By Kathy-Ann Gobin
DANBURY – A terrifically terror-filled experience begins this month behind St. Gregory the Great Church.
The Forest of Fear comes to life in the spirit of Halloween in a wooded trail behind the Great Plain Road parish. This is the sixth year of the homemade-haunts with a Hollywood feel.
“The attention to detail is remarkable with the lighting and the sound effects and even the smells. It’s pretty creepy,” said St. Gregory pastor Father Michael Dunn, adding that the attraction has grown in popularity and attracts Halloween enthusiasts from neighboring states.
“We have a lot of new additions,” Father Dunn said. “We’ve even added a new building and there’s a new crypt.”
Also new this year, are displays from a now defunct Halloween attraction that has been repurposed and is giving new life to old haunts.
Every year the creative crew of volunteers behind the ghoulish creations, alter the trail so there are new paths and experiences along the quarter-mile trek through the forest for all to scream in delight or fright.
The popular attraction has become a successful fundraiser for the school and parish drawing up to a 1,000 people a night. It has previously been rated the best haunt in the area by i95 radio station.
It takes about a half an hour to go through the Forest of Fear with about 80 to 100 volunteers a night manning the attraction from ticket sales to security and of course ghoulish costumed characters prowling about ready to scare unsuspecting attendees.
There is a “sghoul” bus to make little ghosts and goblins feel right at home. Family-friendly thrills happen before the sun goes down. The “not-so-scary hour,” allows children, often dressed in costumes to experience the Forest of Fear with friendly and welcoming ghouls and goblins.
“It’s bigger and better than ever,” Father Dunn said.
The Forest of Fear will be open from 5:30 – 9pm on both Friday and Saturday nights on the weekends of Oct. 11/12, 18/19, 25/26.
The not-so-scary children’s hour starts at 5:30 p.m.
Rain dates will be the Sundays of Oct. 13th, 20nd and 27th at the same times.
Admission is $25 per person.
The not-so-scary hour is $20 per person.
