This year’s annual Halloween Fun Run will have a record number of participants—and the event promises to be fun and freakish.

The 5-kilometer race is so popular, and this is attributed to its costume component. Individual creativity rules the day here, but prizes are also awarded to teams.

Race director Lance Dlouhy says: “There are just so many creative costumes that it’s great to come to the event just to watch.”

Some colorful examples from years past included one male participant who ran dressed as a nerd—pocket protector, checkered shirt and of course the requisite black-rimmed glasses taped down the middle. Another more outlandish costume was a man garbed head-to-toe Raggedy Ann paraphernalia.

An entire team, one year, came to the competition as a pack of zombies, covered in eerie pale makeup and black attire.

Dloouhy has noticed attendance at the race spike 144 percent since the event’s inception five years ago.

If you are in the St. Peter’s area, be sure to check it out. It promises to be fun for the entire family.

Everyone – or at least almost everyone – has seen or read The Amityville Horror or, at the very least, knows of it. But is it true?

Well, yes and no. The man who lived through it all – George Lutz – will readily admit that everything that happened in the book and the movie isn’t true. There was some poetic license taken, of course, like there is with most things. However, many of the things that were said to take place in that house actually did occur, and there were problems with the home long before Lutz moved in there.

The previous owner had killed his entire family because of the voices that he heard, and whether he was schizophrenic or whether there were actually malevolent spirits talking to him is something that’s going to be left up to debate for many years to come.

 Loading ...

Photograph by Eddie Ward

The Tampa Theater in Tampa, Florida is a beautiful sight. In the 1970s it was restored and renovated, and it remains a very popular attraction. It’s a bit eclectic but works well and some say it’s haunted.

From 1930 to 1965, the projectionist at the theater was so dedicated to his job that he basically lived there. Now that he’s passed on, many people say that his spirit still remains at the theater. There have been many manifestations seen by a lot of people, and some of these have been so strong that they are almost impossible to ignore. These include doors opening and closing and music playing when no one is around, as well as cold spots and odd noises that aren’t related to anything happening at the time.

For those who believe in ghosts, this is more than enough to convince them that the Tampa Theater is haunted.

If you want to stay at a real haunted house, look no further than the Forsyth Park Inn in Savannah, Georgia. A young girl who died heartbroken many years ago still ‘lives’ there.

Apparently she was taken in by a family under circumstances that are lost to history. She had a good time with them and they treated her really well. Another girl was eventually brought to live with them, and was said to be the sister of the woman who adopted the girl. She was later found to be having an affair with the man who adopted them and the first girl, out of jealous, killed her with poison.

Only after she was dead did the girl find out that the young woman she killed was really her biological mother. She went insane at that point and lived the rest of her life in a mental institution. Because she had such happy times at the home until that point, however, she is said to remain there, skipping along the corridors and laughing.

Everyone knows that the props of blood, gore and chainsaw wielding maniacs in haunted houses are staged. However, there has been speculation on the existence of real-life haunted houses. Sound unbelievable? Check out these stories …

Toys R US

In Sunnyvale, California this popular franchise store is situated on the foundation of what used to be a mansion where a former resident chopped off his hands while cutting wood. Rumors say his spirit still haunts the premises, knocking over merchandise in the facility late at night. One night, management set up cameras to capture the occurrences and were startled at the sight of a shadowy figure lurking through each aisle.

Bernardsville Library

In Bernardsville, New Jersey lurks a library ghost named Parker. At the time of the Revolutionary War, she was set to marry a young man, one whom her father did not approve. After losing her love to her father’s blade, the lady went insane and concealed herself in the library; the place where her soul still remains.

1890 House

The 1890 House is located in Cortland, New York. Erie noises have led many people who’ve lived their along with the entire city to believe the house is haunted by ghosts.

Although KISS has not enjoyed the huge success in recent years as they did in the late 70’s and early 80’s, they have had a strong, steady influence in the music industry. Not to mention the costume industry.

Since back in the 70’s when KISS first became a household name, people have been trying to dress and look like the members of KISS. While the wild way that they dress is really quite simple, it isn’t like anyone has a lot of items lying around in their closet that are likely to work for a KISS costume.

First, you would need to find a black body suit and start adding layers. Basically, you need to go for as much black and silver as possible and platform knee high boots in the most outrageous style you can find. Capes and really large, gaudy belts would help enhance the outfit and don’t forget the makeup.

