NASHUA – It’s getting spooky on Foxboro Street in Nashua.

Graveside Manor, a family-run haunted house, opened for a ninth consecutive year on Friday. Through Halloween, Graveside Manor will operate from 6-9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Kathy Thomas, who runs the house, said her family starts building the “haunt” beginning in August.

The house offers more than just the opportunity to have fun with family and get scared. It offers a chance to give to charity. Rather than charging visitors, they have a box at the entrance for money that will be donated to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, an organization that grants “wishes” to critically ill children.

However, she said no one pressures visitors to donate.

“We want everyone to celebrate. If someone can put a donation in the box, it’s fine. If they can’t, that’s also fine. Leave money if you can,” Thomas said.

Because a profit is not being made from the house, all actors are strictly volunteers. But Thomas said she usually to repays her volunteers with meals and snacks.

Family and friends of Thomas have continuously joined in over the years. Currently, there are 12-15 actors and two makeup artists. Thomas said they have been fabulous.

“It’s unbelievable – they do an unbelievable job. I’m very lucky,” she said.

Through the years, Thomas has received assistance from sponsors, including Home Depot.

Those who are brave enough to visit the Graveside Manor will be able to walk through eight freaky rooms. They’ll be following a plot about Vladimir Barlow- a hospital administrator for the criminally insane from the 1800s who was fired for torturing his patients.

Legend has it that Barlow was also insane and believed that blood was his path to immortality. It was said that Barlow would drain the blood of his patients until they were in a zombie-like state, and would then practice gruesome experiments on their corpses in his “private home” in Nashua. He would then bury their remains in the “haunted cemetery” through which visitors will walk.

Visitors will walk through the cemetery and be greeted by Gerry Giguere (Uncle Gerry), who will have a hearse. This is Giguere’s second year playing the role as Uncle Gerry. Giguere said the experience has been incredible.

“It brings people closer because it’s for a good charity,” Giguere said.

Average attendance has grown through the years, thanks to word of mouth and Facebook. Giguere said Halloween is one of their biggest nights, as people tend to stop by while they are trick-or-treating. Giguere said is a separate haunt for younger children, during which no one comes out to scare them.

This will take place Oct. 21 during the afternoon, so that it doesn’t appear as frightening to the youngsters.

All in all, Giguere said his experience with the Graveside Manor has been good and he praised Thomas for all that she’s done.

“She’s a good-hearted person,” he added.