Haunted open studios

Kirkwood’s Clay and Glass Club hosted a haunted family event on Friday, Oct. 13, at the Art and Theatre Annex. 

It was a family friendly event, which included clay monster activities and glass blowing demonstrations. Holding the event on Friday the 13th may make one think something could go wrong and it did. 

Before the haunted tour could begin, the building’s fire alarm went off, leaving visitors waiting outside until an all clear came from the Cedar Rapids Fire Department and Campus Security. 

Staff believed the fire alarm may have been set off by the fog machine. Some visitors were heard commenting that it could be “spirits that roamed the night.”  

As the haunted tour began, participants were met by a ghost wearing sunglasses which drew lots of screams and laughs. The tour took visitors throughout the Annex building to various rooms, all with a different theme such as the Naughty Student Room and Mad Professor Lab. The group  ended the tour at the clay room, where guests were greeted with snacks and treats and a ghoulish cake provided by The Café. 

As guests enjoyed the snacks, they could also try their hand at working with clay. There was a “Clay Man” with a note stating “Add to me.”

“This was great. The turnout was wonderful,” said Zach Wollert, lead studio tech. “For those who missed this, we will be having something in the spring and definitely will do this again next fall,” he added. 

Haunted house-goers were also treated to glass blowing demonstrations. All of the glass items made will be sold at this year’s Arts Fall sale next month.