Cliffs to hold annual hayride, trunk-or-treat
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on October 20, 2010 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/MICHAEL K. DAKOTA
District Interpretation and Educational Specialist Gene Peacock dresses the part for a scene depicting the Devil's Tramping Ground, Siler City. The Cliffs of the Neuse State Park will host a haunted hayride that features the ghostly storied lore of North Carolina. A screen shot of last year's ghouls is on Peacock's computer screen. The Ghosts of the Carolinas, trunk-or-treat, and hayride is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 29, from 7 to 11 p.m.
Ghosts and other goblins will roam the woods under cover of darkness at Cliffs of the Neuse State Park on Oct. 29 as the park hosts its annual Trunk or Treat event.
The highlight of the Halloween event, which will run from 7 to 11 p.m. and is free to the public, will be a 20-minute haunted hayride, which will start in the parking lot. About 40 people will be able to ride at one time, according to park ranger Joel Jakubowski.
Every 100 to 150 feet there will be scenes based on common ghost lore in the Carolinas -- 10 in all, scattered throughout the park.
"One is the devil's tramping ground, which is kind of historical where people have seen the devil," Jakubowski said. "There will also be a screaming hag. Some people have heard a hag screaming in the distance.
"We'll also have the Maco Light, a story of a gentleman who was walking on some train tracks and got hit by a train. He became headless. Now some people see the light he was using to signal the train."
Jakubowski noted that some of the scenes will be pretty elaborate, such as the pirate ship and mining shaft.
Park staff, as well as rangers from other state parks will act out the scenes, and, Jakubowski warned, the people on the hayride will have interact with them.
The hayride is for any age, young and old.
The other part of the Halloween event will be the trunk-or-treat.
People can drive their vehicles to the Cliffs parking lot, decorate them and hand out pre-screened candy to trunk-or-treaters.
"Anybody who wants to pass out candy has to pre-register by calling us no later than the day before the event," he said. "We'll take down their information. When they arrive that night, their candy will be checked to make sure it's all in its original seal and that it's from a factory. We can't have people passing out homemade items."
People handing out candy should be at the Cliffs parking lot the day of the event between 6 and 6:45 p.m.
There also will be a contest with first, second and third places, for the best decorated trunk.
Trunk-or-treaters are asked to come in costume. But anyone attending may also wear a costume.
The gates to the Cliffs will be closed all day Oct. 29 to prepare the park for Trunk or Treat. Only those camping there will be allowed in during the day.
For more information about Trunk or Treat or to register your vehicle for the event, call the Cliffs at 778-6234.