A Variety of Haunts for a Variety of Causes
By Robert Newton

Ah, the holidays. A time to get together with family and friends and create memories that will last a lifetime…even if they are memories of total terror on this particular holiday (and at least your family and friends will know what to buy you in December if you profane your drawers from fright). We’ve found four relatively local haunted attractions that all support worthy causes, making for nights out you can feel good about feeling bad about.

THE HAUNTED MANSION, DOUGLAS

Where: 52 West Street, Douglas
When: October 18-21, 25-31, 7pm-10pm
Tickets: 1 can of non-perishable food
URL: thehauntedmansiondouglas.com

Provided that neither Disney nor the makers of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre move to shutter this high-amp local haunted attraction for copyright infringement, it will again collect thousands of cans of food for local food banks, so scared patrons can donate a lunch and possibly lose one in the same visit.

FOXBORO JAYCEES’ HAUNTED HOLLYWOOD

Where: Orpheum Theatre, 1 School St., Foxboro, (508) 543-2787
When: Oct. 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 and 27 – 7pm-11pm; Oct.7, 14, 21 & 28 – 7pm-10pm
Tickets: $10.00
URL: foxborojaycees.org

The civic saviors at the Foxboro Jaycees deliver their 19th annual Halloween haunt with their “Haunted Hollywood” production located inside the Orpheum theatre in Spooky World’s former domain, Foxboro. As the site boasts, “This is no children’s haunt; this is no slapped-together haunted fun house.” A cast of nearly 100 makes this 20-25 minute walk through the various creatively lit sets throughout the theatre an experience like no other, and the sit-down, indoor queue is a nice reprieve from the cold October nights.

HALLOWEEN COSTUME WORLD’S HAUNTED MANSION

Where: 480 Water St., Fitchburg, (978) 343-6666
When: October 5, 6, 12, 13, 18-21, 25-28, 29&30 (tentative) – 7pm-10pm
Tickets: $15.00 adults, $10.00 kids (not recommended for young kids)
URL: halloweencostumeworld.com

While Worcester’s world-famous Halloween Outlet may not have a scream-in-the-dark this year, Fitchburg’s would-be fright champ does, and after this season, they are selling off all the mansion’s 17 rooms and 5000 square feet of wares and rebuilding the place from the ground up. Get a preview of this incarnation’s swan song at a fundraiser for the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life, October 4 from 7pm-10pm.

LAKEVILLE HAUNTED HOUSE

Where: 28 Precinct Street, Lakeville, (508) 923-0053
When: October 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27
Tickets: $13.00 ($3.00 off coupon available on the website)
URL: lakevillehauntedhouse.com

If the drive down 495 is daunting, then consider the over $200,000 that this pro outfit has raised over its last 14 years. Wear comfortable shoes for walking, as a goodly part of this flight of fright is outdoors, but it is fully wheelchair accessible and also provides an indoor queue.