Darkness swarmed Morgan School’s bottom floor, Saturday, November 2nd, filling the cold autumn air with buzzing excitement. Students screamed from jump scares echo throughout the night. Haunted Hallways was back!
As family and friends waited outside in line to experience the show, the Pawprint went group-to-group to get a behind-the-scenes look behind the popular event.

At 9 a.m. students from Morgan’s REACT club arrived to help construct the process for the event at 6:30 p.m. In order to get set up, students were broken into five groups, each being assigned to bring items that were necessary for their hallway. These five groups “met weekly, sometimes twice a week, and were encouraged to meet on their own with their specific groups in each hallway,” said Shelby Mehmet, an advisor of the REACT club.

During meetings, students sat down to discuss specifically what they needed, such as garbage bags to block out light from windows or to cover up light-colored walls. Additionally, adults helped out by buying more supplies such as tarps to block out unwanted space for the night.
Every year, Haunted Hallways has reused decorations from past years which were used in this year’s event; however, this year there was one difference. What made that process so difficult was that the actors for the night were prohibited from using tape on the painted walls. This meant the children had to get creative by using zip ties to the ceiling.
Everything was set up for the night, students rushed to put their makeup and costumes on. All that was set up went with the theme. Every year is different and is chosen by those who would be acting for their hallway which is separated due to every theme in each.

Once it hit 6:30 pm, the night started and groups of families with children six-years-old and up entered. Groups were spaced out by one minute increments so that the audience wouldn’t stack up throughout the walk. Shelby Mehmet, who has been a part of Haunted Hallways for 5 years, determined the timing in between.
Mehmet spoke and described the experience as “fun yet stressful.” She said that because she “coordinates and helps coordinate.” These emotions Mehmet speaks of are felt by everyone; they are caused by the many moving parts throughout the event.

“It is so worth it, though – watching everyone have fun and enjoying the experience,” said Mehmet.
Ben Eaves, the lead advisor of REACT explained, “It is a lot of fun connecting with the students and helping everybody. So much of the work is youth-led and adult-supported.” Eaves likes seeing the students work together and enjoys “guiding the kids when needed.”

To make the event more family friendly, glow sticks were given out to audience members who might scare easily. “The glow sticks are a visual signal for the cast members to turn it down a notch,” said Ben Eaves. “They are for the kids who do not respond well to big scares or louder noises,” Eaves added.

As the night finished up around 8:15 p.m. and the last group had gone through, it was time to pack up. But before cast members cleaned up, it was their turn to go through. Cast members started with the first hallway of the night down to the last; everyone had to do what is called a “walk through.” This is so all groups can see what others did appreciate all the time and energy that went into the night.

After the “walk-through,” all of the Morgan School’s lights were turned back on and everyone took down what they had put up. Props were put back into bins for next year’s event. Tarps were shoved away, including trash bags. For every hallway they had a leader who was in charge for the whole night. Sophie Sharp, in grade ten, goes to the Morgan School, ran the first hallway of the night. “Being a leader helped me meet more others. I also recommend for people to join not only for the leadership skills and creativity, but also it’s a chance to get out of your comfort zone,” stated Sharp.

After the floors were swept and the zip ties were cut, those who had collected money counted the total. At the end of the night, the amount was announced. Haunted Hallways had raised $1,250, meaning over 250 tickets were sold.
“The money goes to Clinton Social Services to help Clinton residents in need,” stated Mehmet. “This means that all the effort put into the night goes to a good cause and will hopefully continue for a long while.