In celebration of the upcoming Halloween holiday, Albion College and student-led organizations are hosting a number of Halloween events on Albion’s campus and in the Albion community. Some of the events include Albion College’s annual ‘Spooktacular’, an on-campus haunted trail, a haunted house and a corn maze.
Spooktacular
Albion’s annual Spooktacular is set to take place this Sunday, Oct. 31 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The event is going to be held in Victory Park. It is going to follow a format similar to the ‘drive-through’ model that was first implemented last year. Student organizations are going to line the road that goes through Victory Park and pass out candy to those driving by in their cars.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Spooktacular attendees would trick-or-treat between buildings on Albion’s campus. The drive-through format was introduced last year to mitigate risk of COVID-19 infection amongst Spooktacular volunteers and the event’s attendees.
Panhel Vice President of Philanthropy, Claire Nickerson, and IFC Vice President of Philanthropy, Jonathan Stander, have been working with The Office of Campus Life to organize Spooktacular. They are expecting 39 clubs and organizations to volunteer at the event.
The Spooktacular coordinators are also working to build and improve upon past Spooktacular events.
“We are working really hard to make Spooktacular more than just clubs handing out candy in a drive-through setting,” said Claire Nickerson, Harper Creek junior and one of the event’s lead organizers.
This year, Spooktacular is going to feature balloon arches, Euphonics performances and an artificial skeleton band. These components are all new to the Spooktacular event.
Nickerson is optimistic about this year’s Spooktacular.
“Spooktacular is going to be a super awesome event,” said Nickerson. “This is because of all the support we have received from both community members and on-campus students and organizations.”
Spooktacular is predominantly targeted towards those in the Albion community, but anyone is welcomed to attend the event.
Haunted Trail
This year, The Whitehouse Nature Center is hosting its first ever haunted trail. The trail opened on Oct. 28, and it is going to run through the weekend.
According to Whitehouse Nature Center assistant, Tess Rennalls, Melvinadale senior, the trail is meant to be scary.
“There will be some atmospheric stuff to set the tone for the haunted trail,” said Rennalls. “There will also be some story elements, but most of it will be people popping out at you in the dark.”
The haunted trail is following the main loop of ecology, a commonly used trail in the Nature Center. Groups of six people or less will be permitted to walk the haunted trail together and will beled to and from the woods by an employee of the Nature Center. The haunted trail is featuring ghosts, a graveyard and zombies.
On-campus employees are working the trail. Most will be students employed by the Whitehouse Nature Center.
Rennalls is excited to host a Halloween event on Albion’s campus.
“We are very much looking forward to being able to host an on-campus event that is scary,” said Rennalls.
The trail is free of charge. Those interested in attending the haunted trail can also pre-register for the event. In pre-registering for the trail, guests are able to reserve a time-slot to walk the trail.
Delta Sigma Phi Haunted House
Albion’s Delta Sigma Phi fraternity chapter is hosting its annual haunted house this Saturday, Oct. 30, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The haunted house is going to take place in Delta Sigma Phi’s on-campus residence. It will be open to Albion College students and the Albion community.
Attendees will be led through the scary twists and turns of the house by a brother of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity.
Jeremy Hogaboom and Ryan Beyers, Delta Sigma Phi’s philanthropy chairs, have worked to plan and will be managing the event.
Admission for the event is six dollars. All of the proceeds will go to the Albion Community Foundation, a local nonprofit foundation dedicated to cultivating community assets.
Union Board Sponsored Corn Maze
This Saturday, Oct. 30, Union Board is sponsoring a trip to a nearby corn maze for Albion College students. The maze is going to be available to students from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The corn maze is located at EMBY Farm in Albion. Students can either shuttle or drive themselves to the field. The shuttle will run from 2 p.m to 4 p.m. Pick up will be in the parking lot of the Kellogg Center. The maze is free for those who show their student ID, $5 for all students college and below and $7 for everyone else
“Union Board as a whole is excited to provide a great opportunity for students and to see them having a great time with friends,” said Austin Raymond, Clare sophomore and Union Board member.
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