Volunteer haunters sought for spooky hayride route
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer

Pictured is a tableau from a previous Halloween haunted hayride. The scenes are sprinkled throughout the streets of Freehold Borough. The hayride is one of the activities connected with the borough's annual Halloween Spooktacular.

FREEHOLD - Those people who have a flair for the gruesome, the macabre and the gory - the Freehold Borough Spooktacular needs you. Volunteer "haunters" are needed to help scare people who will be taking a haunted hayride through the streets of the town.

Spooktacular organizers are looking for people who are willing to jump out of bushes, carry a chain saw and throw a scare into people during the Oct. 21 event that will kick off the Halloween season.

Jean Holtz, a member of the Spooktacular committee, said the committee "is in need of a few good ghouls."

"If you, your friends, neighbors and family are interested in creating a scary skit or frightening Halloween tableau, you can help surprise and amuse the riders along the haunted hayride route in the borough," Holtz said.

On the day of the haunted hayride, the streets of Freehold will be lined with ghouls, witches, hobgoblins and other creepy scenes.

Those interested in volunteering to be part of the eerie festivities will have a chance to come up with their own creepy and creative gory, ghoulish scene to add to the entertainment of the riders.

Karen Burst, who is chairing the hayride committee this year, has been involved in the event for more than 10 years. She said the hayride could not occur without the generous donation of equipment, time and manpower from Timothy and Kelly Buckley of Buckley Farms, Marlboro. The Buckleys have donated wagons, trailers and drivers for the hayride.

On Oct. 21, people who want to take the hayride will gather at Wachovia Bank, West Main Street. The hayride will take place between 1-4 p.m. Free refreshments, face painting and music will be offered while people wait on line for a wagon to take them around the borough's haunted neighborhoods.

Anyone interested in volunteering to participate as a scary character on the day of the haunted hayride may call (732) 462-9341 for more information.