A chill runs down your spine as distant screams echo through the maze. You turn a corner and, suddenly, a ghastly figure lunges from the darkness. That is just a glimpse of what students experienced in the Haunted Maze at this year’s Fall Fest.
Walking through the school, scare actors could be seen with blood smeared on their faces and shirts, some sporting gory wounds that looked disturbingly lifelike. “I think this year, our SFX team was really good at making the makeup look real,” said junior Hazel Shafiq, president of Mu Alpha Theta, National Honors Society, and Art Club.
“We had special effects like screaming noises and jump scare actors. It was one of the most decorative and high-effort things,” Shafiq added. In the maze, colorful lights illuminated the twisting pathways, and decorations hung from the ceiling. At one point, the smog machine produced so much smoke that it accidentally set off the fire alarm, prompting a visit from the local firefighters.
Fall Fest was also an opportunity for clubs to raise money so they could continue to thrive. “I am the president of Ceramics Club, so it’s just suiting that we sell ceramics projects. We’ll have a range from little trinkets, jewelry dishes, and mugs,” said senior Sofia Hernandez. Each piece was handmade, carefully shaped and refined through hours of dedicated work.
“Our funds will most likely go to upkeeping our ceramic materials and buying new tools and underglazes when necessary,” Hernandez shared. For many club leaders like Hernandez, fundraising brings them a step closer to fulfilling their missions, whether it is letting students express themselves freely or teaching skills they can use later in life.
In previous years, clubs brought their own prizes for booth games. Now, winners receive special tickets that can be exchanged with ASB for prizes. “With the new ticket system, it’s a lot easier on clubs because I don’t need to provide my own prizes,” said Shafiq. Thanks to this system, clubs were able to sell their items and host their games at lower prices.
Other clubs brought their own rewards. The Journalism program, for example, hosted Lucky Ducky, a game where students picked a floating duck from the pool. For only one ticket, students could win a variety of items, such as candy, bubble wands, and gift cards. “My favorite part of Fall Fest was winning the big prizes from Ms. Bell. I got two plushies. One is a demogorgon and the other is a witch. I’ve been using them for sleeping. It really brought peace to my dreams,” said Anahi Vasquez, a junior at MECA.
The excitement didn’t stop with the prizes! Students embraced the festive spirit by wearing costumes and other fun attire. The choices were endless, spanning from superheroes and video game characters to, inexplicably, a full-sized walking hot dog.
Some students even made their own outfits. “I didn’t measure so it looks like I have no neck. But seeing what I built from hand really makes me proud of the work I have done. The whole process itself was the enjoyment,” said Vasquez. She wanted to bring one of her favorite characters, Mr. Puzzles, to life. This cartoon, television-headed content creator appears in videos from SMG4, a Youtube channel known for its chaotic “brain rot” humor. “I’ve been a fan of his for 2 years. I really love his personality, his attitude, and his love for film,” Vasquez shared. After a quick trip to Hobby Lobby, she used simple, low-budget materials to craft her masterpiece.
Overall, this year’s Fall Fest proved to be an unforgettable experience for everyone involved. From the spine-chilling Haunted Maze to the exciting games, both students and clubs came together to make the event memorable. As Shafiq put it, “Last year set the bar really high, but I’m very excited with how this year turned out.”
