Students Agree: Never Too Old for Tricks or Treats
Heather Marsicano, Staff Writer
October 23, 2012
Filed under Arts and Entertainment
Halloween might have evolved over the years into a child-friendly holiday best known for costumes and trick-or-treating, but students still enjoy the spooky holiday.
“I think the most obvious things are the general fall activities that you can’t do any other time of year, pumpkin picking, apple picking, pumpkin carving. Then, of course, there is shopping for a Halloween costume. Stores like Spirit Halloween and HalloweenCity are only open around this time, so I love spending a good amount of time shopping there, even if I don’t get anything. It’s nice to see what kind of costumes they have,” said Erin Mills, a senior psychology major.
There is a certain point when most people feel they are too old for Halloween or at least trick-or-treating, though Mills would disagree.
“I think there is a point that a lot of people get to when they may find it tedious, always trying to come up with something new to wear, but I think as long as you have an imagination and are at least a little bit of a child at heart, you can have an amazing Halloween no matter your age,” said Mills.
There are many fun ways to celebrate and enjoy the Halloween season as an adult. Kelly Johnson, a sophomore medical imaging major, anticipates the new horror thrill flicks each season. She spends her Halloween season watching her favorite movies, the Michael Myers Halloween series.
“I get super happy when all of my favorite horror movies are on TV. I actually won’t buy my favorite series because that would take all of the fun out of watching them every year,” said Johnson.
Some Halloween movies in theaters this season include “Frankenweenie”, “Paranormal Activity 4″, “Hotel Transylvania”, “Residential Evil: Retribution” and “The Possession”.
Visiting local haunted houses or hayrides is another Halloween activity for college students. One of the most popular places in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area is Gravestone Manor in Plains. It’s a Halloween-themed theatrical event that allows the audience to partake in the performance.
“Around Halloween, I love to go to haunted houses and hayrides. It’s more fun if I’ve never been to the place before, but then I usually just get lost,” said Johnson.
Costume contests in the lobby of Banks Student Life Center will take place this year, and Mills enjoys the chance to dress up in costume and play a different role for a day, even if she is a college student. She won the competition last year when she dressed as a pumpkin, but that was not her only costume contest win.
“I won the best costume category and I think I was wearing the cheesiest costumes! One was last year’s Halloween bash here at MU. I was a pumpkin! The other one was when I was probably ten, I was a mouse” she said.
The costume contest takes place on Halloween in the Banks lobby from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Local “Haunted” Attractions
Brokenhearts Asylum - Presented by Screamin’ Deamons and the Harvey’s Lake Fire Department, located in the Luzerne County Fairgrounds for a self-guided haunted house tour.
Dracula’s Forest - In its monumental 27 year, this haunted hayride and unforgettable shock walk runs every Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening in October.
Exeter Park Volunteer Hose Company “Trail of Terror” - Located onWyoming Avenue in Exeter Borough, the annual Trail of Terror makes a return once again. Open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Halloween, dusk to 11 p.m.
Ghost Rider - A guardian will lead you through the haunted barn and ghost town deep into the woods. Friday nights feature horse drawn haunted hayrides.
Gravestone Manor - Benefiting the United Way of Wyoming Valley, Gravestone Manor promises a Halloween-themed theatrical presentation where the audience joins the cast. Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Plains, PA is the place to get a truly unique haunted house experience.
Haunted NEPA - The haunted walking tour of Downtown Wilkes-Barre with haunted historians is sure to get your heart racing. Make your reservation today.
Horror Hall - Walk through 17 rooms for a night of thrills and chills. The West Nanticoke hot spot has been a Halloween staple for more than 20 years and is sure to leave you scared out of your mind.
PsychicTheater - located in the famous Houdini Museum on North Main Avenue in Scranton, Halloween is the perfect time to visit the world-famous Psychic Theater for a paranormal evening and seance! The theater guarantees you’ll leave having experienced at least one paranormal phenomenon in on of the most haunted places in PA.
The Haunt on South Irving - Lighting up Oct. 16, it is sure to be one of the most chilling displays you’ll find anywhere! Drive or walk by every night through October 31.
Trail Of Terror - at the Y.M.S of R Park, on Kane Street in Scranton. Take a guided walk through some of the most frightening woods inNortheast PA.
marsicah@misericordia.edu
