The annual Chestermere Rec Centre Halloween Howler was a hit among families who wanted to celebrate Halloween together.
“It was perfect, it was really good,” said the Recreation Program Coordinator Vicki Klinger.
Approximately 250 excited youth and their families walked through the haunted house, played games, and danced, which made the Chestermere Rec Centre Halloween Howler and really nice party, Klinger said.
“The haunted house was great, the kids went through so many times, after they went through about five times they’re weren’t really scared anymore,” Klinger said.
“The kids loved the dance, I don’t know if there was one thing that was better than the other,” Klinger said.
Klinger added, part of the reason the Chestermere Rec Centre Halloween Howler is so successful is because of the venue.
“We have the stage where we can do the haunted house on, and then enough room for the games. Some other places might be a little more challenged space wise, we are fortunate that we have that space, it’s a really positive thing,” Klinger said.
Although the Chestermere Rec Centre Halloween Howler had another successful year, Klinger struggled with finding enough volunteers to run the Halloween party smoothly.
“I just barely had enough volunteers, if there was anything I would like to do differently next year is get more volunteers,” Klinger said.
She added, “Then we could add more things in if there’s more people, like a limbo contest, or a dance off, but you need those extra people to do those things.”
Klinger said, “I do appreciate all the volunteers that were able to come out, but we were skinny on volunteers.”
There were just enough volunteers to run the various game stations, and the haunted house.
Although there was a shortage of volunteers, seeing all of the kids dressed up and having fun made all of the planning Klinger had to do worth it.
“It’s definitely about those people who are willing to come out, and help out for those few hours, that make the event happen.
“It’s not me that makes it happen, it’s a group.” Klinger said.
She added, before the Chestermere Rec Centre Halloween Howler about 20 high school students came to help set up the decorations in the main hall and in the haunted house in one day.
“It’s probably 100-man hours to do the whole thing, that would take me two weeks by myself,” Klinger added, “I always say every time that anybody helps out for an hour, it’s an hour off my day.”
Volunteers aren’t donating their time for Klinger, or for the Chestermere Rec Centre, they are donating their time for all of the participants and the families who came out to enjoy the night, Klinger said.
“I really like that this is something that families can do together, there were lots of moms and dads.
“When a family can do something together especially right in Chestermere it’s really good for the community,” Klinger said.
She added, “I think it’s nice that there’s quite a bit going on, Halloween lasts about a week in Chestermere, it starts with the pumpkin patch, it rolls through this week, and then they still have the actual Halloween night to look forward to.”
