LHS Fall Fest offers something spooky going on

Something spooky is going on at Lawton High School.

It seems that a cult is living in the catacombs and a local YouTuber is determined to expose the Wolverine Illuminati. Members of the Lawton-Fort Sill community are invited to go along on the expedition Saturday to prove whether the cult really exists.

The entire event is all in good fun and is the centerpiece of Lawton High School’s Fall Fest, which is organized by the school’s Drama Club. Fall Fest consists of more than just a trip through the underworld of Lawton High. For those who prefer a sweeter experience, there will be plenty of candy to be had in the parking lot where cars will be lined up for trunk-or-treat.

“The idea is that kids are going trick-or-treating in our neighborhood,” said Arline Taylor, LHS drama teacher and originator of Fall Fest.

Fall Fest began in 2006 and has been held every year since 2015, with the exception of last year when a sleet storm forced its cancellation.

Taylor said the event is an opportunity to give back to the community and to foster collaboration among LHS clubs and organizations. While the Drama Club is the main organizer of the event, other LHS clubs and individuals are invited to participate.

Some organizations decorate cars for trunk-or-treating while others opt to host games such as ring toss or face-painting stations. Taylor said the Stomp Team and Ebony Society usually do a routine while the Table Top Club does a life-sized Candy Land game. One LHS teacher plans to play his guitar, Taylor said.

This year’s Fall Fest also will be an opportunity for LHS to collaborate with Central Middle School. Several clubs and organizations from CMS will man their own booths at the festival. The PTO Club will sell popcorn and pickles. Some other CMS clubs participating include the Partner Club, Leadership Club and some counselors.

Proceeds from the concession stand will go toward offsetting expenses for about 25 CMS students who will attend STEM in Washington, D.C., this summer, according to Larissa Krusinsky, CMS English Language Arts teacher.

“It is important for us to work together,” Krusinsky said of the collaboration between the two schools. “Our students will go to them. We want our students to see that Central and Lawton High can work together.”

Krusinsky said helping run the concession stand will be beneficial for CMS students in ways beyond just fundraising.

“With the concession stand, students see that we can plan activities for them, but they have to help us,” Krusinsky said.

Krusinsky said the concession stand will be easy to find.

“Look for the grill and smell the food,” she said.

STEM students at CMS aren’t the only ones who will benefit from Fall Fest. Admission to the festival is one canned food item per person, Taylor said. Members of LHS JROTC will greet attendees at the entrance gate, help them with parking and collect their canned food item, which will later be donated to the Lawton Food Bank.

“The purpose is to give back to the community, specifically Lawton Food Bank,” Taylor said. “It seems that here of late a lot more families are in need. We will take whatever they are willing to donate to the Food Bank.”

Fall Fest is the first community service activity the LHS Drama Department will do during the first semester. In November, students will conduct a toy and blanket drive for the animal shelter and in December will make stockings for those in the children’s shelter.