It came from below: Oak Harbor pool came alive with monsters

Monsters were lurking underwater, and popped out of unexpected places through a hazy pool Friday night.

Lifeguards and staff at the John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool transformed into zombies, vampires and monsters who were eager to scare children and parents willing to venture into the Haunted Swamp.

Costumed kids along with their parents boarded inflatable rafts and scuba divers towed them through the twists and turns of the dark and humid pool.

“It was pretty cool,” said Oak Harbor resident Richard Smith, who went through the Haunted Swamp Friday with his wife Akiko and children Jason and Lucas, who both dressed up as aliens. “My kids have been swimming here for years and it was cool for them to see the life guards dress up.”

Katelin Fitzgerald, events coordinator for North Whidbey Park and Recreation District, estimated more than 100 people went through the swamp Friday.

“We had a lot of fun,” Fitzgerald said. She added that Popsies and Kakies Bakery, both on Pioneer Way, provided candy and cookies for families.

Kids and families were lined up to go into the Haunted Swamp, which was one of several events held during the end of October to celebrate Halloween.

More frightful Halloween fun

Frightville, which is organized by the Oak Harbor Boys and Girls Club and takes place in the Roller Barn, has been a popular haunted house on North Whidbey since mid-October. The fearful fun only escalates for Halloween with a particularly frightening lights-off “witching hour” from 9 to 10 p.m. tonight. The normals thrills and screams take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Oct. 31.

Find out more at www.frightvillehaunt.com.

The Halloween festivities continue Wednesday, Oct. 31 with a costumed fun run that begins at 4:30 p.m. The race starts at the Windjammer Park camping area and ends at Angelo’s Caffe on Pioneer Way in downtown Oak Harbor. The race will finish in time for trick or treating on Pioneer Way that goes from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

For a list of Halloween activities, see the calendar on page A14 of the Whidbey News-Times.

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