HALLOWEEN IS one of the best times of the year as kids (and adults) dress up and go door to door, asking for as many candies and sweets as possible. Unfortunately, October 31 only comes once a year — or does it?
This year, on May 6, Cliff and Kayla Allen of Lady Fright’s Emporium introduced the first Halfway to Halloween Faire, bringing the Halloween spirit back to Manchester, along with vendors, food trucks, a car show, and even a guest appearance by actor Butch Patrick and Dragula. They said the event was simply to see the community have fun.
“It just brings everyone together,” Cliff Allen said. “We encouraged the parents to dress their kids up and come out and trick-or-treat at the vendors. You know, come out and purchase some items and things like that. And just to see the families out there having fun and laughing — that just really, to me, is why we do this.”
The couple has a long history with running events and Halloween itself, having helped run several haunted houses across the country over the past 36 years. Among those were Nightmare Forest and Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky, and Heartstoppers in Sacramento, California. That same love for Halloween prompted the establishment of Lady Fright’s Emporium; it was only natural for one of their events to celebrate that love.
“We were the first professional haunted house in Waverly Hills Sanatorium,” Cliff said. “I ran that for two years before I moved out to California, and I mean, I’ve been going strong ever since.”
Halfway to Halloween sported over 70 vendors from all over Middle Tennessee and several from as far as Kentucky and Pennsylvania. In addition, all proceeds benefited the Coffee County Rescue Squad.
“They’ve been in this town for 60 years, giving to this county and surrounding counties,” Cliff said. “To be able to give back to them like that… really gives you the sense of community.”
In the end, they raised around $475.
Cliff said running events like this can be incredibly stressful, often because of things you can’t control. Weather can ruin outside events, and vendors and celebrities sometimes cancel last minute. While some of their family members helped run the event, most of the planning was done by the Allens.
“You’re pretty much doing all this on your own — going out, getting your sponsors, getting your vendors, finding a good nonprofit, securing the building, securing insurance,” Cliff said. “There’s a lot behind the scenes that people don’t realize.”
Part of the success of their events comes from the relationships they build with their vendors.
“We actually care and go around to every single vendor before the night is through to make sure they’re doing okay,” Cliff said. “We want to make sure that they’re coming back and that it’s going to be beneficial for both parties.”
This is not the first event they’ve put together, and it certainly won’t be the last. The Allens put together a St. Patrick’s Day event earlier in the year, and there are no less than three more events in the works this year. Upcoming is a celebration of the ’80s on August 19, a Zombie Walk on October 13, and a Dark Christmas Faire on December 2. Information about the events can be found at ladyfrightsemporium.com. GN
