By Page H. Gifford
Correspondent
Every year Leslie Berner hosts The Halloween Hangout each weekend throughout October and Halloween night. Berner says she has been doing this for three years and the community feedback has been what has kept the project going. But Berner wants to get the word out to more people who can enjoy the fun-filled ghoulish displays and games set up on her 200-year-old 26-acre farm.
Fall is a favorite time of year for many people, particularly after a long hot summer. It has usually been Christmas that has gotten all the attention with decorations and lights and all-out fanfare but Halloween is fast becoming the next best thing, rivaling Christmas.
“Fall is my favorite time of year. I love all the fall colors, the pumpkins, the sweaters. I have tried very hard to incorporate all the wonderful things about fall into our decorations throughout our venue for the families to enjoy,” said Berner.
Berner doesn’t consider herself a planner or an architect of an idea but someone who dives in and begins creating to see what emerges.
“I decide where I want the various parts of our venue to go, and start digging. It took me a year to dig all the tree roots out by hand to form the paths, and then I just started decorating and making props. Everything you see in our venue was done by me, no hired help, no staff or crew to assist me.” All the artwork visitors see throughout the property was done by Berner, including the signs on the streets.
She draws her inspiration from numerous sources, including the internet and other Halloween venues. She mentions some of her favorite displays, including the Kid Zone with a lighted spider playground she built, a Selfie Station with costumes for dress-up, Candy Dice, and other play activities and games for the whole family. The Halloween Hangout features a Haunted Forest that they rate a 5 on the scary factor scale of 1-10. The Enchanted Hay Ride is a 30-minute ride pulled by a tractor that runs through the woods and past ten lighted displays, each with a different theme centered around fall/Halloween. She added that the ride was not scary but fun for the whole family. They provide blankets and music along the way.
“We also change these displays each year, so this year they are all new. We have our Forest of Frames for fun picture taking, and our Sunflower Fort for a little extra fun. We have a Fortune Teller reading palms in a 200-plus-year-old historic corn crib, with mystical lights and props in it, this one is probably my favorite,” she said. “We also have a huge, beautiful field for all to enjoy, with cornhole and other fun activities to do and play. Lastly, this year we are also adding a community bonfire area where you can buy bags of s’mores for just $3 each.” She prides herself on using as many natural elements of the existing property in the displays and activities for the kids, rather than using store-bought props and devices.
Even with her partner of eight years and four dogs, she does everything herself. While building the venue, Berner underwent two complete reconstructive foot surgeries.
“It has been challenging at times to keep going. Often, I am hopping around on one leg, trying to put up displays and this is no joke.” Her dedication is obvious but the joy of seeing the community engaged and having fun is worth the work.
She said the inspiration comes from the children.
“The kids. I love kids but was only able to bear one of my own, and he is grown, married, and out on his own. I wanted to do something for the community as a whole, whereby kids could come with their parents and have fun without cell phones and other electronic devices,” she said. “The first year we were open I watched these kids run and play for hours, not once stopping to check their phones, and that was amazing. One little girl from the UVA hospital told me on her way out that “this was the best day of her whole life” That inspired me to keep doing it.”
The first year it opened, they had a special day dedicated to the immuno-compromised children at the UVA Children’s Hospital. They provided free tickets to those children who could come out on a special day when everyone was masked. They also gave free tickets to their families and caregivers, the nurses, and staff at the hospital. They did this for the first two years, working to give the children a day they could enjoy, including making goodie bags for them. Unfortunately, for all her effort no one knew about this community event.
We have also been working with the folks at Green Dogs Unleashed, whereby they bring their training dogs and trainers out for a day of fall fun/training at our facility. They have been here the past two years and are planning to come again this fall.”
This year Danny’s Bar and Grill from Lake Monticello will be at the Halloween Hangout every weekend to provide burgers, fries, and more for food, and S&M Photography will be onsite every Saturday for family fall picture taking. They will also have an offsite vendor coming to provide Halloween-themed cheesecakes for purchase.
Tickets are ten dollars but all the revenue goes back into the creation and maintenance of the venue each fall season. In addition to reducing the ticket prices to just $10 this year, they have also given out $5,000 worth of free tickets to the community, including the police department, the fire and rescue departments, the local grocery store employees, schools, and even people on the street who have shown random acts of kindness.
“My goal is to continue doing this for the community but we need the help of our community to keep it going. If we can’t get some help from the community, this may be our last year in business.” Donations of cash to purchase things such as batteries, etc. are always welcomed, she adds but we will also gladly accept any used Halloween/Fall props that would donated elsewhere. Things they need include outdoor extension cords, batteries in all sizes, battery-powered candles, and Halloween/fall decorations.
Given her recent foot surgeries, she admits she is slightly behind on the decorating this year so she could use help on the weekend of Sept. 28 and 29 from noon to 5 p.m. for those who would like to come out and volunteer to help put displays together. If anyone can donate any of these items or assist in decorating, contact Leslie Berner at 434-249-1822.
“Don’t forget that just coming out once we are open also helps, so many thanks to all who have come out previously and supported us in these efforts.”
The Halloween Hangout will be open every weekend throughout October and Halloween night with the following hours: Fridays from 4-9, Saturdays from 2-9, and Sundays from 2-8 with hours for Halloween night from 5-9.
