Alvirne High School is preparing for the 14th installment of its annual Haunted Hayride.

Put on by Alvirne’s theatre group, Class Act, the Haunted Hayride promises those brave enough to attend an experience filled with spooks, thrills and fun.

This year’s hayride will run Oct. 16-17 from dusk until 9 p.m., just in time to get residents of Southern New Hampshire into the Halloween spirit.

Although the event is run by Alvirne’s theatre group, many other groups have participated over the years, including Student Council and Alvirne High School’s chapter of Health Occupation Students of America.

The hayride costs $8, with a $3 discount for students, and will take place at the Alvirne Hills House.

Each year, the hayride comes with its own student–generated theme and story.

New as of last year, the Haunted Hayride now includes a walking portion, where brave souls can walk through Alvirne’s woods with their tour guide, allowing the scary characters to get up close and personal.

This year’s hayride will revolve around the theme of a haunted circus, and features more than a dozen scary sites.

"Haunted Hayride is my favorite fall activity at Alvirne," said Corinne Prestia, junior and the secretary of the Class Act Student Leadership Board.

"The entire school participates to make an extraordinary event for the entire town, and I think the collaborative nature is part of what makes Hayride so special for everyone involved."

This is Prestia’s third hayride, and she is excited to be a storyteller this year.

The hayride truly is an event for the community, with many of the guests being residents of Hudson and neighboring towns who aren’t necessarily Alvirne students.

"This is my fourth year doing Hayride, and I love it each year," said Brianna Thompson, the president of Class Act and a senior at Alvirne. "We go all out, and it’s a lot of fun scaring people and doing the creepy makeup."

The hayride features spooky characters such as werewolves, clowns and gargoyles, all of which receive makeup and prosthetics, which gives students an opportunity to learn about makeup and other technical aspects of theater.

The ride takes about 40 minutes to complete, and Halloween–themed concessions will be served in front of the Alvirne Hills House. Class Act hopes to see you there for a spooky weekend!

Allison Lantagne is a senior at Alvirne High School.