A scary – but safe – halloween party is being arranged for parents and their children in a cell block at Maitland Gaol.
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Cr Philip Penfold is arranging the October 31 event and has hired a cell block to cater for up to 75 children in each of two sessions.
There will even be a haunted house in the cell block where children in their costumes can celebrate the big night.
Tickets are $15 per child which includes a drink, chips, fruit and lollies; or $40 maximum for a family.
The event is a fund-raiser for the Hunter Valley Men’s Crisis Support.
“Decorations have already been ordered for the cell block where there will also be a kids’ disco and prizes for those judged to be in the best costumes,” Cr Penfold said.
The first session will be for children aged from two to eight, beginning at 5.30pm and finishing at 7pm.
The second session for children aged from nine to 13 starts at 7.15pm and ends at 9pm.
“Halloween is becoming increasingly popular and we thought Maitland Gaol, being a somewhat scary place, would be ideal to hold a party,” Cr Penfold said.
“You can’t stop youngsters wanting to dress up in scary outfits over halloween, so we thought: ‘Let’s give them a place to do this’. We want to create a happy and safe environment.
“Personally, I don’t like my kids knocking on people’s doors – or other children knocking on my door at halloween.
“Holding such an event at Maitland Gaol means we can give kids a chance to really enjoy the halloween evening instead of having youngsters wandering the streets to knock on doors.”
The kids’ disco will be run by a local schoolteacher.
“It will be a spooky time, but a safe time, and if some kids want to go into a bit of spooky area in the cell block, they can,” Cr Penfold said.
“Of course the first session for the younger kids will be less scary and parents are encouraged to attend and to stay in our parents’ room.
Tickets can be bought at Mortgage Choice, 95 High Street, East Maitland, or phone 4933 0771.