Tommy's #1 SHANIA TWAIN SuperSite Message Board

Posted By JESSICA YOUNG, THE DAILY PRESS

Wait in line with a construction worker, body builder, cheerleader and a hippie. They are a diverse group of characters but only a small example of the many costumes that could be seen waiting in line at the Shania Twain Centre on Saturday afternoon.

No longer the shrine to a country star, the museum and the rest of the centre grounds became a spooky and scary place for children to explore during the Halloween Spooktacular Experience event to raise money for the local food bank.

The lineup extended from inside the front of the museum entrance and weaved back and forth and out into the front of the parking lot. Kids were ushered in with their parents to take part in a tour of the Shania Twain Museum where cobwebs hung from the air and witches who stood still as a rock would frighten children out of their wigs as they moved when visitors would get close enough to touch them.

Two new attractions were incorporated into the event this year as well. Children were invited, if they dared, to go on to the underground tour where bone-chilling story telling took place. Children brave enough to go into a secret cage were dropped down into the underworld and given a frightful scare by someone coming out of a hazy mist.

The new goblin's gallery gave kids a chance to colour and play games in the Halloween spirit.

"It's all about kids today," centre customer service representative Suzanne Mellon said. "This is our third year doing the event. Over 100 Timmins businesses helped us with donations. Everyone is having a great time."

Proceeds from the event will go towards the food bank, Mellon said. Close to 1,000 children and parents came and went during the day-long event, centre customer service representative Anita Komesarovic said.

"They are happy and so excited to be here," she said. "They couldn't wait to go through the haunted house. We had three guides taking three groups around the site so they weren't just waiting at the Shania Twain Centre."

There were lots of little Batmans, Spidermans, classic witches and some disfigured creatures walking around the centre. Brian Cove took his daughter Kendra and said it was a great way to spend some quality time while experiencing some hair-raising moments as well.

"We had a really good time with the ghosts jumping out and scaring us," Brian said. "It was a good trip."

Kendra had no problems with the scary scenarios that presented themselves during her day at the Shania Twain Centre.

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