With a bit of help, El Morro’s Halloween event is a blast

One parent volunteer received an extra dose of appreciation at Friday’s Boo Blast, the annual Halloween carnival at El Morro Elementary.

Friends recognized Cheryl Smith during a brief ceremony for organizing the haunted house the past nine years.

Smith is retiring from the role because her youngest child will be advancing to Thurston Middle School next year.

The haunted house was one of several attractions that included a Ferris wheel and rock climbing wall during the annual school fundraiser.

While proceeds from a silent auction and other activities benefit El Morro’s school programs, the Boo Blast’s reach goes beyond the campus.

“It’s not just about El Morro, it’s a community event,” Boo Blast co-chair Linda Mackay said. “It’s run by the parents, but the kids get involved to help out.”

Laguna Beach High and Thurston students dressed in ghoulish costumes to scare students walking through the school’s multipurpose room that turned into a haunted corridor, Mackay said.

Smith and three other parents on the haunted house planning committee began brainstorming in mid-September, sketching designs on paper and then constructing the props.

The group decided on a “Pageant of the Monsters” theme as a take on the annual summer arts show.

Smith said they used a lot of duct tape and cardboard and have collected many “creepy” items through the years to add to the decor. She estimated the haunted house has existed for 20 years.

The setup screamed Laguna. A junior lifeguard turned from protector into a zombie killer, preventing a person from escaping.

At another station, students wearing skeleton masks reached for passers-by through a cardboard display that resembled an iconic Laguna trolley.

The haunted house concluded with a “Sawdust” area depicting artists at work. In this rendition, the prolific killer Jason from the “Friday the 13th” film series sat holding a severed leg next to a spinning power saw.

Smith started volunteering on the haunted house in 2005 and became its director a year later.

“It sounded like a fun idea,” she said. Prior themes included the Old West and Ghost Surfing.

No doubt Smith will pass on her knowledge of organizing the attraction.

“There are so many great templates,” Mackay said. “She’s got it laid out.”

El Morro spent $500 from its PTA budget on items such as new black lights, makeup, costumes and fire-retardant paper. The house needed to pass Laguna Beach Fire Department inspection.

Smith credited high school students for coming up with some of the decorative accents, such as a chain holding a fake bloodied leg.

“The kids get very creative,” Smith said. “They want to try different things every single [year].”