The Attic. The Cage. The Incinerator?
For those of you who love to jump out of your skin, just those names should give you goosebumps!
These three haunted houses will be open for thrill seekers beginning this weekend as B’ville turns into Booville throughout the month of October.
“It’s not all scary,” said Jason Piraino, co-organizer of Booville, along with his brother Michael, friend Cindy Martens and new partner Jim Orlando, owner of the B’ville Diner. Located behind the landmark eatery at 18 E. Genesee St. in Baldwinsville, the 15,000 square foot complex will provide visitors with artist-designed haunted houses, theatre, food service, vendors, pumpkin carving, live music and costume after parties.
“When we were young, our mom would take us to pumpkin farms and all these fun things and now it seems like Halloween is just super scary and gross or sexy adult and drunk,” said Jason, who stressed that they want every age to feel welcome and partake in various activities that range from cute to spooky. “We’ll have kid-friendly stuff on the premises and if you want to bring your 15-year-old and they like to be scared, fine. You can go carve a pumpkin. We’re going to have a whole family entertainment complex this year.”
Growing up, Halloween was a treat for the whole family, the brothers said, so they would go all out as the holiday approached. In high school, the Central Square natives would put on similar type “Boovilles” and they would get rave reviews from their community. They decided to get back into it after a recent return home from living in Florida.
“I moved back, I didn’t have a job, ‘let’s just start it,’” Michael had said to Jason. “That’s how we got started doing it again and it’s just turned into a monster we can’t stop.”
Speaking of monsters, the trio create their own “monsters” and these characters are a big part of the show.
“We want to set up a few stations around the town so the kids have to go to them to get candy,” Cindy said. Beware, because the monsters will also be scattered throughout the haunted houses.
For the past five years, the Pirainos have held “Swamp Road Terror” between Brewerton and Central Square, working only off word of mouth.
“We started with just friends, then went to groups here and there the first year, to so busy last year that I wanted to faint every night. We were maxed out,” Michael said.
“We couldn’t bring one more person in without being open until 4 a.m.,” Cindy added.
Guests do not have to pay admission to enter Booville, which opens at 6 p.m. each weekend; they only have to pay to enter the haunted houses. Single attraction tickets cost $10, combination tickets for all three houses cost $18. The haunted houses will be open from 7 to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and from 7 to 9 p.m. on Sundays. The last tickets will be sold a half hour prior to closing.
Haunted houses aside, there are many other fun activities scheduled throughout the month.
This weekend, for instance, is Customer Appreciation Weekend. Those who “like” Booville’s page on Facebook will be treated to a special admissions discount. On Sunday, Oct. 6, Booville will hold Kid’s Day where children can come in to carve pumpkins, get their faces painted and play games. Additionally, Mayor Joe Saraceni — and the monsters — will stop by for the official ribbon cutting.
At 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12, residents are encouraged to join the Boofest Zombie Walk. Attendees are urged to come prepared and ready to lumber and stumble down main street, which will be closed for the event. However, Booville staff will try to accommodate as many people as possible with makeup for a small fee. An eating contest is set for 3 p.m. that same day, as well as a Zombie Fashion Show at 6 p.m. Live music will begin at 10 p.m.
On Oct. 19, Booville will host a Wine & “Spirits” night with 104.7; a kickball game versus the monsters will take place on Sunday, Oct. 20 and on Saturday Oct. 26, there will be a Y94-FM Halloween party and costume contest with live music from Kat Tale.
Check out the entire calendar of events listed online at boovilleny.com.
“We just want people to have a good time,” Michael said.
