Featuring the Pirates of Clifton Creek, a roving werewolf, Hannibal Lechter and crazed woodsmen with chainsaws, Clifton's fourth-annual "Eight-Acre Trail of Terror" is certain to scare you silly.
It will be held Saturday, Oct. 25, from 7-11 p.m. in the town's Eight-Acre Park. Admission is $5, and the haunted trail is not recommended for very young children.
However, new this year is "Monster Movies under the Moon," suitable for all ages. It's provided free by Cox Communications, throughout the evening in an adjacent field, and showing will be "Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein," "The Bride of Frankenstein" and "Beetlejuice."
"I'd seen the signs, this summer, for Cox's 'Movies under the Moon' at GMU's football field, and it had always been a dream of mine to show monster movies during the haunted trail," explained event co-chair Margo Buckley. "So I called them and was just thrilled when they agreed."
Entering from Clifton Road, parking will be in the flood plain on the left, and a hayride will convey people to the haunted trail. The movies will be in resident Richard King's field at the end of Chapel Street.
Domino's will sell pizza and soda, and the town will sell hot dogs, chili dogs, nachos, hot apple cider, coffee, hot chocolate and baked goods — including finger-shaped butter cookies with almond fingernails.
Last year's event drew 1,500 people and raised $10,000 for the town, and organizers hope for a repeat. "It's going to be a lot of fun," said co-chair Taya Abbott. "I think the combination of movies and the haunted park makes for nice, family entertainment. And there's no place else where you can do both things for five bucks."
John Eubank, Steve Howell and Tom Fannon provide the technical wizardry — including mist, fog, weird lighting and eerie music — and local residents act in scary skits along the trail. Jolanda Janczewski will lead a witches' coven, and appropriately named Kelly Webb will be a spider rappelling down a tree. Count and Countess Dracula will appear, and Dan Kelliher will be the werewolf.
Royce Jarrendt and son Connor are chainsaw-wielding, cannibal hillbillies, acting with Bill and Billy Curry, Mac and Katherine Arnold and Ken Buckley. Twin brothers John and Joseph Baber headline the Bunnyman scenario, aided by Alex Buckley and Lara Bjoring. Professional Renaissance-Festival actor Spencer Humm portrays Barry Croaker, a Medieval gravedigger.
Back by popular demand from their demented performances, two years ago, will be Keith Abbott and Tom McNamara (in a blond wig, but what will he do about his mustache?) as Hannibal Lechter and Clarice.
Playing monsters in the graveyard are Maryl and Michael Humm, Bill Hummel and Chris and Toni Jones. Acting in a new skit this year are Chris and Ryan O'Donnell — a witch doctor and zombie, respectively — Alex Keen and a live goat and rooster (don't ask).
Also new this time are the Pirates of Clifton Creek, doing battle on the water. Aboard ship will be Terese Colling, Jamie Netschert and Dennis, Blake and Croix Hottell. And crazed doctor Lev Buller, assisted by evil nurse Susan Ricci, will perform amputations in the Civil War Hospital on victim Alan Feldencrist.
Always a frightening feature of the haunted trail are the vegetation-covered Moss Men. Look out for Mark Khosravi, Mark Harrington and Jake Buller, who'll be roaming around loose in the forest, stalking unsuspecting park patrons. And beware the grim reapers, John Kinter and Lou Bonacich, wearing hooded robes and carrying menacing-looking scythes. Don't let them catch you ...
A committee of John Eubank, Steve Howell, Jolanda Janczewski, Margo Buckley, Taya Abbott, Diane Dygve, Chris O'Donnell and Brant Baber works all year 'round to make Clifton's haunted trail a spooky success. "It's like putting on a show," said Buckley. "We have to plan and write the skits and figure out where everything goes and where the lighting is going to be."
Support staff rounds up hay for the hayride and movie "seats" and helps prepare the park. This year, though, there was even more work to do, thanks to Hurricane Isabel. However, Town Councilman Wayne Nickum brought his trusty chainsaw to the park and cleared the trail of fallen trees and branches.
"It takes a lot of time to do everything, but we have fun, and people really enjoy coming to it," said Buckley. "And it's a way to make money for the town, while providing an affordable evening for families." For more information, and in case of rain, call 703-830-0976.