Kids of all ages showed up for the fun. The younger ones came with their parents who seemed as excited as their kids to be there. The teens showed up with friends. And everyone showed up dressed for Halloween.

On any other day, the center features somewhat well used, comfortable overstuffed, kid-friendly furniture and games, but not so on Halloween night. That night the center was transformed into one big, scary maze. Some of the maze’s paths turned out to be dead-ends while others led to connecting paths and always with unexpected, frightening but fun touches. Eventually, the maze led to a pumpkin patch where the kids were given bags of candy.

“We’re having a lot of kids out here this evening, and they’re all having a great time,” said Teresa Orsi, the Youth Center’s Director. “When they show up, we give them a glow stick at the door so they can find their way through the maze and we may have to make a glow stick run because we’re getting low on them.”

When it was all said and done, the haunted house hosted 65 trick-or-treaters that night, which set a new record for the event.

The maze featured special lighting and sound effects. Spider webs, skulls, skeletons, trick pictures and spooky candelabras lined the walls adding to the Halloween ambiance. Many of these were lent to the center by families who are currently or who have been involved with the center. The kids at the center also created some of the more unique effects themselves.

“All of the kids pitched in and gave their time and talents, but it was Katryna Fournier, who stepped up as the driving, creative force behind this year’s Haunted House,” Orsi said. “We’ve all been working on this for at least the past month.”

Some kids dressed up as characters from the popular video game Fortnite. There were also plenty of clowns, witches, goblins, ghosts, princesses with tiaras and assorted superheroes.

“We don’t do prizes for the best costume. This is just everyone having a good time and dressing up as they like and enjoying Halloween,” Orsi said.

The candy came from the center, helped out by individual cash donations from the community. The Little Supermarket and North Pole Campground also stepped up to help. Hot cocoa and homemade bakery goods were on hand, donated to the center.

The event was free, open to everyone and was also wheelchair accessible. The turnout numbers have been steadily growing with each year. Once the haunted house ended, the same group who created it, hung around and transformed it back to its more familiar space as the Wilmington Youth Center.

The Youth Center’s next event will be holiday themed, and among the center’s wish list for donations are holiday decorations and Christmas trees. As always, donations are welcome and put to good use. The date of that event has not yet been set, but it will be close to Christmas.

There is also a Thanksgiving basket give-away to a family in need in the works.

The Youth Center is located on Park Lane in Wilmington. It’s free to anyone who wants to visit and is open year round. The center can be reached by phone at 518-946-7197. Hours are: Friday, 4-8 p.m.; Saturday, noon – 8 p.m.; and Sunday, 16 p.m.

The center provides a supportive, bully-free environment where kids are welcome to hang out, be who they are and enjoy themselves.