Halloween is fast approaching and Durango has several safe but spooky festivities planned, including the Zombie March in town and the haunted house at FLC.
Halloween on the Hill
FLC has a haunted house open from 6:30 to 10 p.m on Oct. 26 and 27 at the FLC Student Union ballroom, Grace Chang, FLC Student Union Productions coordinator, said. Admission is $5 dollars for community members, and free for FLC students with ID.
The theme this year is a pun on Grimm’s fairytales, which were dark in their original forms, Chang said.
The haunted house is a joint effort between the Resident Housing Association and the residence halls on campus, with each hall and RHA having their own themes, she said.
For students with young children who may not be up to the scariness of the haunted house, there is a trick-or-treat event from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m October 28 at the Native American Center, Lisa Cate, administrative assistant at the Native American Center, said.
The joint effort hosted by Wanbli Ota, the Native American Honor Society, and the NAC, includes arts and crafts, a cupcake walk, and a short trick-or-treat route with volunteers from Wanbli Ota and the Native American Honor Society, Cate said.
Also on Friday the 28 is SUP’s costume contest and pumpkin-carving contest which will be held in front of Reed Library, Chang said.
There is no requirement to submit a costume ahead of time, and there will be several categories for judging, including scariest and best overall, she said.
On Oct. 31 at College and Main st., there will be the annual Zombie March, according to the event’s Facebook page.
Halloween Safety
There are several things to keep in mind this Halloween in terms of safety, Lieutenant Ray Shupe, of the Durango Police Department, said.
“The first thing is just not drinking to excess,” Shupe said. “You can lose your memory and things like that.”
Ensuring that people always monitor your drink is also important, as the police have previously had reports of date rape drugs in drinks, he said.
Going out in a group and staying with the group is also wise, he said. This ensures that everyone gets home together and is not hitchhiking home with strangers while in an altered state.
“Take care of one another is kind of a big message,” Shupe said.
Party safety also includes getting home safely and there are many options in Durango to do so, he said. This includes the $8 Buzz Bus, which will be operating on Halloween.
Taxis and designated drivers are also options, he said.
“I’d really pay attention to not drinking and driving,” Shupe said. “Those can have some pretty heavy consequences.”
During Halloween itself, it is important for drivers to pay attention to the road. This is especially true between 5 and 9 p.m., and around Third Avenue, as little kids will be trick-or-treating in that area, he said.
Shupe said law enforcement’s involvement in Halloween festivities does not end with enforcing driving regulations, and that law enforcement will be monitoring the Zombie March.
The Zombie March is not a sanctioned city of Durango event, he said.
Law enforcement will be ensuring that people leave the road in certain areas and will be willing to arrest those who do not comply, Shupe said.
“Our objective is not to make a bunch of arrests,” he said. “Our objective is to ensure that thing goes off peacefully.”