“October is obviously a huge month for us,” said Karralena Castaway, vice president and CEO of The Aroostook Paranormal Investigation Society. “In the past, we’ve done historical graveyard tours and had Halloween games for kids such as ‘Pass the Cauldron,’ which is a lot like ‘Hot Potato.’”
Lady Luna Moth’s Academia Mystica, the first event this year, is slated for Saturday, Oct. 3rd. The event is split into five parts. Part one, referred to as “The Owl,” deals with arcane knowledge and involves a discussion about paganism as well as religious tolerance. The second segment, entitled “The Dragon,” includes a lecture on “Household Alchemy,” which teaches children how to make cleaning agents from food. The “Luna Moth” segment features recipes along with instructions on how to make an herbal rice bag and corn husk doll. The fourth part, called “The Pooka,” contains lectures about the historical authenticity of vampires and zombies. The final section, referred to as “The Wolf,” features information about culinary and medicinal uses for spices, and a lecture on the practice of smudging.
“All of the Luna Moth events are happening in just one day,” said Castaway. “Then, on the following Friday, we have the Monster Dance Contest. Anyone from ages 4 to adult can join in the contest. The contestants form groups and choose from up to 25 songs. Basically you get a team of five people together in your age group, pick your song, get in costume, and come up with dance for it. We have criteria judges go through every dance. Some people win trophies, everyone gets participation certificate, and we have a major reward planned for the first place winner.”
Kids can trick or treat a few weeks early during Monsters on Main Street, which takes place during the weekend following the dance contest.
“We work with local chamber and do some pumpkin carving,” said Castaway. “There will be treats for the kids from local vendors. They can also go on a hay ride and then go to a pumpkin patch. There will be an annual chilli cookoff at the Recreation Center. We’ll also hold ‘Day of the Dead’ activities with children.”
An “Alice in Wonderland”-themed haunted walk is planned for Oct. 23rd and 24th.
“We have been working on this walk for four months,” said Castaway. “We tell people not to bring children to this walk, because it is interactive, and certain parts might scare them. Zombies actually come out at certain points and surround certain people walking in the maze.”
Three events are planned for Halloween day, Saturday, Oct. 31: Trunk or Treat in the Limestone Community School Parking Lot, a Kids Halloween Party, and the “Dorms of Doom” at the Maine School of Science and Mathematics.
