The Most Terrifying Time of the Year

Halloween, to some, is simply a spooky holiday that allows them to dress up however they like, binge on candy, and maybe scare a friend or two. For haunted house actors, the Halloween season is so much more.

I'm Erica Leonis, and I've worked in the haunted house industry for close to 10 years now. This is what my Halloween always looks like. I LOVE WHAT I DO. Haunting isn't just about screaming at people, laughing at the screams of others, and finding new twisted ways to creep people out (although all of that is a HUGE draw.) Its also about the family and friends you end up making over 6 to 8 weeks each year.

We are a family, a haunted house family. We care for each other and try to build each other up. When one of us is in need, we all jump in to try and help that person.

Another pretty remarkable thing I've noticed? We all come from tough walks of life. We all have some adversity that we've had to overcome, or are currently working though. I've seen actors who are dealing with the death of a friend, who didn't have the opportunity for education like their peers, who were unable to be out about their true gender identity at home, and some who were even homeless during haunt season.

Myself? I've lost 27 friends, family and mentors in my lifetime, majority of them in the last 7 years. To say the haunted house has helped me in my healing process is an understatement.

You can ask any actor in a haunted house why they come back year after year. Why they come back even when they are having a bad day. They will likely reply with "It's my Scerapy (Scare Therapy.)"

Now, thats not to downplay the necessity of therapy, but there is something really healing about being able to scream and say crazy things, act a bit crazy and get all the negativity off your chest. When you have a safe place to do that, where it is encouraged and appreciated... It's outstanding.

Now you see in the picture I have a snake with me. Yes, that is my snake, Morticia. Yes, she does act with me inside the haunt sometimes. She. Is. Amazing.

She has grown up her entire life around haunted houses. I met her when she was 4 weeks old, and obtained her when she was 4 years old. Over that 4 year period she went from home to home to home to home to home all within our haunt community at the time.

She grew up in the haunted house practically, and she LOVES the attention she gets from other actors, customers, and staff. She is the kindest and most docile creature, and I don't know what I did to ever deserve her. She gets giddy when she see's her travel tub, and giddy when she see's her favorite actors and owners at Hellscream and Haunted Mines.

So, this picture is from one of my favorite acting nights at Haunted Mines, in full costume and makeup, with my 8ft boa constrictor. This is how I look every Halloween, surrounded by my haunt family, surrounded by people who appreciate the macabre, and surrounded by people who love me, and Morticia, for who we are.

Halloween is all about being and showing off that weird person you are inside. I'm thankful to have found a community that celebrates that weirdness.