Three treat stops on Oct. 26, Vergas Lions and UCB on Oct. 31

By Robert Williams

Editor

Fans of Halloween activities will have back-to-back weekends full of spooks, screams and treats around the area.

Dare to enter CornerStone’s Annual Haunted Forest and Farm on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 17-18.

Gates open at 6:30 p.m., until the last entrant at 10:30 p.m. Cost is $15. The entire setup is being completed by volunteers.

“The families have come out of the woodwork who all love Halloween as much as I do,” said Organizer Mackenzie Hamm.

This hair-raising adventure takes you on a half-mile walk along a twisting cow path through wooded areas, swampy ground, and into the dark outbuildings of an old farm.

The farm is located at 35646 154th Street, Frazee, MN 56544.

According to Hamm, there have been a few requests to not make the haunted walk as frightening as in past years. She is not having it.

“Then they’re going to say it wasn’t very scary!” she said. “I want you to say that scared the crap out of me!”

Along the way, you’ll encounter over 40 spine-tingling friends waiting to give you the scare of your life and roaming the farmstead will be Noah Schermerhorn lurking in unsuspected places.

“He is phenomenal,” said Hamm. “Everybody else that volunteers, I have sections for them. I just give him free rein. He’ll pop up and scare my volunteers! He just lurks around.”

Each year, Schermerhorn adds to his homemade costume to make the most of the experience.

Formerly held at Hank Ludtke Park, the Haunted Forest moved out to the Hamm’s farm last year to utilize more space and plenty of outbuildings to add to each adventurer’s creep.

Be prepared for hanging branches, uneven terrain, and chilling special effects including fog machines, strobe lights, sudden loud noises, screeches, and eerie sights lurking in the shadows. Every twist and turn offers new surprises—are you brave enough to make it through?

For those who want a milder version of the whole walk arrive right at 6:30 p.m., to take advantage of the remaining daylight. It is not as dark for those who want all the jump scare effects, but want to be able to see better.

“If you really like to be scared, come when it’s dark,” said Hamm.

Safety Notice: 

Tennis shoes are a must. This event may not be suitable for young children or those with certain medical conditions. 

A safer walk-through is available for a free will donation on Saturday Oct. 18 between 1-3 p.m. This is good for those who don’t know if it will be too scary for the youngsters, but they still want to see all the props.

Waiver required at entry. Sign here ahead of time: https://forms.gle/Heq35tvgXJMgwHws7

Questions? Call (218) 329-6199

There is still time to donate to the Haunted Forest’s needs like any old scary haunted items, even if they are broken, volunteers can use it! Examples: kids xylophone, bed sheets, old animatronics, jack-in-the-box, large stuffed animals, children’s plates, an old organ, rubber snakes.

Sunday, Oct. 26 offers three different places around the Frazee area for family-fun events.

Pumpkin Patch Party

The Pumpkin Patch Party is a way to spend a family-friendly afternoon with local royalty celebrating Halloween with autumnal activities. There will be Trick or Treat bag decorating, crafts, cupcake/cookie walk, games by the high school’s My Voice is Powerful (MVP) Club and pumpkin painting with pumpkins donated by Jane and Curt Anderson’s “The Pumpkin Place” patch.

The event is scheduled indoors from 1-3 p.m., at the Frazee Event Center on Sunday, Oct. 26. 

Halloween costumes are encouraged.

Bethlehem Lutheran 

Trunk or Treat

Visit Bethlehem Lutheran Church on Sunday, Oct. 26 from 2-4 p.m., for a fun, family-friendly afternoon of trick-or-treating from decorated car trunks. Kids can come in costume, collect candy in a safe environment, and enjoy festive activities for all ages. Bring your friends, dress up, and get ready for a spooktacular time.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church is located at 210 E Maple Ave, Frazee.

4 Corners Lions 

Trunk and Treat

A second Trunk and Treat event will be held at the Lakes Corner Liquors parking lot, sponsored by the 4 Corners Lions Club on Sunday, Oct. 26 from 2-5 p.m.

Free hot dogs and chips will be served, along with trick or treating for the kids.

Lakes Corner Liquors is located on the southeast side of the 4-corners intersection at 18097 County Highway 29, Detroit Lakes, MN.

Vergas Wine Walk

For those looking ahead, the seventh annual Vergas Wine Walk will be held from noon-4 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 18.

Enjoy sampling wines while holiday shopping at downtown Vergas businesses.

Participants must be 21-years of age with a valid I.D.

Entry forms for door prizes will be available at participating businesses. To qualify for door prizes, each visitor must stop at each participating business. Completed door prize forms can be turned into businesses or the liquor store by 8 p.m. 

Winners will be posted on the Vergas Community Club Facebook page the following day.

Each business will serve customers a different wine. 

Frazee Care Center 

Trick or Treating

Community Trick or Treating is open to the public on Halloween at Frazee Care Center beginning at 4 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 31

The Care Center is located at 219 Maple Ave. W in Frazee, MN 56544.

Vergas Lions Annual Children’s Halloween Party

Rounding up the holiday activities is the Vergas Lions Annual Children’s Halloween Party on Friday, Oct. 31 from 4:30-6:30 p.m.

The party was an event started by the Vergas Lionesses Club and became a Lions event when the two clubs merged. It has been held in Vergas for at least 55 years.

The Halloween Party features a coloring contest with entry sheets available at local Vergas businesses. The public will be able to vote on the coloring contest entries and there will also be a costume contest of all the workers at the event.

Adults and children are encouraged to dress up, as well.

There will be a lot of games to play, prizes, stuffed animals, decorations and treats. 

“We just have a good time with the kids,” said Organizer Pam Krieg.

The Vergas Lions recycling program provides gently-used books and games to give away that are always a big hit.

There will also be an area set up specifically for photo opportunities.

All are welcome.

The Vergas Event Center is located at 140 W Linden Street, Vergas, MN 56587.

United Community Bank Trick or Treat Parade

The UCB Halloween Trick or Treat Parade will be held Friday, Oct. 31.

The parade route will run Main Avenue through downtown Frazee. Line up is scheduled for 5 p.m., with the parade set to begin at 5:30 p.m.

UCB is located at 122 Main Ave W, Frazee, MN 56544.

Vergas Assisted Living

Community Trick or Treating is open to the public on Halloween at Vergas Assisted Living from 5-7 p.m.

Vergas Assisted Living is located at 405 E Frazee Ave, Vergas, MN 56587.