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This article was published 15/10/2021 (1773 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A Halloween celebration two years in the making is set to return to Portage La Prairie’s museum with an emphasis on historical folklore, spooky activities and a haunted corn maze.
“This is our first in-person event in over a year at the museum and it’s great,” said Madison Connolly, executive director of Fort la Reine Museum.
“We’re about living history, so having those opportunities where people can engage in that history, nothing beats it.”
Due to COVID-19 regulations, the museum has decided to proceed with the event and is requiring all patrons 12 and up to be fully vaccinated and to purchase tickets in advance on their website. Connolly said the event will only be outdoors on both nights and will look a little different this year, while still being a fun experience.
“This year, unlike previous years, it’s going to be a controlled pathway,” Connolly said.
“As they go through the pathway there’s going to be lots of different activity stations that are going to be facilitated by different community partners. By the end of the pathway, people will be led to the corn maze quest, which is somewhat of a pinnacle of the event.”
Different activities featured this year on the path to the maze include a spider web obstacle course, a selection of carnival games, a homemade tea bag crafting station and a bonfire and ghost story circle that is sure to frighten guests, according to volunteers at the event.
“If you have ever watched Are You Afraid of the Dark?, it’s kind of like that ambiance of sitting and listening to a ghost story and then you bump into them and find them somewhere in the museum or on the grounds,” said Megan Romphf, cultural connector for Portage Local Immigration Partnership and member of Portage la Prairie Community Revitalization Corporation.
Romphf, a friend of Connolly’s, said the spook factor at the campfire will be heightened with cultural stories from Haiti and some local Indigenous folklore — a station she is excited to be in charge of.
“It’s contemporary legend, something that you kind of go home and think about leaving here with the thought of that was spooky,” Romphf said.
“There’s kind of that spook factor in the air where everybody is waiting for a jump or a scare and with the leaves changing and falling it kind of gives that ambiance of Halloween. That’s what I love about it.”
This year marks the third instalment of Fright at the Museum that Connolly has co-ordinated in her three-and-a-half years as executive director. With a background in history, Connolly said she is excited to feature the legend of former Canadian Pacific Railway president William Van Horne whose railcar has a connection to the Portage museum.
“I really think that Halloween is one of the best times of the year to focus on dark history, not just Canada but worldwide.”
“Commissioned in 1882, that was Van Horne’s private business railcar. We have had many testimonies from staff members and volunteers and visitors who have come at night that have seen lights on, heard voices in it and rumour has it that Van Horne himself still haunts the corridors in that train car.”
The museum plans to have a living history actor play Van Horne in his train conductor outfit.
“During family friendly hours from 5 to 7 p.m. it will be less scary, but he will still be on the grounds,” Connolly said.
“During fright hours from 7 to 10 p.m., Van Horn bites. That is one example of many different ghost story characters that will be afoot during the event.”
For the pinnacle of the event, groups will have 30 minutes in the corn maze to find every scavenger hunt station before the timer is up. Connolly said if one can withstand the spooks afoot in the maze and find all the individual letters to make a word fitting with the entire theme of the event, contestants will be entered into a grand prize draw.
Nearly 65 volunteers are contributing to the two-night event, including support from PCRC and other members of the community. Both Connolly and Romphf said the Halloween festival is a slice of normalcy.
“I think, everything has been put on hold and it’s so nice to be able to be back in the community and really build each other up,” Romphf said.
“Having Fright at the Museum back again is so important just for keeping us in the hearts and minds of the community … at least we are able to offer something fun for Halloween,” Connolly said.
For more information on the event, visit fortlareinemuseum.com
A Halloween celebration two years in the making is set to return to Portage La Prairie’s museum with an emphasis on historical folklore, spooky activities and a haunted corn maze.
“This is our first in-person event in over a year at the museum and it’s great,” said Madison Connolly, executive director of Fort la Reine Museum.
