Halloween isn’t Whitewater News Editor Connie Tabbert’s favourite holiday, as she’s terrified of the creatures who creep up on her, not caring if it’s from the back, side or even the front; the masked faces that aren’t really faces, and people who stand and stare … not moving.
However, there’s one thing she can’t do — and that’s stay away from scary things, always trying to be brave. This is her story of the Haunted Walk hosted by the Cobden Rec Association at Cobden Park Saturday night.
Standing in line, I didn’t hear any screams. Maybe it’s not going to scare the bejeepers out of me.
Or…
Maybe no one has gone through.
But that’s not true, because we are standing in line because the guide is leading another group through the Haunted Walk.
Before getting to the line-up, my haunted walk partners, Sue Bennett and her daughter-in-law Felicia, were invited to partake in a hotdog and/or juice. Thinking I might be doing a bit of running and screaming, I decline, as did they, but not for the same reasons.
The two greeters invite us to put our $2 donation into the pumpkin. Being nervous, I completely missed the pumpkin sitting right there on the table and toss my coins into the lamp sitting beside it. This brought laughter from us, as well as the four teenaged boys who were also waiting for a guide.
The black, plastic tarp entranceway is raised and Donna Burns and, I’m guessing, her grandchildren walk through. I think, she doesn’t look too bad, I know I can do this, and I won’t scream.
Sue, Felicia and myself, along with the four teenagers, are ushered through the black-tarped entryway into the Haunted Walk.
This isn’t so bad, I think.
And then it starts.
I scream and jump around from one end of the walk right through to the next end. Witches. Creatures coming down the hill – and up from the lakeside. And then those black-dressed people, with no faces, who stand there, still, don’t move, and you expect them too. That’s just as creepy as those creatures who jump out at you, chase you and start up chain saws.
What about those hanging and standing dolls? The Muskrat Lake Creature – and no, I don’t mean Mussie – the one who grabbed the witch telling the tale.
I know at one point I was pushing Felicia towards a creature, trying to save my own skin.
And that poor teenaged boy, the one whom I grabbed onto and wasn’t going to let go of – I could feel him trying to pull away from me – but I was having none of that.
Sue and Felicia sure got their money’s worth – they better have put in more than a toonie each!
It’s the same each time for me. I know I’m going to be scared, I know I’m going to scream, but I just can’t stay away.
By the way, I did ask if others screamed, and I was happy to hear, oh yea, you weren’t the only adult screaming.
The Haunted Walk was resurrected by the Cobden Rec Association after a few years of being non-existent. There used to be one on the property of Hank and Terry-Lynn Sukkel, but that eventually fell to the wayside.
Kudos to the volunteers of the Association, as well as many of their friends and families, who spent time coming up with the Haunted Walk theatrics. Many of the volunteers I did not recognize or know – but some I did.
I understand about 150 people participated in the walk. I had figured on going through the walk and then returning to take pictures – the camera was in the Buggy. However, my heart would not allow it. So, I am using photos association member Julie Keon took prior to the event. Besides, taking photos in the dark, by the time you focus the camera, the fear on the faces would be gone.
Thank you for a frightful walk…and like Julie said, it’ll be bigger and better next year.
If you have an idea for a fundraiser for the Association, or want to volunteer, don’t hesitate to contact any members through the association’s facebook page or Julie Hennessy at 613-646-2111.
