Newport News, VA: Halloween events include a harrowing walk through the woods

From Daily Press: Halloween events include a harrowing walk through the woods
With apologies to Robert Frost, the woods are deadly, dark and deep.

This time of year, there seems to be a werewolf snarling behind every tree, a troll slithering beneath every bridge, a sexy nurse frolicking outside every ABC store.

Danger lurks at every turn. Which means scary Halloween fun can be found in dozens of different forms.

At St. Kateri Tekakwitha, a Catholic parish serving Tabb and Poquoson, youth group members have created a Haunted Trail with the intention of frightening the devil out of their friends and neighbors.

It's a tradition that stretches back more than a decade.

"This year, our theme is Terror Island where our 'victims' will get shanghaied onto the island by pirates where zombies, cannibals and other creatures of the night rule," explained Pat Kovac, youth minister at St. Kateri. "They will be taken through a maze, cemetery, a haunted junkyard, executioner's row, spider nightmare and other surprises."

The Haunted Trail is a big fundraiser for the church's youth summer work trips and it's something kids and adults eagerly anticipate each fall. It takes as many as 65 teens and 20 adults each night to run the trail. The number of quivering, screaming customers can reach 800.

"There are 14 large crosses on the trail that we have lit and have posted Bible sayings that pertain to fear," Kovac explained. "Our rule is that the crosses are safe zones. Between the crosses, not so much."

A new wrinkle in this season's set of Halloween events is a zombie-dodging race scheduled for Friday, Oct. 28 in the woods around The Mariners' Museum in Newport News.

"How do you dodge a zombie?" a press release for Fright Night 2011 asked. "Each participant will receive a flag to tie around around their arm or waist and be released into the woods."

In the shadows, zombies will do their best to get their hands on the participants. "How realistic will the zombies be? They're just like us, but dead," said Susanne Raiszadeh, president of the City Center Rotary Club, organizers of the race.

Those who cross a finish line alive — that is, with their flags intact — are winners. As for the losers, well, zombies need their brain food.

The race will raise money for The Arc of the Virginia Peninsula, an organization that helps people with developmental and other disabilities.

Here's a closer look at Halloween events happening across the region.

Colonial Williamsburg's "Ghosts Amongst Us." During the one-hour walking tour, guests enter the sites and meet ghostly inhabitants and those who have lived to tell of their supernatural experiences. 7 and 8:30 p.m. Lumber House Ticket Office, nightly Oct. 23-Nov. 1 and sporadically until Nov. 24. Ticket: $12. Not appropriate for young audiences.

Ghost Hunting 101. Central Virginia Paranormal Investigations, a ghost-hunting team founded in 2008, discusses do's and the don'ts of getting started in ghost-hunting, organizing a team, avoiding legal issues, finding the history of a location, working with the media and more, 6-8 p.m., Monday, Oct. 24, at Grissom Library, Newport News. They also will demonstrate their equipment and answer audience questions. No registration required. 757-369-3190.

Haunted Trail presents "Terror Island." 7-9 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday Oct. 26-27, 7-10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, 7-9:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30. The St. Kateri Tekakwitha Youth Group is hosting guided spooky outdoor tours through "Terror Island." The event is located at 3800 Big Bethel Road across from Tabb Elementary School. Tickets are $8 or $6 with student ID and can be purchased in advance at the church or at the event. Scary fun for adults, teens, and tweens. Contact Pat Kovac at patkovac@stkatri.hrcoxmail.com or 766-3800. This event is not appropriate for young children.

Fort Monroe Haunted Tours. Presented by the Hampton History Museum. 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26-Saturday, Oct. 29. (Gazebo beside the Historic Chamberlin), Fort Monroe. $20 per person for ages 6 and up. Comfortable walking shoes recommended. Tours not recommended for small children. Proceeds benefit the Hampton History Museum. Each tour is approximately 11/2 hours long. For advance tickets, call 757-727-1610.

Haunted Ship: BB-64 Paranormal Investigation at Nauticus. An after-hours ghost hunt below decks. Explore dark, creepy spaces that have never been open to the public. Tours will run Oct. 27-30. Thursday 6:30-10 p.m. and Friday-Sunday 6:30-10 p.m. Participants must have the ability to climb steep ladder steps and navigate tight sub-deck spaces. Not suitable for children 11 and younger. Tickets are $15. One Waterside Drive, Norfolk. Call 664-1000.