JOSEPH BERNACKI
Oct. 12, 2021 - Madison Connolly, executive director of Fort La Reine Museum has organized a series of spooky activities on the pathway to the museum's corn maze. In total over 60 volunteers are set to help with the event after not having taken place in two years. (JOSEPH BERNACKI/CANSTAR COMMUNITY NEWS/HEADLINER)
“We’re about living history, so having those opportunities where people can engage in that history, nothing beats it.”
Due to COVID-19 regulations, the museum has decided to proceed with the event and is requiring all patrons 12 and up to be fully vaccinated and to purchase tickets in advance on their website. Connolly said the event will only be outdoors on both nights and will look a little different this year, while still being a fun experience.
“This year, unlike previous years, it’s going to be a controlled pathway,” Connolly said.
“As they go through the pathway there’s going to be lots of different activity stations that are going to be facilitated by different community partners. By the end of the pathway, people will be led to the corn maze quest, which is somewhat of a pinnacle of the event.”
Different activities featured this year on the path to the maze include a spider web obstacle course, a selection of carnival games, a homemade tea bag crafting station and a bonfire and ghost story circle that is sure to frighten guests, according to volunteers at the event.
“If you have ever watched Are You Afraid of the Dark?, it’s kind of like that ambiance of sitting and listening to a ghost story and then you bump into them and find them somewhere in the museum or on the grounds,” said Megan Romphf, cultural connector for Portage Local Immigration Partnership and member of Portage la Prairie Community Revitalization Corporation.
Romphf, a friend of Connolly’s, said the spook factor at the campfire will be heightened with cultural stories from Haiti and some local Indigenous folklore — a station she is excited to be in charge of.
“It’s contemporary legend, something that you kind of go home and think about leaving here with the thought of that was spooky,” Romphf said.
“There’s kind of that spook factor in the air where everybody is waiting for a jump or a scare and with the leaves changing and falling it kind of gives that ambiance of Halloween. That’s what I love about it.”
This year marks the third instalment of Fright at the Museum that Connolly has co-ordinated in her three-and-a-half years as executive director. With a background in history, Connolly said she is excited to feature the legend of former Canadian Pacific Railway president William Van Horne whose railcar has a connection to the Portage museum.
“I really think that Halloween is one of the best times of the year to focus on dark history, not just Canada but worldwide.”
“Commissioned in 1882, that was Van Horne’s private business railcar. We have had many testimonies from staff members and volunteers and visitors who have come at night that have seen lights on, heard voices in it and rumour has it that Van Horne himself still haunts the corridors in that train car.”
JOSEPH BERNACKI
Oct. 12, 2021 - In years past, the famous old red barn was the host of many Halloween activities at Fort La Reine Museum. This year, Fright at the Museum is being held outdoors only to keep people from overcrowding. (JOSEPH BERNACKI/CANSTAR COMMUNITY NEWS/HEADLINER)
The museum plans to have a living history actor play Van Horne in his train conductor outfit.
“During family friendly hours from 5 to 7 p.m. it will be less scary, but he will still be on the grounds,” Connolly said.
“During fright hours from 7 to 10 p.m., Van Horn bites. That is one example of many different ghost story characters that will be afoot during the event.”
For the pinnacle of the event, groups will have 30 minutes in the corn maze to find every scavenger hunt station before the timer is up. Connolly said if one can withstand the spooks afoot in the maze and find all the individual letters to make a word fitting with the entire theme of the event, contestants will be entered into a grand prize draw.
Nearly 65 volunteers are contributing to the two-night event, including support from PCRC and other members of the community. Both Connolly and Romphf said the Halloween festival is a slice of normalcy.
“I think, everything has been put on hold and it’s so nice to be able to be back in the community and really build each other up,” Romphf said.
“Having Fright at the Museum back again is so important just for keeping us in the hearts and minds of the community … at least we are able to offer something fun for Halloween,” Connolly said.
