Something grim lurks the halls of Wareham High School. It oozes from the lockers and it can be felt in the air. They call it Halloween spirit.

Student Council hosted its annual Haunted Hallways event, inviting families to go classroom to classroom for indoor trick-or-treating on Thursday, Oct. 2.

Student Council Senior Treasurer Makayla Young said the student organization wanted to give back to the community and came up with this event. 

In regard to the trick-or-treating, Young said, “I know that it's not really safe out there nowadays because I remember when I was a kid, people would always have to shut the streets down at 8 p.m., so we thought this would be a safer way to have it.”

She added she hopes the school continues to do the event and although she is graduating this year, she would still want to help out in years to come. 

“It's pretty fun,” she said. “I really like all the costumes I'm seeing and all the smiles on everyone's faces.”

Many students from different clubs volunteered to help out with the event as well as staff.

Assistant Cheer Coach and ELA teacher Carolyn Gomes Vieira was handing out candy, including gluten free options for kids with allergies.

“I think it's a great event for kids,” she said. 

Gomes Vieira said she also secretly loves seeing her former students' children.

She added, “It's a good way to interact with our community.”

Special Education Paraprofessional Sam Prada said, “It's a thing that I like to do every year because it's really fun to see all the little kids and even current students coming.”

Prada agreed it is always fun to see the kids dressed up in costumes as well as be able to help contribute to this experience for the community.

Kaylee Williams, 10, dressed as a zombie prom queen, and Harleigh Mattie, 10, dressed as a fairy, attended the event with their families. 

Mattie said, “So far, it’s been really nice.”

She said Halloween is her favorite holiday and she loves the experience of going around and trick-or-treating. 

Williams said her favorite part about Halloween is dressing up, but the holiday has yet to top Christmas for her. 

Paxton Murphy, 2, came to the event dressed as a skeleton. 

Holding up a package of gummy worms, Murphy said, “That’s my favorite — they’re worms!”

Andrea Ericson was with her son Phoenix, 5, who dressed as a monster, and Kristen Peterson was with her son Finn, 5, who dressed as an emoji with a mustache, at the Haunted Hallways event.

Phoenix said his favorite part of Halloween is carving pumpkins, but he also likes the candy, especially bubble gum.

Andrea said she and Phoenix came to the event last year: “He really looks forward to it.”

Kristen said it’s their first time and “it’s blowing my mind.”

The two agreed they will be “double-dipping” and going trick-or-treating on Halloween night in addition to the event.