivid Crystal from in town has one room that they’re setting up, Taurean Brigden with Herr Kutz Salon is doing one, and Jason Johnston has asked to do one,” Duxbury explained.
“We have 15 confirmed scarers for Friday and Saturday nights. Our children, who are in here helping set up all the time, asked to be scarers this year, so we’re letting them help on the Sunday. This will be the first year we let them scare and the Sunday isn’t as scary.”
Volunteers, who have to help set up in order to help scare, are from Heward, Stoughton, and Arcola this year.
“People come in and help set up and they get hooked, they want to come scare as well,” Duxbury said.
After the Heward Haunted Rink saw 616 people last year in 12 hours, they decided to expand their hours to help people find the time to enjoy the frights at the rink.
This year, on Friday and Saturday, the haunted rink will be delivering its most frightening spooks which will be open from 7 p.m. to midnight, while the Sunday afternoon between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. will be less scary, but still a lot of fun.
“We will have a full kitchen/concession and we have a liquor licence for the night, so minors are welcome but they have to be accompanied by an adult and the Friday and Saturday nights are at the parents’ discretion because they are scarier,” Duxbury said. “The guided tour on the Sunday is less scary.”
All minors must be accompanied by an adult.
“It’s $10 a head, but bodies are free,” Duxbury laughed. So, for people 13-years-old and older the cost of admission is $10, while for those 12-years-old and younger the cost is $5.
This year the Heward Rec Board is being assisted in facilitating the spooky adventure by the Heward Church Board who is running the bar and kitchen, as well as by the Stoughton Demolition Derby Club who will be doing security at the Haunted Rink.
“We [the Heward Rec Board] couldn’t do this on our own,” Duxbury said. “The Rec Board is down in numbers this year, but we’re still making it happen and that’s because of our volunteers and other groups willing to come in and help. TD Electric, Trevor Dayman, was another one that this wouldn’t have been possible without.”
“The electrical was huge for us this year, and last year we tinned the roof of the north end of the rink. This year we plan on updating the kitchen and bathrooms if we’re able to make enough.”
For more information visit them on Facebook at Heward Parks & Rec.
