Shining Light on “The Dark Night”

ACC Hosting Halloween Party on October 31

Witches and super heroes are just some of the costume themes expected at this year’s Halloween party at the Anne Carlsen Center. The party begins at 7 p.m. on October 31 at the ACC gymnasium.

There will be plenty of spooks, scares, super heroes and arch-villains playing games, dancing to music, gobbling refreshments, winning prizes, and having fun at the Anne Carlsen Center (ACC) on Halloween night.

The Center is hosting its annual Halloween party, scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on October 31 at the ACC gymnasium. The theme of this year’s party, which is open to the public, is “The Dark Night” – a takeoff from this summer’s The Dark Knight movie.

“Every year is a different theme,” said ACC Lifetime Leisure Coordinator Denise Jensen, adding that last year over 250 people attended last year’s Hogwarts-themed party. “This year it is “The Dark Night” and we are making the gym into Gotham City while the pool area will be turned into the Bat Cave.”

Partygoers can also check out a haunted-house themed nature trail behind the main building on the Center’s campus. In the case of inclement weather, the nature trail activity would be moved indoors.

ACC staff is in charge of decorating for the party, maintaining an element of surprise for the unveiling of the gym to Center students and the community. The Halloween party tradition is something that extends far into the ACC’s history, back to when the Center first opened.

Various groups have made donations at past ACC Halloween parties, but it is not required to participate in the fun. Staff says this public event is one of the highlights of the year.

“Our students interacting with the kids in the community, it is something so inspiring and is hard to put into words,” said Jensen. “Making friends and developing those relationships is very important for everyone, I think. I love seeing the social part of this event. It’s how friendships are made.”

The Anne Carlsen Center has been empowering individuals with disabilities for nearly 70 years. To learn more about the mission, values and services of the Center, visit us on the web at www.annecenter.org.