The candy has been eaten, the jack-o-lanterns are now dark, and kiddie costumes have been put away. Halloween is over.
Or is it?
Across Northwest Arkansas, holiday revelers still have a chance to be scared witless as many haunted houses remain open this weekend.
One such Halloween haunt is the Expelled, a sinister school house attraction in Madison County. The attraction is in just its second season, but the family behind this terror have been in the business of Halloween entertainment for 40 years.
The family patriarch, the late Charles McConnell, started a fall carnival tradition at the Aurora Community Center after it was converted from a 1940s school building in the early 1970s. The carnival was open three nights in October and benefited the local 4-H club.
At 80 years old, McConnell was supportive and heavily involved in the creation of a new haunted attraction that would benefit the local community.
“He died on Aug. 25 last year.
The following weekend we started building.” says Brandi Solorzano, granddaughter of McConnell.
Though the haunted house may be a “heart-felt thing,” according to his grandchildren, it is certain to also be heart stopping. Employing an ensemble of actors and volunteers, this maniacal school house is filled with frights.
Clowns, zombies, eerie dolls and “punishers” await guests in various rooms and buildings throughout the school grounds.
Though scaring the whole of Huntsville is a goal of the Expelled, the proprietors of the haunted house hope to raise enough money to help the community center their grandfather loved so much.
The Aurora Community Center is in need of repair and additions.
“It desperately needs new windows, a new porch and a ramp for the elderly,” says Solorzano. “There is no air conditioning and only a wood fireplace,” adds her brother, Joey McConnell, “but there are no buildings like it left (in Madison County).”
The haunted school housealso benefits two other charities, the local chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Open Arms Food Pantry in Huntsville, and the family hopes that people will turn out to support the Madison County community and have a good time.
“It’s for a good cause. You will be scared” says McConnell,adding mischievously, “I promise.”
The Expelled Haunted School House is open today and Saturday from 7 to 10:30 p.m.
at 21046 Arkansas 23 south in Huntsville. Admission is $7.
Too afraid to face the Expelled? Information on how to donate can be found on the Expelled Facebook page at face book.com/theexpelledar.
ALSO STILL OPEN: THE HAUNTING ON CHERRY STREET - Visit historic downtown Rogers where charming homes line Cherry Street and every family has secrets to keep. A high-tech, kid-friendly Halloween show is viewed from the sidewalk and street featuring video projections, automated characters, synchronized lighting and an original musical score. 7 p.m.-midnight today, Saturday and Sunday at 210 W. Cherry St. in Rogers.
Free. 721-2605 or hauntingoncherrystreet.com.
BANSHEE MANOR - Banshee Manor may be home to a safe scare environment for trickor-treaters, but after dark, the ghouls and goblins come alive to frighten or worse! Monetary donations benefit Boxer Rescue of NWA and NWA Share. 5-10 p.m. today at 2893 N. Sunny Lane in Fayetteville. Free.
879-3368 or [email protected].
ZOMBIE INVASION PARADE - A creeping parade procession of funeral hearses, doomsday vehicles, Halloween fl oats and post-mortem street performers will lead the hungry horde of the undead. Zombie participants are asked to bring two cans of food to donate. A dance will follow the crawl.
Proceeds benefit Flint Street Food Bank. 6 p.m. Saturday at Eureka Springs Public Library at 194 Spring St. in Eureka Springs. Walk: Free. Dance: $5-$10. eurekaspringszombiecrawl.com.
NIGHTMARES HAUNTED HOUSE AND BUS - Hop on the ghoul bus and defeat hordes of brain eaters using only your wits and a paintball gun. Proceeds benefit the Lions Club of Bentonville. 7-11 p.m.
today at 13080 U.S. 71 north in Bentonville. Proceeds benefi t the Bentonville Breakfast Lions Club. $13. 270-1313 or www.
hauntednightmares.com.
HAUNTED SPANISH CAVEAND TRAIL OF TERROR - Creatures from your worst nightmares will scare you through this real cavern as they roam throughout the many hidden passages looking for victims. Then walk through a terrifying trail in the Haunted Woods, but beware the insane clowns or you may not make it out alive. Open at 7 p.m.
today-Sunday at the Old Spanish Treasure Cave on north Arkansas 59 in Sulphur Springs. $9-$20. 787-6508 or spanish-treasure-cave.com.
THE ASYLUM HAUNTED HOUSE - Designed to leave you trembling with fear, screaming for help and wanting to run, the Asylum is barely more than an open air prison for the most disturbed patients.
Open 7 p.m.-midnight today and Saturday at 165 S. Main St.
in Cave Springs. $10. 877-0701 or [email protected].
KARVER’S HOLLOW - Deep within the woods of the Ozark mountains there exists a doorway to a realm of unspeakable pain and suffering. Disregard the warnings and meet the “devil in the rabbit’s mask.” 8 p.m.-midnight today and Saturday at 300 E. Main St. in Farmington. $12. ozarkhaunts.
com. or facebook.com/ OzarkHaunts.
RIVERSIDE ENTERTAINMENT - Daytime corn maze, noon-6 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, all other attractions 7 p.m. today and Saturday at Riverside Entertainment at 17023 Chamber Springs Road in Siloam Springs. $5-$15. 524-0014 or www.riverside-entertainment.
com.
Whats Up, Pages 17 on 11/01/2013