Ghouls draw the living to haunted Cove band hall Posted On: Sunday, Nov. 1 2009 05:02 AM By Don Bolding
Killeen Daily Herald

COPPERAS COVE – The Copperas Cove High School band hall was looking pretty monstrous Saturday night as the young musicians of the Pride of Cove Band and Color Guard and their adult Booster Club started creating a Halloweenish darkness in late afternoon to scare the wits and the money out of unwary visitors.

Tombstones marking the likes of Freddy Krueger dotted the campus outside the door as ghouls and goblins with spooky nicknames guided visitors through a haunted maze. Those who withstood the trauma could then see a marionette play a piano, hear scary stories or simply chase away the scare with cupcakes, candy and drinks including bottled water. A big-screen video adorned one corner to give a respite to the performers and to calm the nerves of any little ones who might get a real case of the willies despite separation of activities by ages. The little children also were treated to face painting and a cake walk.

In the daylight, the Cove band and guard is a prize-winning outfit named the grand champion band in the Central Texas marching championship at the first of October. Judges also gave it laurels for best percussion, best color guard and best drum majors.

Admission was $3.

"This is the first year we've tried a haunted house in our scholarship fundraising," Band and Guard Booster Club President Cherise Jones said through ghastly makeup from under a witch's hat.

"We're learning what works best. Last year, in all our activities, we raised $7,000 for scholarships for seniors and for band camps for junior high and high schools. Those are expensive."

She said, "The kids really got into this. It's been in the planning stages since September, and we spent all week decorating the hall. We're looking forward to doing it again."

Contact Don Bolding at dbolding@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7557.