DACUSVILLE — A Haunted Halloween Trail held annually at the Dacusville Community Center is twisting things up a bit this year by hosting a couple of night geared toward the younger crowd.

“When we did the trail last year, we warned people — it’s scary. It’s really not for kids,” said Kim Holloway, one of the trail’s organizers and owner of Holloway Entertainment along with her husband Joshua. “But you know, it’s Halloween — and kids love Halloween. Those poor kids …”

Holloway said there were multiple times where kids wanted to turn back halfway through the trail because they were too scared.

“It was kind heartbreaking to see, some of these kids — who had begged to go in just minutes before — were now pleading with their parents to take them home,” she said. “Because it was a paced trail and other groups had entered in behind them, they pretty much had to close their eyes and suffer through it.”

Holloway said some of the actors on the trail felt bad too but they couldn’t just “tone it down” because there were other customers in the group.

“The whole thing just made us realize that we needed to do a separate night for kids,” she said. “A night where they can come and get into the whole Halloween spirit, but maybe not develop a life-long complex or phobia, you know?”

Family Night at Haunted Halls was born.

Lights will be a little bit brighter, cameras are welcome and — perhaps most important — no one is going to jump out at you.

“It’s basically a self-guided tour through the halls — all set up with the music and actors and everything — but without chainsaw-wielding mad-men chasing you,” Holloway said. “Actors will stay in their designated areas and won’t be interacting or approaching the groups as they move through the halls.”

In keeping with the family friendly atmosphere, special appearances will be made by Spongebob Squarepants, Spiderman, Elsa and Olaf and others outside the Community Center.

Tickets for the Family Friendly nights are $5 a person with a portion of proceeds being donated to Miracle Hill Children’s Home.

But, if scary is what you’re looking for, Haunted Halls (the not-so-family-version) will be operating every Friday and Saturday in October from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Family Friendly “less scary” Haunted Halls is being held on Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. and on Oct. 28 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Dacusville Community Center at 2671 Earls Bridge Road.

For more information, visit the Haunted Halls Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dacusvillehauntedhalls.

A Haunted Halloween Trail held annually at the Dacusville Community Center is twisting things up a bit this year by hosting a couple of night geared towards the younger crowd.
https://www.theeasleyprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_HH1.jpgA Haunted Halloween Trail held annually at the Dacusville Community Center is twisting things up a bit this year by hosting a couple of night geared towards the younger crowd. Kasie Strickland | The Sentinel-Progress

Family Friendly “less scary” Haunted Halls is being held on Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. and on Oct. 28 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Dacusville Community Center at 2671 Earls Bridge Road.
https://www.theeasleyprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_HH3.jpgFamily Friendly “less scary” Haunted Halls is being held on Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. and on Oct. 28 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Dacusville Community Center at 2671 Earls Bridge Road. Kasie Strickland | The Sentinel-Progress

But, if scary is what you’re looking for, Haunted Halls (the not-so-family-version) will be operating every Friday an Saturday in October from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.
https://www.theeasleyprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/web1_HH4.jpgBut, if scary is what you’re looking for, Haunted Halls (the not-so-family-version) will be operating every Friday an Saturday in October from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Kasie Strickland | The Sentinel-Progress

By Kasie Strickland

kstrickland@championcarolinas.com

Reach Kasie Strickland at 864-855-0355.