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Going full scream ahead

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By EMILIE PLANTS

Tribune correspondent

Published: October 28, 2009

PLANT CITY - Move over Howl-O-Scream.

The production might be smaller, but the organizers of Cork Knights of Screams 5 feel they can hold their own against Busch Garden's premiere Halloween fright night.

Knights of Screams, now in its fifth year, is being presented 7 to 11 p.m. daily through Saturday at the Planteen Recreation Center, 301 Dort St. The event that features volunteers portraying corpses and maniacs with chainsaws is a fundraiser for the Cork-Knights Volunteer Fire Department and Plant City Recreation and Parks Department.

"The remarks that I got were, 'It was better than Howl-O-Scream.' They really enjoyed it, and it was pretty scary," Cork-Knights Fire Chief Tony Huntley said.

"A couple of people who came said that they couldn't be scared before going in, but when they came back out, they said, 'OK. That was scary.'"

A cast of 35 volunteers helps stage the show in a 10,000-square-foot haunted house that's divided into three scare zones with different themes.

For Plant City teenager Jeff Hollaway, the thrill was intense.

"It was 10 times scarier than last year," said Hollaway, who visited the event with friends Richard Woods and Nick McNair.

Hollaway's mother, Charlotte, said she liked Knights of Screams' family-friendly environment.

Cork-Knights volunteer fireman Brian Dickinson assisted the volunteers in setting up Knights of Screams. The work was well worth the effort, particularly because the fundraiser will help pay for training and equipment at the department, he said.

Volunteers were of all ages, including 7-year-old Kaitlyn Holloway, who played a spooky witch.

"My uncle's a firefighter, and I want to help him out," said Holloway, who stood beside her volunteering mother, Kristen, who was also a member of the cast.

Holloway's uncle, Plant City firefighter Chip Sorenson, volunteered his design skills. The other two zones of the haunted house were constructed by Jim Bean and his group, Fearlovers, and Scott Ottmer and his company, Zombie Productions.

Planteen Manager Chris Washburn is thrilled to partner with Knights of Screams.

"The city is working with a tight budget" and could use the financial help, she said. The city recreation and parks department plans to use its share of the proceeds for youth programs.

This is the first time Knights of Screams has been held at the recreation center. Previously it was at Dinosaur World.

Cost is $7 for adults and $3 for ages 12 and younger. The attraction is intense and may not be suitable for very young children.

For information, contact Washburn at (813) 659-4256 or e-mail cwash burn@plantcitygov.com or go to www.corkknights ofscreams.org.

More Fall Events, Page 13

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