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Alex Bruton, above, attended the Downtown Trick or Treat event last year. Photo/Brian Blansett.
Two Halloween traditions will continue this year in Chandler.
The annual Chandler Downtown Trick or Treat, which has been a tradition for over 12 years, is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 30 from 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
On both sides of Main Street, from 6th Street to 11th Street, a variety of downtown businesses will be handing out candy to trick or treaters.
Attendees are encouraged to social distance themselves and wear masks.
Another Chandler tradition that is still happening is the Nightmare on Main Street Haunted Museum.
“We have people come through every year, three of four times a year because they’re having a lot of fun,” Actor, Designer and Director Bryan Herring said.
Starting Oct. 15 through Halloween night, Oct. 31, tickets will be sold for the annual Haunted House at the Lincoln County Museum of Pioneer History.
Every Thursday, tickets will be available for purchase from 6:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
On Friday and Saturday, tickets will be available for purchase starting at 6:30 p.m. until there is no line.
The cost is $15, but there are $2 coupons available throughout Chandler, at locations like Bancfirst and other retailers.
All proceeds go to the Lincoln County Historical Society and Lincoln County Museum of Pioneer History.
The theme for this years haunted museum is based on loose crazy clowns.
“We’ve started this theme four years ago,” he said. “It’s set up like an asylum and what’s happened is psychotic clowns have taken over the asylum.”
Herring said they wanted to stay away from some of the movie themes and sacrilegious themes.
“We strictly play on people’s fears of claustrophobia and coulrophobia, common fears that people have like being in tight spaces,” he said. “It’s shocking to me how many people are afraid of clowns. That’s a very common phobia that we play on.”
Herring said they suggest anyone under second grade to not participate.
“If you have bad reactions to strobe lights or seizures, it’s not a good thing for you to be in,” he said. “There’s a lot of strobe lights, there’s a lot of lasers and fog. There’s a lot or blaring metal music. It’s a complete attack on the senses.”
Herring said they’ve been having this haunted house for around nine years. Herring said when they first started they were using classical themes and jumped in to the clown theme four years ago.
“We jumped into these clown characters and the whole thing just took off like wildfire,” he said.
Herring said they had around 700 people came through the Haunted House last year and they are hoping to have 1,000 people come through it this year.
“We’re going to be open,” he said.
Herring said he wouldn’t be able to do this without his team of people behind him helping, who are all volunteers.
“I can’t take full credit for everything that goes on in there,” he said. “I couldn’t do it without the team of people that I have. They’re all amazing.”
Herring said this annual event has become a family event since his wife sells tickets at the door, his daughter is an actor in the production and many family members are involved.
Herring said this Haunted House hits close to home since he grew up in Chandler and has many memories of the museum.
“Everybody knows that museum needs a lot of work,” he said. “It’s been in our community for a long time.”