Hawkeye seeks volunteers for Haunted Hayride

 

Community members from Hawkeye will host a Haunted Hayride from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29. The organizing committee is looking for businesses, agencies, or groups of volunteers who would be willing to take over one of the 15 Halloween scenes that will be featured in the hayride. Thanks to volunteers like (l-r) Alexa Pleggenkuhle and Zandrea Moore, last year’s Haunted Hayride was a huge success. submitted photo

 

Hawkeye seeks volunteers for Haunted Hayride

 

 

By Chris Deback
cdeback@thefayettecountyunion.com

 

 

 

 

Community members in Hawkeye will once again host a Haunted Hayride from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29, but are in need of volunteers. 

Last fall, Keith Kovarik of Hawkeye was the lead organizer of the hayride. He said the idea was born simply because he owns a hay wagon.

“Hawkeye is a small town and we had trick-or-treating, but we just wanted something different,” said Kovarik. “I had the hay wagon, so I was like, ‘Hey, how about we do a Haunted Hayride?’ The people I got involved were overly excited about it, so it kind of snowballed from there and came together very fast.” 

Kovarik and other organizers are looking for businesses, agencies, or groups of volunteers to take control of one of the 15 different scenes that will be featured on the two-block hayride. The hayride will run down an alley between Main and Pearl streets with scenes set up in the backyards of community members along the alley. 

“We have the scene themes somewhat planned out,” Kovarik said. “There is an insane asylum, campground, car wreck, school bus with a marching band in a car wreck, and a Freddy Krueger scene. I am doing the arachnophobia scene. 

“With cast and support, we had approximately 60 volunteers last year, and we’re looking for more this year,” he added. “I don’t want this to come across as if ‘Hey, if people don’t volunteer, we aren’t going to do it.’ We are going to do it regardless; we are just trying to make it easier.” 

Those looking to volunteer may not be responsible for costs incurred with developing scenes. Kovarik noted that the organizing committee should be able to supply most groups with the necessary supplies; however, volunteers are needed to make props and help put scenes together on the day of the ride. 

Kovarik said that there will be two versions of the Haunted Hayride, so plan accordinging, Earlier in the evening, while it is still light out, will be a PG version of the ride for children. Once it gets dark, an R-rated version will be implemented for adults.  

Last year, the group was expecting to have approximately 70 to 100 riders for its event. However, over 500 people came to the small town to enjoy the Haunted Hayride. Proceeds from the event were donated to the Hawkeye Community Hall for its future renovation plans.

“Everyone was very happy with what we did,” the K&K Gardens owner explained. “You will always have some people say it should have been scarier, but other people said it was great. It needs to be faster. We didn’t expect that many people last year, so just the fundamentals of getting people through quicker, that is what we need to work on. We will have at least four hay wagons this year.” 

At $3 a person to ride, Kovarik said that they will once again be donating the proceeds to the Hawkeye Community Hall. Attendees can expect the ride to last approximately 15 minutes. 

If you are an individual, group, or business interested in volunteering for the event, please contact Keith Kovarik at keith@kkgardens.com.

 

 

Rate this article: 
No votes yet
Comment Here