By Rick Palsgrove
Groveport Editor
One of the monstrous demons that will inhabit Groveport’s Blacklick Haunted Park recently visited Groveport Town Hall and terrified the staff there.
Prepare to be scared!
Groveport’s Blacklick Haunted Park returns for its sixth year with a host of ghouls, monsters, and other assorted things that go bump in the night to give visitors a Halloween fright.
The very scary event, sponsored by the city of Groveport and Groveport residents, will be held Oct 20 and 21 from 7:30-11 p.m. in Groveport’s Blacklick Park, 770 Blacklick St. (The park is located at the eastern end of Blacklick Street in Groveport.) Parental discretion is advised. Cost is $5 per person with proceeds going to Groveport Madison Human Needs and the Groveport Food Pantry.
A special, less frightful, kids event will be held Oct. 21 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Kids must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. The first 400 kids at this day time event will receive a free goodie bag.
“Blacklick Haunted Park is a special event for the community because it combines entertainment, tradition, fundraising, and an opportunity to celebrate the season,” said Groveport Community Affairs Director Jessica Wyke. “It also showcases the creative talents of our community members who design and participate in the event.”
The idea for Blacklick Haunted Park arose in 2017 from three friends who share a love of Halloween – Bruce Smith, Scott Clinger, and Larry Geis. They came up with the idea for the haunted park as a way to raise money for Groveport Madison Human Needs and the Groveport Food Pantry while also providing an outlet for frightening fun.
“Each of us has set up elaborate ‘haunted houses’ at our own homes during trick-or-treat in the past and we always wanted to do something bigger like this,” said Bruce Smith.
Blacklick Haunted Park consists of a large area at the park’s shelterhouse and a haunted trail filled with relentlessly scary costumed monsters, as well as fearsome scenes, strobe lights, and eerie music.
“We’re going back to our roots with more people involved and more live action actors,” said Smith. “It makes the element of surprise better.”
In addition to adding some new and different scary things this year, Smith said a couple of favorite frights will return.
“The haunted school bus will be back this year as well as ‘The Purge’ scene, which were big hits with the crowds before,” said Smith. “People were really scared of the bus.”
Last year Blacklick Haunted Park raised $8,600 for Groveport Madison Human Needs and the Groveport Food Pantry.
“It’s rewarding to see our work pay off to help others,” said Smith. “People have fun, we have fun, and we’re able to help out Groveport Madison Human Needs and the Groveport Food Pantry. We love to do it. We’re thankful to the city of Groveport for its help in enabling Blacklick Haunted Park to be successful.”
For information call (614) 836-3333.
