By Chad Koenen

Publisher

  An unmistakable scream and sound of a chain saw will break through an otherwise quiet night on 2nd St. in Henning. Over the next two weekends the 14th annual Henning Haunted House will return to town and raise money with every scared person who dares to walk through the main doors.

The event will take place in the upstairs of the former Henning City Hall and current food shelf building in town. The haunted house will once again take place on Friday and Saturday nights from 7-10 p.m. over from October 23-24 and again from October 30-31.

One of the more popular haunted houses in the region, the Henning Haunted House attracted approximately 1,570 people and another 75 people for the Little Goonies last year. Proceeds from the haunted house benefitted the greater Henning area. 

Through the years the haunted house has donated $25,000 to the city, $7,000 to the school and $4,500 to various projects across the region. Money raised from last year’s haunted house helped to purchase two benches in Amundson Park and two additional benches in the skate park, among other projects in the community. 

Alison Christensen, who is one of the organizers of the haunted house, said this year’s event will feature a number of new volunteers, as well as a new design outside. She said there will be plenty of new scarers inside that will give the haunted house a fresh feel, even for those who have attended past haunted houses. 

For those who want to experience the haunted house, but maybe not go through the entire scary experience, a Little Goonies walk through will be held on both Saturday nights of the Haunted House from 4:30-6:15 p.m. The Little Goonies walk-through will not feature any jump scares and will be an opportunity for younger people, as well as older individuals, who want to experience the haunted house without going through the entire scaring process. 

The cost to attend the actual haunted house is $10 per person with the proceeds being donated back to the greater Henning community.

On Saturday, Oct. 31 the haunted house will host a kids costume contest at 6 p.m. The costume contest is open to all children ages 15 and below.

Now in its 14th year, Christensen said the Boo Crew as they have become known, would like to grow their volunteer list for future years. Anyone who is interested in scaring, or providing other needs to the group is encouraged to reach out to the Henning Haunted House via Facebook Messenger, or give her a call at (218) 639-4052.