Mt. Tabor Haunted House Brings Scare to Parsippany

For the second year in a row, the Mount Tabor Volunteer Fire Department will give Parsippany a Halloween surprise. The department's Haunted House opens to the public Friday evening at the old firehouse, and firefighters and auxiliary members donating their time and talents to the effort want to make the house even spookier than it was in 2010.

Capt. Bryan Crawford said the holiday event, which raises funds for the department's lifesaving work, really captures the firefighters' imaginations. 

"We spend months coming up with ideas for it," Crawford said. "We have a really good time with it and we want it to be really scary."

After Patch's run-through of the unfinished haunted house experience a week before opening, we can say unreservedly that the firefighters are getting their wish. We found the "crazy house" theme, complete with vintage furniture and quirky visuals—and we'll say no more—darn near terrifying.

Parents of little kids will want to take advantage of child-safe times to bring their children, Oct. 21, 28 and 29, 6-7:30 p.m. and Oct. 30 and 31 from 4-6:30 p.m. More event information is available on the Mt. Tabor District 1 website.

The Mt. Tabor Haunted House opens Friday at 6 p.m. and the last ticket will be sold at 11 p.m. The house reopens the following Friday, Oct. 28, and runs through Halloween. Hours are 6-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28-29, and 4-10 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Oct. 30 and 31. Tickets are $6 "per body." Proceeds go to support the volunteer fire company's efforts to keep Mount. Tabor safe.

Schedule of Events, in the organizers' own words...

*10/21, 10/28, 10/29
Family Fun House 6-7:30 p.m. (Rated "G" - for kids of all ages)
Classic Haunted House  7:30-9:30 p.m. (Rated "PG" - prepared to get scared!!)
Purgatory  9:30 p.m. - Close (Rated "PG-13" - You thought last year was scary?? You haven't experienced anything like this before. Come late night for the scare of your life - if you think you can survive, of course. Recommended for those souls at least 14 years of age.)

*10/30 and 10/31
Family Fun House  4-6:30 p.m.
Classic Haunted House  6:30-9:30 p.m.
Purgatory  9:30 p.m. - Close