The Chippewa Outreach Center has closed its doors starting this week for its usual after school activities while it undergoes an eerie transformation at 13976 Ironwood Ave., Lakeview, all in preparation for some spooky adventures in celebration of Halloween next week.
The 3D House of Horror — featuring for the first time 3D effects and free 3D glasses for all who dare to enter — will haunt the center Thursday, Oct. 30, and Friday, Oct. 31, for any ghosts and goblins, young and old alike.
It’s among a plethora of family fun adventures taking place this week and next around Logan County to create autumn and Halloween memories.
Director Drew Shick has staged the free haunted house at the Chippewa Outreach Center now for more than two decades. He builds the sets himself and involves the help of adult friends and volunteers, who step out each day of the haunt in their creepiest costumes to “welcome” guests to the transformed House of Horror.
“I absolutely love it; it look forward to this every year,” he said. “I enjoy the challenge of coming up with the new themes, keeping it fresh, and bringing the haunted house to life.
“I think the 3D element is going to add a really new fun element this year. You’ll have items popping out at you in ways you never have before.”
The 3D glasses will be handed out for guests as they enter, so they can fully immerse themselves in the spine-tingling experience. Then they’ll be asked to drop them in a container when they exit the haunted house.
Shick said the two evenings offer a slightly different approach. Thursday’s run from 4 to 6 p.m., is the “Not So Scary” night, with guests invited to take flashlights with them. It would be the perfect addition for youngsters, just before participating in Beggar’s Night in most of Logan County that evening, which runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
“On our not-so-scary night, it’s a chance for younger kids, and others who don’t enjoy being scared, to get to walk through through the haunted house and not have anyone jump out at them. It’s a great way for them to get their first taste of a haunted house,” Shick said.
Friday’s “Scary” night with the full haunted house special effects is staged from 7 to 9 p.m.
The Chippewa Outreach Center opened in 2000 and the director started the haunted house several years after its initial opening.
“It started out small the first few years, and has grown to be quite a bit more detailed and advanced since then,” Shick said. “Each year, we pick a new theme and we get to be creative and build all of the sets around that.
“For a few years, we even hosted the haunted house in a tent outside, but the October weather has wrecked havoc on that before. So now it’s all staged indoors.”
For children who enjoy participating in center activities year round and other community members, it’s a fall activity they look forward to each year. Last year, Shick said close to 200 people attended between the two nights.
“It’s neat to see their anticipation build as they look forward to the haunted house,” Shick said. “When I’m out at the schools, I often have kids asking me about it, and their parents and grandparents, too. They know about the Chippewa Center from our haunted house.”
Throughout the year, the outreach centers in the county, operated by Logan County Children’s Services, partner with residents to provide programming to keep children safe as well as strengthen families and encourage a positive community spirit. For more information, visit the Logan County website at https://www.co.logan.oh.us/.
Also around Logan County, fall and Halloween festivities include:
• West Liberty’s trick-or-treat and Spooktacular — Thursday, Oct. 23, village-wide trick-or-treat from 6 to 7:30 p.m., while Halloween Spooktacular takes place from 5 to 7 p.m. along east Columbus Street; featuring a costume contest, dog costume contest, inflatables, a photo booth, food trucks, free hot dogs, pumpkin carving and painting, a teen glow dance party in the Opera House and spooky tunes by DJ Skelly.
• Halloween KidFest — Saturday, Oct. 25, 1 to 3 p.m., Logan County History Center; participants enter through the Logan County Transportation Museum doors and trick-or-treat through the museum bays; then make their way to the Logan County Museum to trick or treat, before exiting the museum and walking around the Orr Mansion; before leaving, children will receive a pumpkin and a craft kit (while supplies last) to take home with them; there is no admission fee, but take canned goods or non-perishable food items to be donated to a local food pantry; children must be accompanied by an adult.
• Logan County Sheriff’s Office Fall Festival — 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, Marmon Valley Farm, 7754 S. State Route 292, Zanesfield; costumes are encouraged, candy will be passed out.
• Beggar’s Night — 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, for most of Logan County.
• RTC’s Haunted Halls — 4:30 to 6 p.m., RTC Services, 334 E. Columbus Ave., Bellefontaine, safe for all ages, trick-or-treat in costume in the haunted halls, receive free hot dogs, popcorn, beverages.
• Mary Rutan Hospital — 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, team members handing out treats under the overhang by north Madriver Street and Irving Avenue.
• Zanesfield United Methodist Church — 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, free hot dogs and hot chocolate served during trick-or-treat.
