Creepy In Caledonia
Posted By CATHY PELLETIER , CHRONICLE STAFF WRITER
Posted 1 month ago
If you're looking for a frightfully good time, Creepy Caledonia is the place to be this weekend. Once again, high school student Ian Thompson is spearheading the macabre music and mayhem, starting with a guided two-hour Ghost Tour on Friday night, followed by live local bands, craft and food vendors, and "lots of scary stuff" happening on Halloween Saturday.
Hosted by The Agricultural Society at the Caledonia Fairgrounds, the Mild Fright event gets things off to a bone-chilling start and runs from 2 to 4 p. m. on Oct. 31, courtesy of the Cypres Active Living Centre. "That's the one we recommend that younger children come to," said Thompson, "and it gets scarier as the day goes on." After the Costume Contest -which runs from 4 to 5 p. m. -the gore will be kicked up a notch when Full Fright continues with additional actors and blood-curdling action.
"We have our huge indoor haunted house with a massive maze," noted Thompson, "and the Costume Contest is for all ages. It's free to participate with cash prizes awarded, plus everyone who shows up in costume gets a prize."
Music will also keep the joint jumping throughout the day and night, beginning with A Million Pennies playing from 2 to 2:45 p. m., followed by Mozaik from 3:15 to 4 p. m. Entertainment resumes after the Costume Contest, with Seconds to Stop, The Hereafter, and Toxic Shock scheduled to play separate gigs from 5 to 8:15 p. m.
"I've done the tours for a long time," said Thompson. "It's a historic tour of the town that includes stories of local ghosts and demons. We did it during the summer, too," he added, estimating about 100 people took the tour through Caledonia on three different dates, making spooky stops at the Old Town Hall, the Train Station, the Anglican Cemetery, Haldimand House, and the Caledonia Bridge.
The entire two-day event will be bigger and better this year due to the fact that more people have signed up to help organize, set up and run it, Thompson said. "This year, we have a full committee established and lots more volunteers. The ghost tours are a big hit with the public and the rest of the event is also growing."
Admission to Creepy Caledonia costs $3 per person or $10 for a family of four. Ghost tours cost $5 per person, and tickets can be purchased in advance weekdays from 9 a. m. to 5 p. m. at the Caledonia Fair Office, located at 151 Caithness St. East.
"We recommend you purchase tickets in advance because this tour usually gets booked right away," noted Thompson. "A lot of people come early to get tickets and there's a limited amount to how many people we take." Tickets can also be reserved by calling 905-765-6861. While tours are suitable for all ages, they are not recommended for people who are unable to walk for long periods of time.
"Our sponsors this year are the Caledonia Agricultural Society, the Clark Company, Pressmen- Hastings Printing, Scotiabank Caledonia and the Grand River Sachem.
All proceeds from Creepy Caledonia events and ghost tours will go toward supporting the Arena Maintenance Fund and the Agricultural Society.
Further information is available by calling 905-765-2718 or by e-mailing ianthompson@creepycaledonia. o rg
