Community called to support Little Haunted House

October 10, 2019 · 0 Comments

Written By MARNI WALSH

As Halloween fast approaches, Shelburne’s Little family is hard at work building their free Haunted House in Fiddle Park.

“Putting this kind of effort forward, insane amounts of paperwork, applications and red tape, hours upon hours of setting up, sewing, creating, painting and even cooking to feed all the volunteers… all of this is only worth it to us if the community comes out,” says Carola Little.

Attendance figures were down last year, and Carola says, “We need the community’s help to make this a record breaking year. We’d love to have 1,200 people come out and hit either 1,000 lbs of food or $1,000 for the food bank. We refuse to start asking for an entrance fee – it will always remain a free event.”

In 2015, the Town supported the family in setting up the Haunt in Fiddle Park and the event has raised hundreds of pounds of food and hundreds of dollars in cash for the Shelburne Food Bank every year since.

The inspiration for the event began over 25 years ago with Bob Little’s enthusiasm for Halloween leading to frightening scenes being erected in his own front yard. People came from all over for a ‘Little’ scare, and rather than charging fees, the family decided to set up a donation box so people could give to the Shepherd’s Cupboard Food Bank.

The Little Haunt In The Park now has over 50 volunteers and great support from businesses in the community.

“As we begin to load trailers and truck in supplies from various barns and storage facilities throughout the area, we realize what a massive undertaking this Haunt In The Park has become,” says Carola Little. “From just a quick afternoon set up to almost four solid weeks of work; from a few creepy creatures to at least a dozen trailer loads of wood, tarps, props, costumes, tools and gear; from a dad and his two sons to a team of more than 20 family and friends giving every weekend of their time from October to mid November to build an entire attraction and then take it all down again.”

Due to the enormous work load, the Haunt is looking for volunteers again this year. Volunteers must attend a meeting on one of the following days: Oct. 10 at 7 p.m. or Oct. 15 at 7 pm at the main building in Fiddle Park.

The BIA’s Treats In The Streets, and Little’s Mini Boo are running together under the umbrella of “Spooktacular Shelburne” this year. There will be a free shuttle running between the two events, from the Royal Canadian Legion on William Street to Fiddle Park on 2nd Line, throughout the event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26.

“Mini Boo will feature a walk through the Haunt in the daylight to see the detail that went into the attraction,” says Carola Little. Monsters at this event will all be friendly and without masks and good witches will be handing out treats to the little ones.

“Show us your enthusiasm. Show us your support. Show us that you think this is an event worth putting on,” says Carola Little, “And we promise to show you a memorable, action packed, scream filled good time.”

The Little’s Halloween Haunt runs Mini Boo in conjunction with the BIA’s Treats in the Streets on Saturday, Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a full scare that same night at Fiddle Park from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. There will also be a full scare on Halloween night: Thursday, Oct. 31 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Fiddle Park.

For more information visit: www.facebook.com/Littlehauntedhouse.