Fright Night returns for fourth year of operation

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Strathmore and District Agricultural Society is bringing back their annual Fright Night to the ag grounds bigger and better than ever for its fourth iteration.

Halloween activities will be fully set up on the grounds from Oct. 27-29, which will include activities for all ages and two haunted mazes. 

“It’s going to be pretty similar to last year, but with a new theme. We’re kind of going for old school haunt with some of the old school serial killers. So, Michael Myers, Chuckie, Freddie, all of that you can expect in the larger maze,” said Kate Dubois, events coordinator for Strathmore Agricultural Society. “We will have out little Buckaroos 4.0 being a new scene this year for the kids, as well as a carnival which we have coined ‘Carn-Evil,’ and in addition to that we have outdoor activities, fireworks on the Friday provided by Lakewood of Strathmore and GlobalFest, and then a DJ on Saturday.”

A more family-oriented aspect of the event will be set up to take place on the Sunday, though Dubois said details regarding that are still in the works. 

Pumpkin carving will also be provided once again this year throughout the event. 

“Our goal is to build onto the event every year by growing it. This year is more the year to establish what we worked on last year and just make it even better and then continue to add on year after year,” she said. “Every year we go for a different theme in both of our mazes. We always coin the little kid one as Little Buckaroos, and that is for kids between the ages of two through eight depending on what level of scaring they are comfortable with.”

The bigger maze, designed for more general audiences, she said, is for those who enjoy a scare and are stouthearted enough to make it all the way through. 

Similar to other events hosted on the ag society grounds, volunteers are necessary to operate this event over the course of the weekend, and they are welcome to dress up in their Halloween costumes while they are helping out. 

“We actually do look for volunteers for this event as well, like every single event that we host … the areas that are available to volunteer in would be a maze scarer, so in our large maze getting done up as some of our characters and scaring the heck out of people going through,” said Dubois. “Other areas would be helping out with the little buckaroos haunt, so that maze there, as well as the Carn-Evil that we have established this year, the REPs (RE/MAX Key) are always looking for help too with the pumpkin carving … and then as well just helping out around the grounds.”

In addition to the regular show, this year will also feature a sensory friendly night, taking place Oct. 26 before the doors open fully. 

This will be geared more towards people with sensory needs who may be more sensitive to stimuli such as strobing lights and loud music. 

Families who have kids who have sensory needs, as well as adults, can still come out and enjoy Fright Night at a reduced price while the grounds are getting set up for the rest of the event.

More information as well as tickets for Fright Night are available online via the Strathmore Stampede website.