From the scary to the kinky, the Student Union will be UB's Halloween hub this weekend. As the Haunted Union enters its sixth year and a "Rocky Horror Picture Show" performance is resurrected, traditions of all types will be available for students to explore.
On campus, Student Activities and the Student Programming Board are helping students kick their Halloween weekend into high gear.
Their Haunted Union started Thursday and runs through Friday, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
"It's fun to walk through, but it's also interactive because students have a chance to get involved and help," said Missy Stolfi, a graduate assistant for Student Activities. "A ton of students are helping to scare inside."
"I went last year and screamed all the way through," said Sara Yaverbaum, a junior history major. "This year I'll be working it."
While the Haunted Union closes Friday night at 9 p.m., UB's celebration doesn't end there.
Some older UB students or Buffalo residents may remember that several years ago there used to be a group of people who performed the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" at the Amherst Dipson Theater before it was canceled.
Well, let's do the Time Warp again. Student Activities has decided to bring back the event, this time in the Student Union Theater on Friday at midnight.
"It's free, and it will be interactive. You can throw stuff at the screen, just not rice. It's too hard to clean up," Stolfi said.
With Halloween falling on a Monday this year, many UB students have plans for Friday and Saturday night instead.
"My plans start Thursday night by going to the Main Street bars," said Tim Burrows, a senior psychology major. "Friday I go home to Rochester for my friend's annual costume party, Saturday I'm going back to Main Street, Sunday I'll be nursing a hangover, and I don't know what I'm doing Monday."
Burrows said that his costume this year is going to be a drunken Scottish soccer fan.
"Last year I went to the Haunted Union and made one of the performers laugh," said Burrows, who this year will be helping to staff the event.
Some students like Nikki DiNardo said they would like to attend the Haunted Union, if only they had the time.
"I'm driving to Ithaca with a friend to see a concert on Sunday night," said DiNardo. "And Monday night I have a religious ritual planned. I take Halloween very seriously."
Meanwhile, other UB students have slightly less ambitious weekends planned.
"I'm going trick or treating Monday, and Saturday I'm going to a party or hitting up the Main Street bars with my friends," said Sarah Weissman, a sophomore business major. "And I hope my mom sends me candy like she did last year."
"I'm dressing like the '80s," Weissman said. "I'm crimping my hair, it's going to be hot."
Molly Keef, a junior linguistics major, said she is looking forward to Halloween off campus and in a residential area for the first time.
"I'm going to get a costume and hope trick or treaters come," Keef said. "I'll be handing out a chocolate variety bag."
While Keef said she hasn't finalized her costume plans for this year, she has a backup plan.
"Last year I was Wilma from 'The Flintstones.' I have this huge chunky necklace I bought from a garage sale and it looks just like her necklace. I might be her again," Keef said.
For those students not utterly exhausted by their weekends, the festivities will be continuing on Monday at UB.
"Monday in the lobby we'll have pumpkin carving, a costume contest, cookie decorating, donuts and cider, and our staff will be walking around in costumes handing out candy," Stolfi said.
And if you wanted to go trick or treating, but thought this year you might finally be too old, fear not.
"In the Student Union, all the offices are having a decorating contest, and students can go from office to office and get candy," Stolfi said.
"Hey, Halloween only comes once a year, so make the most of it and enjoy yourself," Burrows said.
