<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3GXmAP_0wFVWvvm00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3GXmAP_0wFVWvvm00" width="1200" height="630" ></figure>Haunted houses: from Haunted Hills to Reapers Realm, the blood-curdling month of October is filled with frightful nights for those seeking thrills and chills—but none hit home quite like Valpo’s very own Night of Nightmares, presented by VU Haunt.The horror hound organization’s annual haunted house returns to campus to conjure shrieks and squeals on Oct. 26 from 6-10 p.m. in LL30 (the Harre Union basement). Admission is free and open to students, faculty and staff.“We put a focus on dreams, sort of like if a child's dream got warped, so it’s a mix of ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ and ‘Coraline.’ A mixture of phobias, fears and scary childhood experiences,” said the President of VU Haunt, Dmitri Lopez.In addition to the new theme this year, VU Haunt has taken the initiative to offer a wholly unique experience that sets the haunted house apart from previous years.“We've extensively redesigned the haunted house to take advantage of all of the space [allotted to us]. But at the same time, we wanted to make it more condensed and claustrophobic; not enough to where people get genuinely uncomfortable, but enough to where you have that sense of uneasiness going through,” Lopez said.Although the haunted house generates screams for just one night only, the hard work and dedication come from months of extensive planning and execution by the entire organization.“It's always up to the members. My job is to then take their ideas and see how I can reasonably make it feasible and think, ‘How can we make it scary?’ Everybody has pitched in, and I think it's going to make for a really fun experience [as a result],” Lopez said.Through collaborative efforts, garnering support from Alpha Psi Omega, the University Programming Council and even Alliance in years past, VU Haunt strives to build community through its annual haunted house.“It’s great for people who need service hours and we're always more than happy to have them,” Lopez said. “We really want [people to not only] come to the haunted house, but make people aware that we're out there. We exist. I feel like people forget about VU Haunt, but I hope that when I'm gone, I am able to see the club [continue to] thrive and think of new ideas for events or even just the haunted house. Changing enough every year is always great. We never want to give people the same experience twice.”In the buildup to the haunted house, VU Haunt is hosting a s’mores community event on the West Lawn from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Oct. 23.“We're gonna have two campfire pits so just come on by, have some s’mores and enjoy yourself, [have fun],” Lopez said.To get involved with VU Haunt, follow them on Instagram @valpohaunt or stop by during one of their weekly meetings held on Mondays from 5-6 p.m. in the Alumni Room in the Harre Union.“Anybody’s welcome to come. We’re a fun little organization that’s very low commitment. Just come and have fun. [VU Haunt] is just a place for people to get together who like all things horror and watch movies, play games and put up the yearly haunted house,” Lopez said.</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

Night of Nightmares, spooky thrills await

Haunted houses: from Haunted Hills to Reapers Realm, the blood-curdling month of October is filled with frightful nights for those seeking thrills and chills—but none hit home quite like Valpo’s very own Night of Nightmares, presented by VU Haunt. The horror hound organization’s annual haunted house returns to...