Once you apply the makeup, it will be quite easy to tell who you are dressed as.  If you’re like me and are not so good at applying makeup, you can buy some really great Kiss Makeup kits online.   Halloweenmart carries the full selection of Catman, Spaceman, Starchild and Demon Kiss Makeup kits.

They even have some Kiss masks (on the pricey side)  if you want to chunk the makeup all together.

…More Kiss Costumes…

This horrifying video shows the terror and danger a poltergeist can put a family through.

This is one of the most interesting and creepy videos I have seen in awhile.  This ghostly video show a high speed car chase of the Garden City P.D. and what they refer to as the Ghost Car. 

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6351050467456512745

The Ghost Car swerves and weaves in and out of traffic.  The driver is “like a man possessed” and all hell breaks loose.

Halloween parties can be a blast and a great time to let loose and have some fun.  From my own parties in the past I have one suggestion of something you may want to be careful with or avoid entirely.

Alcoholic Punch:  This is extremely tasty, and looks awesome displayed on the table, expecially sitting in a container filled with dry ice for that creepy fog rising effect. 

The problem with the punch is that it’s sneaky.  Sneaky booze is booze that everyone loves to drink and you can barely taste the alcohol in but it’s extremely powerful.  Before you know it, your house is full of overly intoxicated adults spilling and yacking in your yard or worse all over your bathroom toilet.

That’s not even the worst part.  The worst part is the next morning, because you will have sucumb to the beast of the punch bowl yourself and have no clue of the mess in which you are about to receive.

You stagger down the stairs knowing a mess is what you are about to see, but are totally unprepared for the horror and smells you are about to attain. 

You groggily take a step off of the stairs onto the kitchen floor and your foot sticks like a fly to fly paper.  Your nostrils fill with the odor of old fruit, rum, and beer mixture. 

You wonder to yourself “What the hell is this?”  Then the previous evenings events begin to flood your pounding head.

Your floor is covered in a sticky, icky mass that once was shiny and clean.  The sparkle of the linoleum floor is gone replaced by stagnant fruit juices and alcohol that once were a hauntingly beautiful table display. 

You will have to scrub your floors several times and open the windows immediately.  That smell isn’t going anywhere for quite awhile.

So think twice before you serve alcoholic punch.

Show your wild, funny, or truly absurd side and take home that Best Costume prize you’ve had your eye on! After all, Halloween is all about becoming an entirely different person for one night. The more creative you can be the better.

Arrive at the party dressed as your favorite sports star, as your favorite animal, or as your jerk of a boss. Any of these subjects could result in good ideas for Halloween costumes – even GREAT ideas! Hate your job? Love animals?

Do you enjoy sports? You just have to be observant. Good ideas for Halloween costumes are everywhere. Ask around; maybe your cousin dressed up as something or someone really spectacular three years ago and would be happy to loan you her costume.

Craft magazines and catalogs are also a great resource, as are your friends and family. Some flowing fabric and strands of bells could be used to craft an exotic gypsy costume. A cheap art set could be transformed into a Parisian artist’s costume. By browsing the aisles you’ll discover an array of make-your-own costume supplies from angel wings to bridal veils. Many people succeed in finding good ideas for Halloween costumes by visiting party supply or craft stores.

All you need is a little imagination! Good ideas for Halloween costumes are as easy to find as you make them. In fact the cast of any TV show or movie is a great way to get all of your friends or co-workers in on the fun. Adult groups of friends will love dressing up as Charlie’s Angels, the Dukes of Hazard (complete with Daisy and Boss Hog!), Three Amigos, or characters from Gilligan’s Island.

How about Alvin and the Chipmunks or a trio of Superheros? Have three kids? Dress up your two children as Raggedy Ann and Andy, Sonny and Cher, or Mickey and Minnie Mouse. The entertainment industry is especially ripe with good ideas for Halloween costumes for groups of adults or children. Even items found around your home can spark great ideas – have you ever considered going to your next Halloween party dressed as a box of cereal, a toaster, or a bagel?

Dora the Explorer and Kim Possible are popular with girls now, and what boy will turn down the chance to be Spider Man for a night? Look no further than the local toy store or your child’s favorite Saturday morning cartoon. Looking for good ideas for Halloween costumes for kids? Actors, TV characters, famous faces from the news, even characters from books can be great fodder for Halloween night.

Good ideas for Halloween costumes can come from a variety of sources, whether it’s the Internet, TV, movies or even your hobbies.

Group Costumes Available for Purchase:

Gilligan’s Island Costumes

Superhero Costumes

Wizard of Oz Costumes