Get ready for a spine-tingling, spooky experience as the Penticton High School Leadership class, Foundry Penticton, and the Community Foundation join forces to host the Halloween Haunted House and Block Party on Saturday, Oct. 28.

The Penticton Youth Centre on 501 Main Street, home to youth service providers including Foundry Penticton, will be transformed into a haunted house.

The Haunted House will run from 4 to 6 p.m. (PG rating/kid-friendly) and from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (PG 13 rating/for older children and teens).

Entry to the haunted house is by donation, with minimum donations of $10 for ages 16+ and $5 for 16 & under, with all proceeds supporting Pen Hi Leadership and the Penticton Youth Centre鈥檚 鈥淕ive our Youth a Lift鈥� campaign which will help fund an elevator.

The Pen High leadership class has been hard at work setting up the haunted house, with help from local businesses Greyback Construction and Total Restoration and they are preparing to take on spooky roles for the event.

鈥淭he Leadership students are so excited for this event. We鈥檙e thrilled to take part in this fundraiser and support important services for youth in our community. The students have been working hard and it鈥檚 going to be a great event,鈥� said Marnie Mennell, leadership teacher at Pen Hi.

Just outside the Haunted House, there will be a block party on Padmore Ave, between Main St. and Martin St., from 3 to 7 p.m. with DJ Splendid Bastard providing music, Amuzing Fun Rentals offering games, and Fiesta Mexicana will be on-site with food truck offerings. Padmore Ave between Main and Martin will be closed to vehicles from 1 to 9 p.m.

鈥淢uch like this event, the establishment of the Youth Centre was the result of community collaboration, driven by the youth in our community. The Penticton Youth Centre is a vital resource, and now we need your help to give it a lift. This place is about removing barriers, both mental and physical, and an elevator has always been in our vision for the centre. Join us in making the Penticton Youth Centre more accessible by contributing to our fundraising campaign for a much-needed elevator.鈥� said Aaron McRann, Executive Director of the Community Foundation.

The Community Foundation initiated the Youth Engagement Strategy (YES) Project, leading to the purchase of the Youth Centre in response to concerning youth mental health data outlined in their 2015 Vital Signs report.

The Penticton Youth Centre, opened in 2019, serves over 1,000 youth annually. The Centre is home to four youth service providers: Foundry Penticton, Ministry of Children & Family Development鈥檚 Child & Youth Mental Health, YMCA and ARC Programs.