Long-time organizer Brendan Cavanagh says Year 6 of the Whistler Haunted House will be a litmus test for the future of Whistler's spookiest attraction.
"This year is going to have to be different in that the haunted house will have to support itself. It will have to generate enough revenue to provide for itself and everything it needs because for the last few years it's been financed almost entirely by me alone with the help of other sponsors," he says.
Cavanagh has spearheaded the grassroots effort and weathered the financial barriers to putting on what has become a very involved project, featuring scores of volunteers, complicated sets, and elaborate costumes.
That's why this year Cavanagh has decided to raise the recommended donation from $10 to $15 (it will still be only a minimum of $10 to get in).
This year's haunted house, called "In a Manor of Creeking," will be built entirely from scratch on a piece of land in Creekside and will feature attractions both inside and outdoors. "It's going to look like you're underground, it's going to look like you're behind the walls, it's going to look like you're in a cave, like an underground lair," notes Cavanagh.
The Whistler Haunted House "full scare" is scheduled from 6:30 to 10 p.m. nightly starting Oct. 27 to 31 at 2098 Squaw Valley Crescent. The "fun scare" for kids (and scaredy cats) will run from noon to 4 p.m. on Oct. 28 and 29.
Volunteers of all kinds are still needed. Email whistlerhauntedhouse@gmail.com if interested.
The Rocky Horror Picture Show Experience
I have to fess up here: I've never seen The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I think it involves, like, a transvestite alien hot dog or something? I could very well have just Googled it and thrown in some trivia facts from the 1975 cult classic to trick you, but that would be a disservice to the true Rocky Horror diehards, now wouldn't it?
It seems I'm not the only newb either.
"There's this age range that I'd say is late 20s all the way through to 40 that don't know it," says Maureen Douglas, executive director of Arts Whistler, which is bringing the interactive Rocky Horror Picture Show Experience to Maury Young Arts Centre just in time for Halloween.
That's one thing I do know about the midnight movie phenomenon that is Rocky Horror: over the years, it has inspired a frenzy of audience participation, with crowds dressing up as their favourite characters and bringing props to fling at the screen — Arts Whistler will have a grab bag of goodies available for purchase for $3.
"Some people will have that experience, and for others, they'll be totally new to it," Douglas adds. "It's such a good laugh and it's right up Whistler's alley — just the right amount of naughtiness."
Joining the fun will be Vancouver theatre troupe the Geekenders, which will be on-hand (in-character, of course) to guide folks through the cues.
The Rocky Horror Picture Experience will be held Oct. 28 from 8 to 11:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door, available at artswhistler.tix.com.
If you can't get the tunes out of your head, join Barbed Choir at the Whistler Public Library at 7 p.m. on Sunday night to sing "Time Warp." All are welcome and there is no admission fee.
Trick or treat on Easy Street
Whistler's longest-running Halloween tradition returns to Tapley's Farm for its 34th year next week. Easy Street will be closed to traffic from 5 to 9 p.m. on Halloween so spookers of all ages can pound the pavement and fill up their pillowcases for a night of trick or treating. That will be followed by fireworks on the soccer fields at Myrtle Philip Community School.
Library screening Get Out
Head to the Whistler Public Library on Halloween for a screening of Jordan Peele's racially charged Get Out, the highest grossing horror film of 2017.
Get Out tells the story of Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) who goes to meet the Liberal-leaning parents of his girlfriend Rose, (Allison Williams). As the weekend moves on, he realizes the truth is much more disturbing than first meets the eye.
Whistler Secondary 'scare hunger' food drive
The leadership team at Whistler Secondary School is once again hosting the "We Scare Hunger" food drive this Halloween. Students will have stations at Tapley's, Spuce Grove, Rainbow, Cheakamus, and Blacktusk where they will be accepting canned goods and cash donations to support the Whistler Food Bank.
