Halloween Trail set to spook Avent Park

The Haunted Trail at Avent Park adds something spooky to Halloween.

The Haunted Trail is brought to the Oxford community by the leisure management department at Ole Miss and the Oxford Park Commission.

Held on the Avent park jogging trail, the Haunted Trail provides a fun and scary event for everyone to enjoy. Students in the leisure management program and the Oxford Park Commission have worked hard to create many different spooky scenes on the trail.

"This is better than any haunted house," said Craig Nugen, a student in the programming course of leisure management. Over all, there are around 100 students working on the trail.

Natalie Ruffin, the programs director of the Oxford Park Commission, has been in charge of this event for 12 years. "This is our biggest event of the year," Ruffin said, "and it has been a great success. I am expecting a big crowd this year."

"It's going to be a fun and good experience," said Heather Box, a leisure management major, "Of course, I do love Halloween!"

The average ages that come to the Haunted Trail are kids between five and 12, but everyone's invited.

"It is going to be fun for all the little kids," Broughton Land said, "This trail is designed in a way that younger kids, as well as adults, can enjoy it."

"It should be an interesting and spooky time," Benjamin Bartton, a student in the programming course said.

This year, in addition to the trail, there will be a "Halloween Witch and Goblin Egg Hunt" on the baseball field next to the Haunted Trail. "There will be about 1,000 Halloween eggs hidden on the field filled with fun Halloween surprises," Ruffin said. Children ages six to nine are invited to come Thursday at 5:30 p.m. The only requirement is that children wear their costumes.

The Haunted Trail opens on Thursday night and lasts from 6:30 to 9:30. Admission for kids is $2 and adults $3. Children under six are asked to be accompanied by an adult. The earnings will benefit the Ole Miss leisure management club.

Rob Boyd, athletic director of the park commission said that Natalie and the students have made this a great event. Juanma Garcia, the assistant athletic director, also helped out with the construction of the Haunted Trail. "Nobody should miss it!" Garcia said.