Fright night isn’t only reserved for Oct. 31 in Plant City. The town, chock full of its own ghostly history, has more than enough candy to go around, including fall festivals and trunk or treats in the weeks before Halloween. But, two main events are bound to scare your socks off this year.
Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail
Wind your way down a forested trail off South Frontage Road, and you’ll come across your darkest nightmares. A foggy graveyard reveals an army of undead. From the mist of a swamp comes wicked witches with gnarled claws. Beyond is a haunted pirate ship, twisted circus, werewolves, scarecrows and a serial killer bent on blood.
It’s all part of the first Sir Henry’s Haunted Trail. The attraction has ghoulish actors using scare tactics on unsuspecting victims as they stumble down the dim trail on select nights. The project is the brainchild of Zach Glaros, who has been creating haunted scenes in the front yard of his parent’s Lakeland house since he was a teenager.
“I wanted to take the concept I do every year and magnify it on a bigger scale,” Glaros says.
So, with the help of his father, and using his grandfather’s land, he has created Sir Henry’s Trail. Glaros also has enlisted actors to help with the show.
Sir Henry’s Trail is named for a character of Glaros’ own creation. The trickster skeleton wears a debonair vest, top hat and gloves, and carries a cane.
“He’s Joker meets Michael Myers,” Glaros says. “He’s the ultimate Halloween villain.”
Sir Henry will be making surprise appearances each night the haunted trail will run. But, it’s guaranteed he won’t be the only monster you’ll see.
“There’s no telling what could happen,” Glaros says.
The trail will be running Oct. 17 to 19, 24 to 26, and 31. It’s open from 7 to 10 p.m. each night. Tickets, which cost $10, can be purchased at SirHenrysHauntedTrail.com. The trail is located at 2837 S. Frontage Road.
1914 High School Building Paranormal Investigation
Christina Koplenik and her team of paranormal investigators watched in a second-story corridor as a ball rolled up a ramp by itself right in front of them. The team was doing a practice run through the old Plant City High School building off North Collins Street before the big tour on Oct. 18.
Koplenik says the 100-year-old schoolhouse definitely has some spirit activity.
“It seems like a resting place,” Koplenik said. “There’s a lot of personal affects from people in the community.”
Winding through the creaking hallways, it’s easy to see what she’s talking about. One room is lined with mannequins. They wear relics from the past — early century frills, top hats and lavish Strawberry Queen gowns. Beyond is a medical room filled with eery silver surgical instruments, dialysis equipment and horrifying electroshock therapy gadgets.
And although the inside is a supernatural gem, it was the outside that propelled Koplenik, vice president of Ghost Party Haunted Tours, to look into running a paranormal tour there. While in Plant City with her son, who loves trains, the duo stumbled upon the majestic structure nestled between grand oak trees near Historic Downtown. She contacted the East Hillsborough Historical Society, which operates inside the building, to see if she could do tours there.
After three years, she finally got in.
The tour will use actual paranormal equipment such as thermal meters. In the dry run, the investigators were able to pick up many temperature changes. A psychic confirmed different presences in the rooms from children to others who still had ties to their earthly belongings that had been put on display in one of the building’s many exhibits. Koplenik described the old high school as being medium in activeness. The energy levels were high and she said she could feel a heaviness in a lot of the rooms.
This year’s tour is almost completely booked. But Koplenik is also running a couple of other walking tours in Plant City, including a Boo and Brew.
For more information visit ghost-party.com.
Fall Festivals and Trunk or Treats
There are many other happenings in Plant City around Halloween, including some faith-based alternative celebrations.
Hopewell Baptist Church Pumpkin Patch
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays
WHERE: 6001 S. C.R. 39
Hopewell Baptist Church Fall Festival
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18; 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25
WHERE: 6001 S. C.R. 39
Plant City’s First Baptist Church Trunk or Treat
WHEN: 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26
WHERE: 503 N. Palmer St.
Church on the Rock Rocktoberfest
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31
WHERE: 301 E. Alsobrook St.
First United Methodist Church Trunk or Treat
WHEN: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31
WHERE: 303 N. Evers St.
Hope Lutheran Trunk or Treat
WHEN: 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31
WHERE: 2001 N. Park Road
Plant City Church of God Trunk or Treat
WHEN: 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31
WHERE: 2103 Mud Lake Road