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LAKEHURST DRAWS A CROWD AT THEIR "HAUNTED MIDWAY"
By Kim Fink
 | | --Photo By Kim Fink Pat Ford poses with some of her creepy ghouls during Lakehurst's annual Spooktacular. |
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There were no treats, only tricks, last Saturday evening at Lakehurst's Fourth Annual Halloween Spooktacular held at the Lakehurst Community Center.
The old firehouse, now revamped as a community center, was transformed into a terrifying haunted house complete with every kind of ghost, goblin and zombie imaginable. The walk-through event is the brainchild of Councilwoman Pat Ford, who designs and organizes the event every year.
"I love doing it!" Ford yelled over the sounds of screams of terror coming from the display's entrance. "It's something special for the older children in the community. It's a good way to keep them close to home and out of trouble. They really enjoy coming every year; it's a lot of fun for everyone."
And enjoy it they do.
Thirteen-year-old Morgan Saemann of Manchester was clutching tightly to her friend Amber Gaydos as she exited the building.
"That was so scary. Definitely the scariest year yet," Saemann said. "The mask room was the creepiest."
The "mask room," along with all five main exhibits, was constructed by Ed Hawley of Lakehurst Public Works, and consisted of rows of glow in the dark masks arranged in a way that made visitors feel as if they were being watched. When least expected, a mask worn by a local volunteer would come alive and scream, sending onlookers scrambling for the exit.
"This is not a show for the squeamish," one volunteer stated. "We lighten up little on the young children, but adults are fair game."
The event is sponsored and run by the town council but volunteers come from all different venues.
"We have firemen here, township employees, high school students; even the mayor is one of the walking dead," Ford added.
This year's theme, "The Haunted Midway," lent to the carnival-like attraction visitors could enter after they walked through the main attraction. Scary clowns, circus freaks and creepy sideshows added to the fright factor.
Ford says she plans and strategizes for months in hopes to make each year better than the last.
"I'll start tomorrow working on ideas for next year," she said. "It's a very involved process."
Hawley said the construction of the exhibits gets more and more complex every year.
"Its gets more difficult each year to build the props but its well worth it when I see everyone having fun. Halloween is one of the best holidays because it doesn't matter who you are, young or old, rich or poor," Ford said. "Halloween has something for everyone."
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