Things are about to get spooky at Blewett Elementary School.
Parents and teachers are preparing the school for its annual Halloween party that’s been a tradition at the school for a remarkable 35 years.
“Hundreds of hours of parent volunteer time goes into this every year,” said Andrew Jones, president of the school’s parent advisory council.
On Friday evening, the entire school will be transformed into a Halloween carnival, with every classroom, hallway and common room decorated. The highlight is the haunted maze in the basement.
“We set up temporary walls and cover everything in black plastic, so it’s really disorienting when you go down there,” Jones said. “There’s a smoke machine and scary music going, and you walk through all these rooms set up like graveyards or torture chambers or whatever else we can come up with.”
On the main floor of the school, there will be games set up in classrooms, as well as a fortune teller and pumpkin carving contest. A chili dinner will be served in the gym, and there will also be a bake sale and lots of sugary treats for the kids.
“It’s not Halloween if the kids aren’t running around with a sugar high,” laughed Jones.
The night wraps up with an outdoor fireworks display, weather permitting.
While most people who come to the Halloween party are families with children at the school, Jones said anyone is welcome to attend.
“It doesn’t matter if you [don’t] have kids at the school. This is for everyone,” he said, noting many former students come back to see the Halloween display year after year.
Every year the set up is totally different. The school chooses a theme for the night (this year, it’s A Night at the Haunted Blewett Museum) and create new displays for that theme.
“It’s such a strong tradition in the school,” Jones said. “Part of the display, in the main hall, will stay up for the whole year. They don’t take it down until it’s time to put a new one up for the next Halloween.”
The 35th annual Blewett school Halloween party is this Friday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at 2665 Blewett Road. All are welcome. Costumes are encouraged. All proceeds from the night will be used by the PAC to fund school projects.