Halloween happenings on Maryville College campus
This year on campus at Maryville College, several student groups will be sponsoring some “Spook-tacular” events for your enjoyment.
Impressions, which organizes and produces an annual publication of student and staff creative works and hosts related events, hosted their annual reading event, “Fireside Fright Night”, at 8:00 p.m. on Oct. 17 at the MacArthur Pavilion.
The event included S’mores, hot chocolate, cider and readings of fiction, poetry and other reading material brought to the event. Students enjoyed an evening of scares and stories with fellow students and alumni.
The MC Gamers, a Maryville College group dedicated to creating a gaming-oriented community on campus, is hosting three great events this Halloween season. Both new and experienced gamers are invited to attend all MC Gamers’ events. Members of the group will be happy to teach you if you’ve never played before.
The first, Horror Boo-ard Game Night, took place Saturday Oct. 14. Gamers spent time with fellow classmates for a night of fun and horrifying board games including “Mysterium”, “Arkham Horror”, “Zombie Munchkin” and “Betrayal on the House on the Hill”.
The second event was entitled “Horror Survival Guide Video Game Night,” which took place on Oct. 20. Gamers played horror video games and learned how to survive the night.
In addition to the Horror Boo-ard Game Night and the Horror Survival Video Game Night, MC Gamers will be hosting two Murder Mystery Dinner Parties. The two dinners are completely different mysteries taking place on two different nights at the House in the Woods.
The “Walgrave Astoria Costume Ball Murder Mystery Dinner” will take place on Saturday Oct. 28 at 4:45 p.m. and the “Ravenwood Masquerade Murder Mystery Dinner” will be held Sunday Oct. 29 at 4:45 p.m. Last year was a spook-tacular success, so two dinners are being hosted this year to provide a more intimate setting. Dinner will be catered by Olive Garden both nights.
Alpha Psi Omega (APO), Maryville College’s National Theatre Honors Society Chapter is a group dedicated to providing service and increasing the awareness of theatrical arts on campus and in our community. APO hosted their annual Haunted Ghost Tour of Maryville College Woods on Friday Oct. 20 from 10:00-12 p.m. starting at MacArthur Pavilion.
The “haunted tour” is always an easy, guided walk through the woods lasting approximately 30 minutes. Participants learned about traditional folklore, listened to tales of “alleged” campus hauntings and enjoyed the nighttime forest where they encountered some local specters.
APO asked for a $2 donation per person or donation of a canned food item. All proceeds from this event were donated to recent hurricane relief efforts.
APO will also be hosting a viewing of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” in the Alumni Gym on Oct. 27 at 10:00 p.m. This viewing is a live “shadow cast” production, meaning actors will be lip-syncing, dancing and acting the parts of the movie to provide a “live” experience for the audience.
The show also asks for audience participation where the audience will throw things, dance and sing along with certain parts of the film. Goody bags full of items for the audience participation portion will be given out to the first 150 attendees, so come early. The event is completely free and open to students and the community.
No dress is required, but tradition dictates guests come dressed in clothes that gender bend and or express one’s sexuality, whatever that means to you.
The Student Programming Board (SPO), the Maryville College student-led group that provides a diverse schedule of traditional events, recreational activities, educational programs and social events for the campus community, will be hosting their Haunted Corn Maze at Maple Lane Farms in Greenback. The event will take place on Thursday Oct. 26 from 7:00-10 p.m. Check in with the SPO representatives at the farm and receive FREE admission with a student I.D.
The Latino Student Alliance (LSA) and the Global Citizenship Organization (GCO), two student groups on campus that promote cultural exchange among students, faculty and staff on campus and raise cultural tradition awareness amongst the Maryville College community, will be hosting a “Day of the Dead Dance” in the Alumni Gym on Oct. 26 beginning at 8:00 p.m. Wear your costume and come mingle with your campus community for a night of food, games and costume contests.
The Maryville College Pumpkin 5K Costume Race and Fun Run will take place on Saturday Oct. 28 at 5:00 p.m. with registration at Cooper Athletic Center starting at 4:00 p.m. The race is for all ages and abilities, with participants encouraged to join in the celebration by coming in costume.
The race is a 5k half trail, half road course which winds through the Maryville College Woods, runs partially on the MC Cross Country course, and then takes a lap around Maryville College’s campus before finishing at Crawford House/Mountain Challenge. Children of all ages are welcome, and there will be a stroller friendly 2-mile walk course that does not head through the woods for walkers with little ones or anyone who prefers a shorter course option.
Post-race festivities include pumpkin painting, water and snacks, music, corn hole and attempts at climbing the Alpine Tower. Prizes will be awarded for best costumes and fastest overall male and female at Mountain Challenge’s backyard fitness area. T-shirts will be given to all registered participants while supplies last. The race is sponsored in conjunction with Maryville College’s “Exercise is Medicine” initiative.
If you want to get out and about in Maryville, come have fun with the community at the “Spooktacular Extravaganza,” a local event for families and pets, on Friday Oct. 27 in Downtown Maryville.
Hosted by the Parks and Recreation Department, this is the fourth year the event has been held. Taking place along Downtown West Broadway Avenue from Boyd Thomas Clothing to Broadway Methodist Church, activities will include trick-or-treating, games, a pumpkin carving contest, a dog costume contest and a costume dance party for families. Free trick-or-treating will take place at designated businesses, interactive carnival games and the pumpkin carving contest will take place across from the Palace Theatre.
The Capitol Theatre will be hosting a family costume dance party with tickets $2 per person, and the Howl-o-ween Dog Costume Contest will take place in the tent and grassy area across from Broadway Towers with gift card prizes and a goody bag of dog items for each entrant.