By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

REGIONAL — On Halloween night things come to life.

This Halloween people can get their kicks killing the undead instead. 

Zombie Laser Tag will be offered for two nights outdoors on 26 North High St. On Friday, Saturday and Halloween night, there will be a Haunted Walk through the Bridgton Old Town Hall and Ice Rink. On two of those nights — Friday and Sunday — Zombie Laser Tag will be an option.

The cost of the Haunted Walk is $5. If a person wants to have a laser gun and participate with a zombie response team, the cost is another $7. A group of five people, can get laser tag equipped for a group bargain of $20. 

On all three nights, the time is from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Again, the laser tag is only on Friday and on Halloween night.

Bridgton Recreation Director Gary Colello said that the activity is geared toward older children, teenagers and adults.

“The intent is to scare and give people a little bit of a thrill for a few minutes on Halloween weekend,” Colello said. “It is not necessarily for little kids. The attempt is there to scare people. We have low lighting. We have fog machines. It wouldn’t be a good idea to send your kindergartener through. It is not gory. It is certainly suspenseful. If you don’t like to be scared, don’t go.” 

The Recreation Committee determined that there is a lot of stuff for younger children like the Trunk or Treat events and trick-or-treating on Elm Street, which is temporarily shut down to vehicular traffic.

“We wanted to include olderkids and adults. We decided to do a scary walk through town hall and the ice rink. The laser tag come secondary” after discussing it with Bill Adams, whose company 207 Entertainment provided laser tag during the rec department’s summer camp. 

“If you have ever been in the old town hall or the ice rink at night with the lights off, it is not the most comfortable setting. It’s dark. It’s an old building. It creaks and makes noises. The kids joke that there is ghost upstairs in the attic,” he said. “We basically decided to create a haunted walk in those two buildings, and walk into the woods out back and do a fundraiser for the rec department in the meantime,” Colello said. 

“Basically, the objective is you go through town hall. We built an elevator which mimics going into a deep fallout shelter. You have to work through both buildings and get to the other side without a zombie getting you. The zombies aren’t allowed to touch you. Basically they run after you and you have the laser gun to shoot them,” he said. 

Pre-registration is recommended if people want a time slot guaranteed for the Haunted Walk. 

“If there is space, we can accommodate people. We are looking to send in eight to 12 people every 8 to 10 minutes. So, there is a cap there. That’s why we are running it for the three nights — to give people a chance to not miss out because it was only one night,” Colello said. 

FOR THE LITTLE ONES

For Bridgton-based families with younger children, a Trunk or Treat is being offered in the parking lot of Stevens Brooks School. That happens on Halloween from 6 to 8 p.m. 

“It’s a new local event that will hopefully keep Bridgton residents in Bridgton for Halloween,” according to Angie Cook, the executive director for the Greater Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce. 

“This is all age friendly. Our trunk or treat is for all ages. We will be handing out candy,” Cook said. 

“There is still time to participate, if you want to decorate a trunk and hand out candy, show up at Sunday night at 5,” she said.

People can contact Cook at 647-3472 if they want to donate candy or join the fun. Additionally, the Bridgton Fire Department will be selling fried dough and the Bridgton Lions’ Club will be serving hot dogs.

“This is the chamber’s first year of doing it. I am getting a very good response on Facebook and Instagram. If there is a good turnout, we will continue this,” Cook said. 

In neighboring Casco, there will also be a Trunk or Treat from 5 to 6:30 p.m. on Halloween.

Casco’s Halloween offering will be held at the Casco Community Park, off Route 11 near junction of Rt. 121.

“Everything is taking place at the community park,” according to Casco Recreation Director Beth Latsey.  

“We have 18 or more trunks. The haunted walk is going to be on part of the walking trail,” she said. 

“It’s going to be a fun event. We are going to have lots of candy. It’s an opportunity to see the new park. People can still go to the Village and trick or treat as normal afterwards,” Latsey said.

Also, children living in Lovell will have a safe trick or treat opportunity. That event takes place on Halloween from 3 to 5 p.m. or “until the candy runs out,” according to the flyer. The drive-through trick or treat will be held in the Lovell United Church of Christ parking lot, 1174 Main St. In addition, there will be a phantom-tastic photo booth. 

IN HARRISON

Trunk-or-Treat in Crystal Lake Park from 5 to 7 pm.

TWO NIGHTS IN NAPLES 

In Naples, the festivities already began on Monday when pumpkins and Halloween kits were handed out. 

People with youngsters can still contact the Naples Recreation Department to get clues for the scavenger hunt, which takes place through Halloween. 

On Saturday, the day before Halloween, from 6 to 8 p.m., people can dare to get a scare in the Naples Museum.

A Haunted Night at the Museum is being hosted by the women of the Visitors’ Center and the Historical Society. There will be games, refreshments and a haunted walk at the museum, located 19 Village Green Lane. 

On Sunday, the Village Green activities will go from 4 to 6 p.m. 

“We wanted to spread things out. Saturday is the haunted museum and Sunday back to the Village Green — outdoors, unless it is raining,” according to Naples Recreation and Community Activities Director Brian Crockett. 

“On Halloween night, there will be games. We are going to do it outside. We will displaying the Jack O’Lanterns. The middle school and freshmen basketball players will be helping with the games,” Crockett said.  

“It all happens before it gets too dark,” he said, repeating 4 to 6 p.m. timeframe for Halloween.

“It gives great options for families,” Crockett said. 

“I don’t necessarily recommend both nights. That is great as an option. What we thought about was a school night and to do something on a night that’s not a school night,” he said. “We want something on Halloween night because that is traditional.”

The list of event held in Naples, including an Online children’s costume photo contest, can be found on the Town of Naples webpage under Departments: Recreation & Community Activities. The Halloween Central box has a link to all activities.