Spooky Walk to celebrate 35 years

Celebrating its 35th year, the Spooky Walk will be held to benefit the camp for children with disabilities. The walk will be open from 7 to 9 p.m. at 2 Chet Swezey Road in Center Moriches on Oct. 20, 21, 27 and 28.

The Spooky Walk began in 1989 and has developed into one of Long Island’s most popular Halloween events. The Camp Paquatuck Fundraisers, were the first volunteers, along with family and friends, to set up, dress up, and haunt unsuspecting visitors as they strolled through the camp grounds. Today, they have more than 500 volunteers who make the Spooky Walk possible.

Many of the booths, according to Marcella Weiss, the camp board representative and Spooky Walk coordinator, president of the The Moriches Paquatuck Fundraisers, formerly the Squaws, many of the groups for the walk start setting up right after Labor Day and work several hours getting their exhibits ready.

“Our first exhibit, Alice in Zombieland, hosted by Amanda Epp, Daniel Szabo and friends, is worthy of Disney World,” she said. “The artistic ability of this group is amazing and makes the best start of the Spooky Walk.”

The exhibit is then followed by The Wicked Woods, made by the Ferington family, who goes above and beyond making sure guests are spooked by many scary surprises.

Next is the Back Trail into deeper woods for more frights and hidden monsters! This area is manned by several volunteers with a stop at The Cult, hosted by Jessica and John Del Cuore. The Cult is an eerie area that takes walkers through a dark tunnel. The walk continues up the path and to the water’s edge to visit the Lost Pirates as they try to welcome you aboard.

Walkers then head up the hill to the Haunted Hospital to visit patients that never left.

“Volunteer ‘Dr.’ Roger Sciorsci will guarantee survival,” she said. “The Ghost Busters, John and friends, will capture any ghost that follow our guests.”

Also, Richard Ringhoff and Megan St. John will be hosting the Little Shoppe of Moriches for the first time this year.

The last exhibit, Club Boogie, hosted by Chris Burian, then invites everyone to dance along with his happy monsters.

“This is always one of the most popular stops at the Spooky Walk,” Marcelle added.

After warming up with the dancing monsters, customers are welcomed at Marie’s Food Tent with hamburgers, hotdogs, sausage and peppers, roasted corn, homemade candy apples and more. There is also a beer tent sponsored by Long Island Farm Brewery.

Kids of all ages enjoy the DJ entertainment on the great lawn. Music and lights are provided by Chuck and Bonnie Schultz, former owners of the Village Music Shoppe in Mastic.

“The Spooky Walk provides an evening of total entertainment. The lines can be long, but when asked, customers don’t mind the wait,” she continued. “We try not to rush anyone through, so everybody gets a good scare. It is amazing to sit back and listen to the laughs and screams as this 35-year-old tradition continues to entertain and to support Camp Paquatuck.”

Delivering about 45 minutes of scares, the Spooky Walk is considered the longest-lasting haunted walk on Long Island. One hundred percent of the proceeds go to the camp.

Tickets are $20. For more information visit spookywalk.com.