REVIEW: HOUSE OF HORRORS

October 4, 2024

review: HOUSE OF HORRORS

In the past few decades we have seen the funding for arts programs in public schools dramatically diminished. As a professional artist outside of HoLA, this is a frightening reality to see children going through. However, we find reassurance in programs like the East Whittier Middle School Instrumental Music Program (EWMSIMP), a nonprofit organization which funds the cultivation of music education and artistic creativity. EWMSIMP raises funds for students to have access to musical instruments and music lessons. Their annual “Harvest Fair & House of Horrors” fundraiser is a festive way to raise money and give the kids a Halloween-inspired creative outlet.

We love researching mazes that are off the beaten path and years ago, due to the involvement of Ryan of the Haunted Rose, we heard of a cool middle school haunted house - and we’ve been attending this maze ever since. Taking on the more challenging path, the middle school changes the theme of its haunted house every year, building on previous years of work to offer a new experience every single Halloween season. This season's presentation, "Castle of Terror”, was their best work yet.

The castle welcomed us into a dimly lit medieval world of witches, knights, and seemingly possessed entities. Around every corner we were surrounded by dozens of kids who screamed "GET OUT!" while being fully immersed in their characters. The rooms of the haunt were well-crafted with torture rooms and candlelit madness - taking us back to the time of knights and kings. The maze was one of the highest levels of energy yet this season and at times was intensely overwhelming in the greatest of ways. The spirit of Halloween was truly captured here in a way that only middle schoolers could deliver!

It is worth noting that this haunted house only exists for two nights every season and has now ended its 2024 run. The only way to keep updated of when it reappears for 2025 would be to follow the East Whittier Middle School social media accounts. And if you, like us, value the contributions that music brings to culture, then we would encourage you to donate to their music program and support this future generation of artists.

VC

October 02, 2024

Hauntsofla.com

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