Ghouls, goblins starting to gather at Woodlot Park

Ghouls, goblins starting
to gather at Woodlot Park

JERRY WOLKOWITZ This tableau is just a sample of the scares awaiting folks this weekend at the Dardani Haunted Trail and Bizarre at Woodlot Park, New Road, South Brunswick.

SOUTH BRUNSWICK — Once again ghouls and goblins will invade Woodlot Park.

Preparations are under way for the third Dardani Haunted Trail and Bizarre to be held tomorrow and Saturday at the New Road park.

More than 150 volunteers are preparing the trail which is expected to host more than 10,000 people.

"We never know what to expect," Carolyn Dardani, wife of the event’s creator, Tom Dardani, said Wednesday, adding that the volunteers "have been a tremendous amount of help."

The trail will be open Friday and Saturday from 6:30 to 11 p.m.

A car show will be held prior to the trail opening on Saturday running from 3 p.m. until 7 p.m.

The trail started several years ago at the couple’s home on New Road when Tom and friends started scaring trick-or-treaters.

With his unique creations drawing more and more children to the home, the event eventually moved to Woodlot Park in order to handle the crowd.

In 1998 the township became a joint sponsor of the event, which raises funds for Project Graduation, a program to provide a safe graduation night for district students.

In each of the last two years the program has raised $5,000, making it the program’s largest fund-raiser.

A portion of the proceeds also go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Admission to the trail and the haunted hayride is $3.

An Enchanted Trail for younger children is being sponsored by St. Augustine’s School. Admission is $2.

"I’ve been checking in on weather.com every day; it better not rain," Carolyn Dardani said.