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Haunted tour, house and performances to highlight 'Fright Night' Thursday in Potsdam

Posted 10/20/14

By MATT LINDSEY POTSDAM – A haunted tour and house, multiple performances and free treats are expected to draw hundreds of costumed children to the annual “Fright Night” in downtown Potsdam …

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Haunted tour, house and performances to highlight 'Fright Night' Thursday in Potsdam

Posted

By MATT LINDSEY

POTSDAM – A haunted tour and house, multiple performances and free treats are expected to draw hundreds of costumed children to the annual “Fright Night” in downtown Potsdam Oct. 23.

“The event will run from 5:30 to 8 p.m. this year and we expect to have more than 30 businesses participating,” said Marylee Ballou, executive director at the Potsdam Chamber of Commerce.

The popular event sees as many as 1,000 people attend from around the county, typically depending on the weather each year.

Step It Out Dance Studio is set to return with a street dance performance at 7 p.m. in the blocked off area on Market Street. It has been very popular the last couple of years,” Ballou said.

A haunting performance with Horsefeathers Haunts will take place on the blocked off portion of the street.

“We will bring characters, actors and parts of the set as we introduce ourselves to the public,” said owner Tracy Adle.

Horsefeather Haunts describes themselves as a place where you will transported to a place in time where nonsense is celebrated and alternate history is created, according to their website.

The company is based off of a subgenre of science fiction called steampunk which is typically set in a Victorian setting and features big gowns and corsets intertwined with cyborgs, evil genius and machines, Adle said.

To go along with their performance, Horsefeather Haunts will partner with fire and hoop dancers from Fire Magik, based out of Watertown.

“It is pretty impressive what they do…it is mesmerizing,” Adle said.

They will also have treats and handouts.

Other returning favorites include the Potsdam Rotary Club Pumpkin Walk in Ives Park, a “Kitchen Nightmare” themed haunted house at Great Northern Printing and a “Phantoms of Potsdam” ghost tour.

“The “Phantoms of Potsdam” ghost tour will be led by Ryan Meashaw of Rise Above Paranormal,” Ballou said.

The tour begins at 8:30 p.m. with participants meeting at the steps of the Potsdam Public Library, 2 Park St. The outing will proceed onto Elm Street and Ives Park exploring supposed haunted areas. Ghost stories and experiences will be shared.

Great Northern Printing, 9 Main St., will feature the “Kitchen Nightmare on Elm Street” haunted house.

“The haunted house will be some kind of scary eatery and they will have special t-shirts available…so come early if you want one,” Ballou said.

The jack-o-lantern walk will include pre-cut pumpkins carved out by local people. Carved pumpkins should be delivered to the Ives Park Gazebo between 5 and 5:30 p.m. The walk will be open to visitors between 5:30 and 8 p.m.

Canton-Potsdam Hospital will host activities at the Potsdam Town Hall, 18 Elm St., according to Ballou.

The roadway from 1 to 35 Market Street will be blocked off to traffic for safety precautions.

Fright Night vendors and activities will include 3 Bears Gluten Free Bakery, 51 Market St. balloons; Alchemistress, 17 Maple St., temporary tattoos; Arby's, 172 Market St.; free curly fries to kids in costume and candy; Argent's Jewelry, 32 Market St., spooky treats; Bagelry, 9 Market St.; decorate a cookie while supplies last; Bicknell Appliance & Home Interiors, 46 Market St.; treats; Canton-Potsdam Hospital will be at 18 Elm St. Town Hall and on blocked street, "Nothing Scary Here" handouts and mascots; Chilly Delight, 57 Market St.; Pick a Lollipop Ghost and you might win a $5 gift card and pick up Logo Coloring Contest sheet; Collegiate Village of Potsdam, candy and goodies; Dress Code, 16 Market St., handing out candy and coupons andEvans & White ACE Hardware, 1 Maple St. will handout candy outside.

Also, Fidelis Care on NNY, on blocked street will have a Dino toss, Halloween bags, giveaways; First Crush, 32 Market St.; $1 cocoa, $1 coffee and candy; Great Northern Printing, 9 Main St.; “Kitchen Nightmare on Elm Street,” brave souls who make it through the scariest eatery will get special tee-shirt while supplies last; Horsefeathers Haunts, on blocked street, haunting scene with performers, treats and handouts; Maple Run Emporium, 49 Market St.; "Wax on Snow" Windy Maple of Colton will make sweet maple candy; Misty Hollow, 22 Market St.; face painting and treats; Northern Music & Video, 29 Market St., candy; NYS AHPERD Northern Zone, health and physical education teachers, on blocked street, Minute it to Win it games for kids, prizes for winners; Pinto, Mucenski Hooper VanHouse, 42 Market St., treats and Potsdam Food Co-op, 24 Elm St., decorate an eyeball focaccia until 7 p.m. in the packaging corner of the store.

Also, Potsdam IGA, 27 Elm St., bags of treats; Potsdam Library, 2 Park St.; prizes for kids in costume from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., story time with Jenna at 6 p.m., children must be accompanied by an adult; Rotary Club of Potsdam, Ives Park, Pumpkin Walk in Ives Park; SeaComm FCU, on blocked street, Halloween candy boxes while supplies last; Step It Out Dance Studio, on blocked street, dance performance at 7 p.m.; The Hop, 3 Market St.; come find out…; Today's Hair & Day Spa, 36 Market St.; cupcakes, punch, candy handouts and Pink Hair Extensions and nail Ribbon Art and tickets for "Fight Like a Girl" raffle; United HealthCare, on blocked street; Health-e-Hound character and Healthy Trivia Prize Wheel; University Bookstore, 39 Market St.; children's Halloween reading, coloring contest, games, trivia and treats and café specials; Walgreens, 173 Market St.; Halloween photo shoot with free 4x6, value packs for $9.99, family value pack, $4.99, photo CD's $3.49; refreshments and candy; Walmart, on blocked street, candy handout and Wayne Allan Salon, 1 Market St. will handout candy.

To sign up as a Fright Night vendor contact the chamber at 274-9000 or potsdam@slic.com.