“They’re back .” New Fairfield’s Park and Recreation, B.Y. Night Productions, and Great Hollow Nature Reserve have resurrected, for its second year, The Haunting at the Hollow.
B.Y. Night Productions, the team responsible for more than 15 years of haunted attractions, was contacted by Linda Lull of New Fairfield’s Park and Rec in 2015, and their malevolent masterpieces have charmed local fright-lovers for the past two years.
Adam Czarnik, who has been with B.Y. Night from the start, said of his love of Halloween, “The air and the smell of the autumn leaves…it brings me back to trick-or-treating and haunted houses.” When asked about his Haunting enthusiasm, Czarnik answered, “We’re drawn into the physical attraction; we want to go somewhere and experience it. We have all-new haunted houses and a graveyard; it grows and changes every year with the theme.” This year’s theme is the Clayton Estate. The spirits of the family that vanished in the 1900’s have returned to protect the secrets that destroyed them in life, even if it means terrorizing those who dare to step onto their estate grounds at Great Hollow.
The event is recommended for ages 13 and up (parental discretion is requested), but any who are 13 and under require adult accompaniment; tickets may be purchased online through the Parks and Rec account (for New Fairfield residents), at http://bynightproductions.com/haunting-at-the-hollow/ (for general admission), or at the door. Come experience the wrathful apparitions from 7:30-11 p.m. For any who’d like to join in the fun as a volunteer, please arrive at 5:30.
“It’s addicting,” Czarnik said of volunteering, “it becomes a family; you can’t help but jump in.” He went on to mention that he’d met many who were easily frightened as attendees, but as volunteers “just jumped in as characters and weren’t bothered.” Linda Lull, from New Fairfield’s Parks and Rec, has enjoyed being a part of this Halloween “spook-tacle” for the last two years, and looks forward to future creations.
“It’s fun,” Lull said, “to hear people screaming and chainsaws going, and it’s nice to hear people saying they want to come back.”
October 27th and 28th will be the last weekend for the event this year; don’t miss out on the fun.
“To create an experience” Czarnik explained, “that takes someone out of reality and transform them…we all get inspired from each other.”
As Lull and Czarnik stated, “Be there and be scared.”
For more information on Haunting at the Hollow or By Night Productions, please visit http://bynightproductions.com/haunting-at-the-hollow or call New Fairfield Parks and Recreation at (203) 312-5633.
by Anne-Marie DiDomenico