Spine-tingling Halloween haunts at Waring House support hospital

Witches, vampires, ghosts and goblins are out in full force over the Halloween weekend as the Waring House celebrates its third annual haunted Halloween spooktacular tour.

Visitors are welcomed to four of the hotel rooms at the favourite hostelry at 395 Sandy Hook Rd, Picton,  each professionally decorated to the nines in spooktacular fashion.

With a perfectly illuminated crescent moon in the eastern sky, the still air set the scene perfectly for the “enter at your own risk” fun Halloween celebration

While the event was free of charge to experience, donations are welcome over the four nights for the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital Foundation.

It’s the third year the Waring House has directed to funnel funds collected to the local hospital. Last year’s contribution from the event brought in more than $1,500 for the hospital, an increase on the previous year’s figure of $1,250, for a two-year total of around $2,700

Hundreds of folks looking for scary thrills have visited in past years, and with a busy early Saturday night, it was just about a 15-minute wait to take the brief guided tour.

Organizers indicated it takes five days to set up the event, and just a day-and-a-half to dismantle.

It appeared as if not an inch of all the rooms was missed as lights flashed, unexpectedly turning themselves on and off, as moans creaked from dark corners where the animatronics were out of this world as quiet still objects suddenly came to life.

And there were bones, lots of bones and skulls and skeletons, creepy crawly bugs too.

When all appeared not too scary and unassuming at first, motion sensors, and in some cases a loud hand clap, brought the beasts alive again where they moved and groaned, where eyes of red or green glowed, where the room came to life.

Howling, witch-like cackling, haunting laughter, and eerie cries penetrated the establishment.

The Haunted Halloween Spooktacular Tour at the Waring House (395 Sandy Hook Road, Picton) runs all weekend, including Monday (Halloween), from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

The Halloween Costume Party and Dance featuring musical guest, Cathy Hutch is also set for Oct 31st at 6:30p.m. in The Barley Room Pub: Dress up in your Halloween costumes and enjoy dinner and a show with spooky cocktails.