First Friday to be frighteningly good

By Christina Scanlon

The rescheduling of First Friday events at the Pember Library and Museum and the Slate Valley Museum to Oct. 9 gives everyone an extra week to get their costumes and practice walking like a zombie.

The event was a great hit last year and is resurrected by popular demand this year.

The second annual Halloween Party and Zombie Walk will take place from 7-9 p.m. at both museums.

“Last year’s Zombie Walk was such a huge hit we knew we would do it again,” said Krista Rupe, Slate Valley Museum director. “This year’s event promises to be even more amazing with an expanded lineup at both museums.”

There’s a lengthened zombie parade route which, in part, takes place on the bridge between the two museums.

Hopefully, your costume can accommodate dancing shoes to cut a rug at the Zombie Ball.

Prepare to enjoy, or be frightened by, some spooky stories. Halloween art will be on display as well as special décor and other terrifying surprises.

Halloween treats, or maybe they are tricks, will be another highlight of the night.

At the Pember, zombies can feast on “finger” sandwiches, jelly eyeballs, wormy hot dogs and bloody punch.

Visit one of the make-up stations to enhance or intensify your look.

An artist reception for Wayne Rizzo will be from 6-9 p.m. The master artist of the macabre will be back at the Pember with a one-man show of the ghoulish and grotesque throughout the month of October.

Spooky Stories from the Slate Valley will be held at the Slate Valley Museum. You’ll hear creepy tales from the area guaranteed to scare and frighten the crowd. Audience members will then have a chance to offer a scary story of their own.

Skeeter and Nancy Morse will provide music, props and a laser light show for events at both museums.

Rupe said, Rik Sassa, Glenn Cruze and Robert Seese of Fear This Productions in Salem will return to First Friday in incredible costume to lurk in the shadows and scare the daylights out of everyone.

For the Zombie Walk, zombies, partygoers and ghouls will assemble at 8 p.m. in front of the Pember for a parade down Main Street and turn onto River Street, where they will gather strength to invade the Slate Valley Museum for a Great Zombie Ball. Inside, everyone can dance around the tombstones to zom-rock and laser lights in the crypt.

For more information call the Pember at 518-642-1515, Slate Valley Museum at 518-642-1417 or visit www.thepember.com or www.slatevalleymuseum.org.