MCAS Sponsors Pair of Halloween-related Events

howl-o-ween-flyerAthletic teams, student organizations and clubs at Michigan City High School will team to put on a “Howl-o-Ween” event for youngsters in Michigan City. Sponsored by Michigan City Area Schools, the first-time event will be held from 6-8 p.m. on Thursday, October 30 at Ames Field.

Children will “trick-or-treat” 30 or so tables lined across the field, each hosting a different sport, club or organization at MCHS. Each sport will have a different activity or game going on at the tables, adding a twist to the traditional theme of trick-or-treating.

“It’s a modern way of trick-or-treating for sure, and a great opportunity to do community outreach,” said Craig Shaman, first-year athletic director at Michigan City High School. Shaman credited a group of students who attended a sportsmanship leadership conference for the idea.

“They went to a conference and came back with a lot of ideas, and this one got nothing but great responses,” Shaman said.

A costume contest will add to the festivities, with prizes for first, second and third place being given away to the kids with the best costumes from the 0-10 and junior high age groups.

The high school cheerleaders and band will also be present, as will “Wolfie,” the MCHS mascot and mascots from MCAS middle and elementary schools.

“We hope everyone comes in a costume,” Shaman said. “We really want this to go smoothly. If we got 1,000 or more kids to come out, that would be a success. But mostly we want this to run smoothly so we can have something to grow on and work out the kinks so we can have this again next year.”

“We wanted to do something good for the kids and Michigan City community while promoting our Athletic Department as well,” Shaman continued. “This is a good way for us to remind people that we are here for the town and the community.”

The “Howl-o-Ween” at Ames will take place during a week-long MCAS Halloween celebration. Krueger Middle School’s “Haunted Trails” will take place for the second consecutive year, on October 25 and November 1 from 7-9 p.m. each Saturday night. The popularity of the one-night event last year created an opportunity for organizers to set up the trails on two separate weekends this year. 

Betsy Kohn, MCAS director of communications, said Krueger is working with the Drama Club at MCHS to create “a very spooky tour of the wooded nature trails near the school.”

With a cost of $5, the haunted trail is appropriate for older elementary students (with a parent) and older.