Haunts of Poquoson. Oct. 27-29. 7:30-9 p.m. Poquoson Museum, 968 Poquoson Ave. Haunted maze, haunted walk, ghost stories. $3 a person. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. http://www.poquosonmuseum.com.

Casemate Museum Lantern Tour. 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27. One-hour walking tour of Fort Monroe. Tour begins at the entrance to the Casemate Museum and is free of charge. Reservations are required: 757-788-3391. Weather permitting.

Haunted Forest and Hay Ride. 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28-Oct. 29, Oct. 31. 600 W. Main St., Smithfield. 757-617-9758.

PFAC Presents: The Haunted Hospital. 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28-Monday, Oct. 31. Gentle scares by baby monsters, lively zombies, and ghoulish doctors and nurses. There will be take-home treats. Appropriate for ages kindergarten-fifth grade. Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Museum Drive, Newport News. Tickets are $5 per person. 757-596-8175.

Survive Norfolk, a game of zombie tag. Saturday, Oct. 29, streets of Ghent, Norfolk. A limited number of participants will be able to play as either humans or zombies. Check in and registration starts at 6 p.m., game begins at 8:30 p.m. Only 18 and older are eligible to participate. $10 registration fee. Visit survivenorfolk.wordpress.com.

Wicked 10K and Monster Mile foot races. Saturday, Oct. 29, Virginia Beach oceanfront. Runners don costumes as they race along the oceanfront. Post-race party will feature beer, costume contest celebration and live music from the band Rock Star Parking. Registration fee $60 to $25. 10K race starts at 8 a.m., Monster Mile race starts at 10 a.m. Visit http://www.wicked10k.com or call 757-412-1056.

Howl-O-Scream, Busch Gardens. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 30. This year's fright fest will feature new haunted houses, scare zones and shows built around the theme "The Dark Side of the Gardens." Evil clowns and the musical show "Fiends" are among the attractions. Howl-O-Scream is not suitable for children after 6 p.m. Younger guests will be treated to Halloween happenings during the day at Sesame Street Forest of Fun. Single day admission, $66.99 or $56.99 for children ages 3-9. Visit http://www.howl-o-scream.com/va

Nightmares on the Beach. Through Oct. 31. Nightmare Mansion: 2008 Atlantic Ave. Haunted 3-D Fun House, Mirror Maze of Terror: 1910 Atlantic Ave. and Pirate Ghost Ride: 1608 Atlantic Ave. Starting at 6 p.m. Virginia Beach. 428-FEAR, http://www.youwillscream.com.

Fright Night – A Zombie-Dodging Footrace. 5-7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28. The Rotary Club at City Center Newport News is hosting a zombie dodging footrace through the woods and fields at Williams Field at The Mariners' Museum. This zombie-tag event will include prizes, snacks and music from DJ Chris Rice. Footrace is for those 18 and up only. $10 in advance, $15 at the gate. 757-713-2199.

The Haunting of Hampton. 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29. A frightening night of live musical entertainment and activities. All visitors are encouraged to dress in costume. Music will be by Excess. Queens Way, downtown Hampton. Free.

Virginia Air & Space Center's Halloween Bash. 4-7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29. Safe trick-or-treating, scavenger hunt, creepy make-and-take activities, spooky feely stations, the skeleton crew of a ghost place and a wacky wizard's castle. Costume contest for all ages. Hampton Sheriff's Office will be on hand with their Child ID program. Space is limited and advance tickets are encouraged. 600 Settlers Landing Road, Hampton. Order tickets online at http://www.vasc.org or call 727-0900, ext. 705.

Pirates, Mermaids & Monsters Halloween Cruise. 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30. Visit with pirates and mermaids on the water this Halloween aboard Spirit of Norfolk's pirates, mermaids and monsters lunch cruise. $32.50 per person, excluding taxes and fees. 866-304-2496.

New Covenant Church hosts its annual Night of No Fear. 6-8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31. Children under 12 are invited to bring a parent and have fun in a safe, fright-free environment. There will be candy, free hot dogs, games, prizes, inflatables. 1079 Big Bethel Road, Hampton. 757-838-8700.