Haunted hay rides, fall festival coming to Oxford

OXFORD » After a successful first event last year, the Oxford Area Recreation Authority has expanded the dates for its Haunted Park Hay Ride and added a Family Fall Festival for fun without fright.

The Haunted Park Hayride will take place Friday, Oct. 20; Saturday, Oct 21; Friday, Oct 27, and Saturday, Oct 28 at the Oxford Area Regional Park, 900 Locust St., Oxford. Tickets are sold at the gate at a cost of $10 per person.

Family time begins each evening at 6:30 p.m., where visitors take a rustic tractor pulled hay ride around the park with some spooky encounters along the way. The first hour and a half of the evening is designed with scares suitable for younger children under 12. Even so, the Haunted Hay Ride contains scares that may not be suitable for very small or sensitive children.

From 8 to 10 p.m. each night, the more frightening spooks come out for older children, teens and adults to enjoy Halloween season thrills. The Hay Ride will shock, surprise, and scare visitors, and is not suitable for young children. Parental discretion is advised.

As a special attraction on Friday, Oct. 27 only, there will be a display of hearses by the Mohnton Professional Car Club.

For those who would like to celebrate the season without scares, the Recreation Authority is hosting their first ever Family Harvest Festival at the park on Saturday, Oct. 21 from noon to 4 p.m.

A $5 pre-child handstamp may be purchased for children, which will allow them to enjoy facepainting, receive a goodie bag with candy, and get a small pumpkin for painting that they can take home. The children will also enjoy craft stations, games, and a hay bale maze.

Admission for adults is free to visit a small selection of local vendors and food. The Recreation Authority will also be selling pumpkins, corn stalks and more for home décor.

Openings are still available for volunteers who would like to help with these events. For information contact Authority Board Member Chip Benke at chipskins@zoominternet.net.

Proceeds from the Haunted Park Hay Ride and Family Harvest Festival will help the Recreation Authority with operating expenses and capital projects.

For more information, check the Recreation Authority website at www. oxfordrecreation.org, or the event website at oaraevents.wixsite.com/hauntedpark. Information is also available on Facebook at Oxford Area Recreation Authority.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Enjoy the frights at the Oxford Area Recreation Authority’s second annual Haunted Park Hay Ride Oct. 20, 21, 27 and 28.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Oxford Area Recreation Authority will hold its second annual Haunted Park Hay Ride Oct. 20, 21, 27 and 28. A new Family Harvest Fest will be held Oct. 21. Organizers include, front left to right, Board Members Chip Benke, Scott Fetterolf, Andy Marker...