Uptown residents have a new reason to visit Chase Park this fall. Starting Friday, the park’s historic theater will become the setting for the 16th annual “Park After Dark” haunted house, a teen‑run fundraiser that supports the park’s after‑school Society of Screams program.
Teen leadership drives the event
The haunted house is designed, built, and staffed entirely by members of the Society of Screams, a youth group that grew out of the Chicago Park District’s Teen Leadership Club at Chase Park. Katie Fearon, the park supervisor, said the 25‑member team has been planning props, costumes, and makeup since early September.
“We have a pretty strict policy that the only ones actually doing the scaring are the teens themselves,” Fearon explained. The group’s age range is generally 12‑18, though younger participants with a talent for the craft are sometimes welcomed.
Sweet Sixteen theme draws crowds
This year’s haunted house celebrates its 16th anniversary with a “Sweet Sixteen” party theme, hosted by a spooky clown named Chuckles. Tickets cost $16 and must be purchased online, with timed entry to manage capacity. The event is rated PG‑13, meaning unaccompanied children under 13 are not admitted.
Organizers aim to sell 5,000 tickets over the three‑weekend run, up from the typical 4,000. “We’ve had grown men, like really macho men, go in confident and come out screaming,” said 16‑year‑old teen producer Adirano Pereira, who has been with the Society of Screams since he was eight. “It’s rare to see someone not having fun.”
Personal growth and community impact
Participants say the program offers more than a Halloween thrill. Pereira noted that the experience gives him a sense of responsibility and a role‑model position for younger members. “I’m hanging around a crowd that is responsible and fun, and it’s given me a lot of opportunities to take my mind off things and just have fun,” he said.
Another teen, 16‑year‑old Jazmin Morris, highlighted the social benefits. “I’m not really a big social butterfly, but when I’m here with kids who get me, I can really open up and talk to anyone,” she said. “It’s really brought me a whole new family.”
Funds support teen programming
All proceeds from ticket sales go directly to covering the costs of running the Society of Screams. Any surplus is used to fund additional teen programming at Chase Park. Last year, the leftover money purchased new couches for the teen center in the fieldhouse.
Fearon emphasized that the program is free to join, removing financial barriers for youth who want to get involved. “The Society of Screams is free for kids to participate in, with the funds raised by the haunted house covering the costs of running the program,” she said.
Community invitation
Residents are encouraged to purchase tickets early, as timed entry slots fill quickly. The haunted house runs every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday through November 1, offering a safe, family‑friendly Halloween experience while supporting a valuable community resource for Uptown’s youth.
Original reporting: Block Club Chicago — read the source article.
