(Kerry Wood Nature Centre Facebook)

By Alessia Proietti

Waskasoo Environmental Education Society

Red Deerians can explore the city’s naturally spooky areas this Halloween at Fort Normandeau

Oct 24, 2023 | 2:25 PM

Red Deer has some naturally spooky places and this Halloween, residents can explore them at night.

From October 27-28, the Waskasoo Environmental Education Society (WEES) will be hosting two family-friendly events at Historic Fort Normandeau.

Both events contain a Halloween adventure course loosely themed after the well-known series of Harry Potter, even with two red-headed twins. Guests will need to complete magical and spellbinding challenges in order to collect tokens that can later be traded for prizes.

“It does not necessarily follow what we usually do for programming here but it’s a good opportunity too to showcase the Fort in the off season,” said Kathryn Huedepohl, Public Programmer and Special Event Coordinator for the Kerry Wood Nature Centre & Historic Fort Normandeau. The Fort closed to the public for the season during Thanksgiving weekend.

“It’s super spooky at night. We kind of have this naturally accommodating venue so why not use it?”

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The first event titled “Family Fright Night at the Fort” takes place in three time slots starting from 6 p.m., with two on Friday and one on Saturday.

Huedepohl describes the event as a little spooky, but not too spooky, appropriate for kids of all ages and families, including grandparents.

She says while there are various haunted houses taking place in the city this year, the WEES wanted a less scary Halloween event for families that was also affordable given the current financial times.

“It gives people another option and a fun option for the evening. For families with small children, quite often their only options are during the day. This, we’ve kept it early evening so it’s a little after suppertime but not quite bedtime and families can come have some fun and get the kiddoes home to bed at a reasonable time,” said Huedepohl about the event’s third year in Red Deer.

(Kerry Wood Nature Centre Facebook)

However, Saturday night’s “Nightmare Academy” event from 9 -10:30 p.m. is another story.

“Don’t expect to just skip through it unscathed,” said Huedepohl.

She said the event is for kids 14 years of age and older, with more jump scares and a little grosser décor.

(Kerry Wood Nature Centre Facebook)

Pre-registration is required online, and tickets are $25 per family for the Family Fright Night, with a cap of 20 families per time slot, and $10 per person for the Nightmare Academy, for a maximum of 100 people.

All funds will be used for the WEES to run programs, workshops and public events at the Kerry Wood Nature Centre and Fort Normandeau.

Guests are encouraged to dress in costumes and for the weather as the events are outside.

Volunteers are also still needed and can register online to help.