NORTH READING – The Masquers’ Haunted Playground will be held on Saturday, October 19 from 5-9 p.m. at the Batchelder Elementary School. Kids are encouraged to wear their costumes, but reminded to leave any prop weapons and pets at home. Entrance into this event is completely free but some additional activities cost money. This event is cash only and cards, Apple Pay, or Venmo will not be accepted.
For entertainment, each event can be individually purchased for $3-5 or a wristband for $30 that gives unlimited access to all bouncy houses, haunted tours, and haunted houses. A cappella groups will perform at the stage by the main dining tent throughout the night. There will be free magic shows at 5:45 p.m., 6:45 p.m., and 7:45 p.m. on the stage by the main food tent. There will also be a free Mad Scientist Scavenger Hunt throughout the night (Help Grew build his lazer to take over the playground and the world! Meet Grew, Lucy, and find clues hidden throughout the Haunted Playground!) Completion of this scavenger hunt will result in a prize.
Some events that can be expected to run during the event are tarot card readings, mid-way games, free storytellers, the Haunted Maze/Skits, inflatables, free musical entertainment, haunted tours, free character greetings, free scavenger hunt, face painting, a free magic show, and a Haunted House. All events are appropriate for all ages.
The schedule of the event is as follows: 5:00-5:10 p.m.: 12eights (a cappella group), 5:10-5:30 p.m.: NOTEorious, 5:30 p.m.: Saugus HS Tonal Chaos (a cappella group), 5:45 p.m.: Magician, 6:15 p.m.: Wilmington Sound Scape (a cappella group), 6:30 p.m.: Chelmsford Thursdays (a cappella group), 6:55 p.m.: Magician, 7:25 p.m.: Plymouth North Northern Lights (a cappella group), 8 p.m.: NRMS NR’Monics (a cappella group), 8:15 p.m.: Magician.
For food, one can expect chicken pot pie from Harrow’s, mac & cheese from Kitty’s, cheese pizza from Nick’s, clam chowder from Lobster Claw, fried rice & crab rangoons from China Cuisine, General Gao’s Chicken & LoMein from Ginger Gourmet, hot dogs and chips from Kayem, and chili, meatball subs, pulled pork and grilled cheese all from WN Concessions. There will also be concessions, hot pretzels, giant cookies, popcorn, cotton candy, and candy apples, as well as, hot apple crisp from Hill Farm, and ice cream from Cals Creamery.
For parking, both the upper and back of the lower lot at North Reading HS are available for this event and a free shuttle van will run from the upper lot back and forth from the Haunted Playground throughout the entire duration (5-9 p.m.) There is handi-accessible parking available at the Batchelder, the HS lower lot and upper lot. There will be no on-street parking.
