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Hallowe’en Haunt Patrol returning for third year with dance fundraiser

October 13, 2022   ·   0 Comments

By Sam Odrowski

Orangeville Hallowe’en Haunt Patrol is back for its third year and homeowners are getting ready to have their houses judged at the end of the month.

A list of the 10 spookiest homes will be compiled for Oct. 28 and several community judges will be out on Oct. 29 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. to determine who has the best Hallowe’en decorations and live-action performances.

To fundraise for prizes that will go to the winning houses this year, event founder and organizer Michelle Hartley is holding a Hallowe’en Costume Dance at the Orangeville Legion Br. 233 starting at 7 p.m. this Saturday (Oct. 15).

DJ Sassy Sandra will be getting the dancefloor moving and a hot buffet will be served to attendees. There are also costume prizes, a cash bar, and dancing, of course.

“We’ll have live human beings walking around the parking lot as zombies. I also myself have a huge amount of decorations that we’ll be setting up,” Hartley enthused. “There will be decorations galore outside, downstairs, and in the dance hall.”

Tickets to the dance are $35 each or $60 per couple and 100 are available in total. They can be purchased by emailing Michelle@yahoo.com.

Any money fundraised from the dance exceeding what’s needed to purchase the prizes will be donated to Family Transition Place (FTP), said Hartley. She told the Citizen, having used FTP’s services herself, it’s important to pay it forward.

“I just want people to want to come out and have a good time. That’s the end goal,” said Hartley. “If you love Hallowe’en, and dressing up, that’s a bonus, and then the third bonus would be that money raised goes to a hidden gem in our community, Family Transition Place.”

Another positive aspect of the dance is it’s supporting the local Legion by renting the facility, which has struggled financially through the pandemic as it was unable to hold events. 

The annual event that the dance supports, the Orangeville Hallowe’en Haunt Patrol (OHHP), started in October of 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic kept children from trick-or-treating.

Hartley said she did what she always does, drive around Orangeville to look at decorated houses, as she loves the holiday.

From her drive around town, she developed a list of the best-decorated houses and uploaded it to her personal Facebook page. From there she was encouraged by friends to make it into a bigger, more formal event.

Hartley encouraged families to still get their kids dressed up in costume for Hallowe’en and tour the list of spooky houses that she uploaded online.

Last year it grew into a competition, with small prizes for the first, second, and third best-decorated homes, as well as a People’s Choice prize. The houses were judged by several community members.

“It started out for the kids but the people that own the homes, they took it to a whole different area that I didn’t even think was possible,” said Hartley. 

“I had a gentleman early in the summer contacting me and sending me pictures telling me he’s building this awesome coffin. He was saving all his [wooden] skids.”

Houses looking to get on the list this year can reach out to the OHHP Facebook Page or email Hartley at Michelle@yahoo.com.

Hartley noted that while decorations are an important part of the annual contest, live-action performances from homeowners play a big role in winning. The live-action performances see homeowners dress up in costume and act out frightening scenes for people who pass by.

“It doesn’t have to be a huge expense,” said Hartley. “There are so many ways that you could be on the list and be a contributor to entertainment.”

Judges will be looking at creativity, personal workmanship, sound, lighting, special effects, attention to detail, live action, storyline or theme, arrangement, placement, display, and overall presentation. 

Hartley said the Oct. 21-22 and Oct. 28-29 weekends will be busy with people touring Orangeville and viewing decorated houses. 

For the Hallowe’en Costume Dance at the Legion, depending on the turnout and if it’s successful, Hartley said she’s hoping to make it an annual event.

She added that she’d encourage anyone looking to support a good cause and have some fun to buy a ticket.

“Come out, have fun, and pay it forward when you don’t even know you are – you’re just having fun,” Hartley told the Citizen.

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