Halloween Town, with all of its ghoulish delights and legendary fireworks show returns to the South Cariboo Rec. Centre (SCRC) on Halloween night (Oct. 31).
This will be the fifth consecutive year for the popular community event that just keeps growing and getting better with time. It's a joint effort between facility host, Canlan Ice Sports, and the South Cariboo Chamber of Commerce.
Doors are open from 5 to 9 p.m., and inside, there will be a free skating party where lights will be dimmed and the big screen TV will show a family movie that suits the occasion.
A section of the ice will feature felt pens for colouring and drawing on the glassy surface and in the lobby, children will find a tattoo stand with rub-on tattoos. You don't have to bring skates to have fun, though because there's a lot more going on.
Five hundred bags of candy, made possible through donations from local businesses, will be handed out to children as they enter the Rec. Centre.
Canlan staff will be mingling all night handing out prizes for the best costumes. While costume prizes are just for the children, everyone, regardless of age, is encouraged to dress up and get into the spirit.
In keeping with terrifying tradition, the 2012 grad class at Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School plans to host the annual haunted house, where for $2, folks can have a guided tour through "The Insane Asylum."
Canlan general manager Josh Dickerson says the large attraction will incorporate most of the dressing rooms and if it's anything like past years, there will be a long lineup.
As for what to expect in the haunted house, he adds they are keeping it a surprise and it will be worth the wait.
"Families will be entertained for sure."
The grad class will use the funds they raise for their dry grad celebrations at the end of the school year.
Children aged four-12 years can get in on some nice prizes by entering the Halloween colouring contest, too.
Outside, at 7 p.m. the spectacular fireworks show takes place. Put on by a professional company from Calgary, the show is expected to last about 20 minutes and will include $7,000 worth of fireworks. It's made possible through cash donations from local businesses.
While enjoying the display, people can stay warm with a cup of hot chocolate, which will be sold by the 100 Mile House Figure Skating Club, and they can also huddle around the huge bonfire that will be blazing throughout the evening.
Halloween Town was spearheaded in 2007 by former Canlan employee Bev Lund and Dickerson says they owe her a lot of gratitude for developing a family event that the community and the Canlan staff look forward to each year.
"It's one of those events that everyone takes part in and we've never had any issues in the past. Everyone behaves themselves, from kids to teenagers."
At last year's event, an estimated 4,000 people passed through the doors of the Rec. Centre and about 6,000 stood outside to watch the fireworks display.
