Those who feel safer taking a flashlight while walking through a campground at night might want to avoid this event…or perhaps they’d make the perfect victim.
Halloween comes early this weekend at MacGregor Point Provincial Park with The Haunted Trail that invites people to take a walk through Huron Campground, deep in the woods and risk being followed by a chainsaw wielding maniac, ghosts, zombies and maybe even an infamous clown.
People can test their nerve on the trail on Friday the 13th and Saturday the 14th between 7:30 and 10 p.m.
Senior Park Interpreter Kathleen Houlahan says It’s not for the faint of heart. It takes scary to a level not recommended for children, pregnant women or people with heart conditions or epilepsy.
Houlahan says a whole crew of park employees, past employees and volunteers including local high school kids have a great time exercising their acting skills and working hard to put the trail together.
The Haunted Trail is part of the weekend long Witches in the Woods event which also features kids’ activities and a daytime walk from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday through of the trail (no actors) for those who think it might be too scary at night.
Entry cost is a non-perishable food item for the local Salvation Army Food Bank in Port Elgin plus $14.50 for a car load of people.
Friends of MacGregor Point Park will also sell hot chocolate and hallo-wieners! Organizers say it’s a good idea to bring some cash and have a snack while waiting in line for the Trail.
Also this weekend there is a campsite decorating contest and a scavenger hunt on both days from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There is a pumpkin carving contest from 1:30 -2 p.m. where you can bring your pumpkin and have it judged for prizes at the visitor’s centre.
A bat-tastic children’s program to learn about North America’s only flying mammal
There is also Trick Or Treating at the campsites on Saturday at dusk.
On Sunday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. you can “Meet the Naturalist” and ask questions about creepy crawly critters and the spooky animals in MacGregor Point Park.
Last year the event collected over 890 lbs of food for the food bank and saw roughly 1,500 people go through the event.
The goal this year is to collect 1,000 lbs of food.
The weekend is made possible by a partnership between Friends of MacGregor Point Park and Ontario Parks staff.
