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Second 'Spooktacular' draws crowd

| 31 Oct 2018 | 07:33
    A big spider guards the Lions Club trunk at the second Spooktacular event Saturday.
    A big spider guards the Lions Club trunk at the second Spooktacular event Saturday.
    A female ghoul taunts visitors to the “Haunted Hallway” during the second annual Spooktacular event in West Milford on Saturday.
    A female ghoul taunts visitors to the “Haunted Hallway” during the second annual Spooktacular event in West Milford on Saturday.
    The Tahan family, Paul, Maria, Jacob, 6, and Lillian, 3, take part in the festivities at the second annual Spooktacular event at West Milford High School Saturday.
    The Tahan family, Paul, Maria, Jacob, 6, and Lillian, 3, take part in the festivities at the second annual Spooktacular event at West Milford High School Saturday.
    Melisa Roci, 8, mans a table of goods at the Spooktacular event Saturday at West Milford High School.
    Melisa Roci, 8, mans a table of goods at the Spooktacular event Saturday at West Milford High School.
    Spooktacular attendees, (left to right) Jonah Wells, Matt, Noelle, and Jay Riesenman, Heather Lahr and Isabel Riesenman have some food from one of the vendors.
    Spooktacular attendees, (left to right) Jonah Wells, Matt, Noelle, and Jay Riesenman, Heather Lahr and Isabel Riesenman have some food from one of the vendors.
    West Milford High School students Spohia Meany, 17, Kalleen Rose Ozanic, 17, and Diana Novachevska, 17, guide attendees through a “corn maze” during Spooktacular on Saturday.
    West Milford High School students Spohia Meany, 17, Kalleen Rose Ozanic, 17, and Diana Novachevska, 17, guide attendees through a “corn maze” during Spooktacular on Saturday.
    High school students Jordyn Gerold, 17, and Ryan Browne, 18, host one of the more than 25 “trunks” handing out treats during the Spooktacular event on Saturday at West Milford High School.
    High school students Jordyn Gerold, 17, and Ryan Browne, 18, host one of the more than 25 “trunks” handing out treats during the Spooktacular event on Saturday at West Milford High School.
    Molly Kane, 11, dresses up as Disney’s classic “Mary Poppins” at Spooktacular on Saturday.
    Molly Kane, 11, dresses up as Disney’s classic “Mary Poppins” at Spooktacular on Saturday.
    Visitors to the Haunted Hallway came away lucky, not turning to stone when confronted by “Medusa” during the Spooktacular event in west Milford on Saturday.
    Visitors to the Haunted Hallway came away lucky, not turning to stone when confronted by “Medusa” during the Spooktacular event in west Milford on Saturday.
    A deranged “Tooth Fairy” brings her own drill to Spooktacular in West Milford on Saturday.
    A deranged “Tooth Fairy” brings her own drill to Spooktacular in West Milford on Saturday.
    A female ghoul taunts visitors to the “Haunted Hallway” during the second annual Spooktacular event in West Milford on Saturday.
    A female ghoul taunts visitors to the “Haunted Hallway” during the second annual Spooktacular event in West Milford on Saturday.

WEST MILFORD - Even a nor' easter could not stop the spirits from coming out Saturday during the second annual Spooktacular at West Milford High School.
Hundreds of residents streamed through the high school, clad in varied costumes for Halloween.
Organizers moved the event from the parking lot to inside the school, where costumed attendees picked treats from more than 20 "trunks" consisting of town organizations and citizens.
"It's a community event," Organizer and West Milford High School Student Council Advisor David Gerold said. "Anyone can participate and anyone can come."
In addition to the trunks, there were also eight vendors with a variety of food and merchandise for attendees to browse through and a DJ providing music and Halloween-themed dancing.
Gerold said that the storm on Saturday, bringing wind and rain, caused the event to be moved inside, but that didn't dampen the spirits of the hundreds of residents that stopped by from 4-8 p.m.
"It's a little better inside," Maria Tahan, who attended with her husband, Paul, and children, Jacob, 6, and Lillian, 3, said. "Everyone is warm. I'm happy having it inside."
The high school's National Art Honor Society made a "corn maze" in one of the rooms and had students on hand to guide visitors through the maze.
The most popular activity, however, was the "Haunted Hallway" across the parking lot at Macopin Middle School.
Groups were led on an expedition through "Mystical Mayhem," featuring a search for a very "hangry" unicorn.
Art Jakes, a teacher in the district, worked with more than a dozen of his colleagues and students to give those on the trail a scary, but fun experience.
One of the attendees, Jessica Orsino, 13, came to the event with a homemade Transformers costume where she turned into "Bumblebee."
She said the costume took about two months to make, and came with working headlights.
A portion of the event's proceeds go to local first responders, Gerold said.
"We're going to come back for a third year, bigger and better," Gerold said.