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‘Fear Forest’ opens tonight

The Beacon Association in partnership with Hidden Oaks Family Fun Center on Irish Ridge Road will hold its "Fear Facility Fear Forest" and "Haunted Mini Golf" beginning tonight. Pictured here, taking a break from setting up the trail, are (front, from left) Beacon Association vice president Paula Vaughn, Hidden Oaks co-owner Carol Gresh, and Chelsye Bednarek; and (back) Christopher Pritt, Jessica Gresh, Vanessa McKinley and Todd Bednarek. (Photo by Steve Rappach)

CALCUTTA — The Beacon Association is continuing its annual fall tradition of scares and screams, but this year, it’ll be taking the action outdoors — into the woods.

This year, the Beacon Association has partnered with Hidden Oaks Family Fun Center, located on Irish Ridge Road, to present a new haunted experience in the “Fear Facility’s Fear Forest” — a haunted trail through the woods which should bring surprises at nearly every turn.

The trail opens tonight, and runs 7-10 p.m. Thursdays and 7-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays throughout October.

The past several years, the Beacons have held haunted houses and factories, but decided this time to partner with Hidden Oaks and bring the event outdoors.

According to Beacon Association vice president Paula Vaughn, the trail will take visitors on a 30-minute trip through the wooded area of the facility. She said she believes those who take the walk will receive a “haunted experience,” complete with the usual Halloween theme of ghosts, zombies and horror characters.

“We’ll have the infamous chainsaw for the chainsaw fanatics,” Vaughn said. “There will be different surprises around each turn of the trail.”

This will mark the organization’s first outdoor haunted event in eight years, while it will be the first time a wooded area will be used.

The trail, meanwhile, won’t be the only activity on the Hidden Oaks grounds as guests can also enjoy “haunted mini-golf” as the center’s miniature golf course will be decorated in the spirit of Halloween.

Hidden Oaks’ ownership have wanted to use a haunted theme for the miniature golf for quite some time, Vaughn said, adding it will be “a little more kid-friendly than the haunted trail.”

Admission is $10 for the haunted trail, and an additional $10 to play the haunted mini golf. Proceeds benefit the Beacon Foundation’s programs held throughout the year, including the annual Christmas Parade and Light Up Night event in downtown East Liverpool, the Tri-State Pottery Festival, the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life team, city cleanups and other community events.

The trail also will also be open Oct. 31, Halloween night, from 7 p.m. until “the bodies are gone,” as well as 7-11 p.m. Nov. 3 when proceeds from the special “Haunt for the Cure” will go toward the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.

The event is co-sponsored by Hancock County Savings Bank and Hancock County Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram.

Vaughn offered her thanks to Hidden Oaks owners Bob and Carol Gresh for help in hosting the event.

For more information, visit the Facebook pages of the Beacon Association, the Fear Facility’s Fear Forest and Hidden Oaks FFC.

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