Young goblins and ghouls are invited to Island Rec’s annual Teen Halloween at the Fairgrounds Oct. 31 from 7-9 p.m. The event is free for 6-12 grade. No parents or younger siblings allowed.

“This was actually spearheaded by former sheriff Bill Cumming,” Jen Henry, Recreation Specialist for Island Rec, said, “He saw they needed something to do.” Since those early days, attendance has swelled to an average of 170 students, illustrating the need for teen activities.

The Fairgrounds main building will be decked out with glow-in-the-dark everything, including a tic-tac-toe board, inflatable bowling pins, yard pong and cornhole. Even attendees will be adorned with glow sticks as they check-in.

“Everything glows,” Henry said. What doesn’t glow will be spookified with the fog machine.

Pizza and candy are a given, but there will also be games and a costume contest. Awards will be handed to the most creative, funniest and scariest. The catch is that the face may not be entirely covered up, and no two weapons.

Last year t80 teens huddled outdoors due to the pandemic, but they endured and seemed to have a good time anyway. There was, after all, a live band Henry said.

That many teens at an event sound like chaos, but these young islanders don’t want to ruin one of the few activities set up just for them.

“You are just waiting for problems to start, but the teens here are just grateful for something to do,” Henry explained, adding that last year, due to the pandemic they had to wear masks even though it was outdoors. “No one complained or was grumpy about it.”

Although there will not be live music this year, there will be music for those who want to do the monster mash. What is missing from the action of a live band will be made up for by additional games and activities.

Attendees may leave at any time if they decide to go trick-or-treating, or just head home. However, once they leave, they can’t return. “It just gets too crazy if they come and go,” Henry said.

While parents may not join in on the fun, they are welcome and often do, wait in their car, which Henry said she finds very endearing,

“I just love the kids. They are so sweet and polite,” Henry added.