Caravan Farm Theatre's Walk of Terror Oct. 28 focuses on clowns. (Photo credit: Caravan Farm Theatre)

By Vernon Matters Staff

costume contest

Clown show: Caravan’s Walk of Terror promises scary fun

Oct 4, 2023 | 7:00 AM

If you find clowns spooky, then the Caravan Farm Theatre has a show for you.

The theatre, located on an 80-acre site in Spallumcheen, presents its 18th annual Walk of Terror on Saturday, Oct. 28.

This year’s performance promises to be bigger, and more haunting, than ever as the cast of nearly 100 volunteer performers will be taking a deep dive into one of society’s deepest fears: clowns.

“People immediately think of Barnum and Bailey and Stephen King’s Pennywise, but clowning is a very ancient tradition, spanning across many cultures,” Estelle Shook, artistic director, said. “We’re going to be exploring the idea of “clown” in all its complexity and diversity, to create a Walk of Terror that is rich in image, performance style, and ideas.”

And scary. Very scary. With an ensemble of community members, including the A.L. Fortune Drumline, ready to instill awe, fear and joy, Shook said this year’s walk is shaping up to be more spectacular than ever before.

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Photo credit: Caravan Farm Theatre)

After last year’s Walk of Terror (WOT), Shook reached out to participants to find ways to improve the experience. The feedback was enthusiastic and Shook says everything from the desire for a unified theme to the hunger for more music and community involvement in the costume contest have been added to the formula.

“The WOT is truly a community-led celebration – and we want participants to feel a sense of authorship in the event. Much like the famed Burning Man festival, The WOT aspires to be a fully participatory experience,” Shook remarked.

As part of the event, guests will have the chance to sample delicious food and drinks from a wide variety of food trucks, dance to the high-energy sounds of Blackberry Wood, take in the scenes designed using Caravan’s library of creations and gasp in awe of Kinshira’s fire-spinning wizardry. After winding through the fields and displays, guests arrive at the timber barn for a celebratory dance featuring the crowd-favourite Freak Motif and a costume contest complete with prizes.

“We encourage everyone to come in costume: there will be a costume promenade midway through the evening so that people can appreciate the artistry and invention that goes into each creation,” Shook said. “This year’s Walk of Terror aims to be a joyful, celebratory and participatory thrill machine.”

Tickets to the Walk of Terror Spectacular are now on sale. For more information, visit the farm online at caravanfarmtheatre.com.