For one night, the Englewood Recreation Center is transformed
from a center dedicated to health and fitness into the spooky
habitat of cackling witches and a marauding monsters.
Transformation of the rec center at 1155 W. Oxford Ave welcomes
the weird and wacky from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28.
Attractions include carnival games, inflatables and a haunted maze.
There is no charge for admission but game tickets are 25 cents
each. A single ticket is required for most attractions.
By By: Tom Munds
As always, the Englewood Halloween Carnival’s guest list will
include ghosts, goblins, super heroes and an a room full of other
assorted characters of every size, shape and description.
For one night, the Englewood Recreation Center is transformed
from a center dedicated to health and fitness into the spooky
habitat of cackling witches and a marauding monsters.
Transformation of the rec center at 1155 W. Oxford Ave welcomes
the weird and wacky from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28.
Attractions include carnival games, inflatables and a haunted maze.
There is no charge for admission but game tickets are 25 cents
each. A single ticket is required for most attractions.
“We just love the Halloween carnival,” Englewood resident Jamie
Carstairs said as she picked up a flier for the event. “Every year,
we make it a family event. We come up with one theme that fits all
our costumes. My two girls and I make our costumes. We’ve been
vampires, ghosts and, one year, we were Wizard of Oz characters.
This year’s theme is Old McDonald’s Farm. My husband and I just
enjoy being with the kids and the kids just lover all the different
games. It is a great family evening for us.”
During the carnival, the gymnasium becomes a beehive of
activities.
Game booths line the walls of the gym. The games usually include
activities such as an opportunity to shoot a hockey puck into a
goal and a chance to knock down figures with bean bags. At the same
time, the center of the gym floor is taken up by popular inflatable
attractions like an obstacle course and an inflatable room where
kids can jump up and down to enjoy the trampoline-like action of
the air-filled floor.
A concession stand will sell snacks like popcorn, with proceeds
going to benefit the Englewood Youth Council programs.
Jeni Rulon, organizer of this year’s event, said new attractions
include a cartoonist, a “very cool” haunted maze and a magician
appearing at the carnival for the first time.
“We also are having a costume contest between 6 and 7 p.m.,” she
said. “Those who want to take part in the contest need to sign up
at the concession stand.”
One thing missing will be the pair of cackling witches who
traditionally greet visitors at the door. They are away on a cruise
this year and reportedly it is too far for them to make the flight
by broomstick.
The Halloween carnival is a popular annual event. Each year
there is a steady parade of people coming in and out of the
recreation center, many in costume. Last year there were a half a
dozen Spidermen, slinky as well as scary witches, some ballerinas,
a few princesses several pirates and some creatures that defied
description.