A boo-tiful night to remember
Frobisher Inn to set up haunted house for children and youth
Don't let the empty room fool you - when servers Kim Campbell, left, and Stephen Caines, and other Frobisher Inn staff volunteers are done turning the Koojesse Ballroom into a haunted house, that's where the scary fun will be for youth of all ages in Iqaluit on Halloween night. - Michele LeTourneau/NNSL photo
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Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Saturday, September 30, 2017
IQALUIT
Fewer chills and more thrills are on the agenda for Halloween night.
The Frobisher Inn is planning a multi-room haunted house in its Koojesse Ballroom for the children and youth of Iqaluit.
"We're going to do it up in carnival style, so the kids can come in . We'll have spooky rooms and fun spooky games," said server Stephen Caines.
"And we'll have activities for them," added Kim Campbell, who mentions bobbing for apples.
Caines said it will give the children something fun to do Halloween night.
"It keeps them warm, it keeps them safe inside," he said. 'It gives people a nice alternative. The parents don't have to be right on top of them, so they can actually sit back and relax while our staff basically caters to the children," he said.
"Especially when you don't know what the weather's going to be like."
For example, last year it was a balmy -4C, but the year before the mercury dipped to -16C.
"We want to do something for the community. It will actually be a fundraiser," said Caines, adding it will be affordable for everyone.
General manager Chris Bandeira is working out the logistics of the fundraising aspect of the evening, so the recipients are yet to be determined at this time.
Staff from The Frob Kitchen and Eatery, the Storehouse Bar and Grill and housekeeping are volunteering for the event and Campbell said so far they have brainstormed six to eight 'rooms': a room for pumpkin carving; an autopsy room with fake brains and eyeballs, and staff dressed as doctors; a Day of the Dead room; a creepy doll room; a trick or treat room; a potion cellar; a clown room; and a glow in the dark room.
"The more we talk, the more it just keeps growing," said Caines. "We were initially picturing partitions for each room and a scene for each one, but as we were thinking and talking and getting more people involved, it just becomes bigger and bigger."
One staff member is a special effects artist by trade, and she'll be on hand for face painting.
"We were just speaking to one of the culinary team who has done Halloween before, things like chorizo sausage fingers with roasted almond fingernail. And we're hoping to do some nice candy apples," said Caines.
"We're also thinking of playing a silent horror movie on one of the projector screens - nothing too horrific. But, for a little ambiance ."
The duo are hoping to start off with younger children in the early evening, transitioning to an older crowd of teens later in the evening, with festivities planned for between approximately 5 and 10 p.m.
And there will be candy.
"Hopefully, if it's a great success, we can do it again next year," said Campbell, while Caines hopes it becomes a known event in the capital, "an annual fundraiser and safe alternative for trick or treating for children."
