Halloween haunted house or trail checklist: before, on the day and after

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Before

Book the date on your own grounds or hall so nothing else clashes.
Get the landowner’s permission in writing.
Read the food-safety rules for fundraising sales and plan safe handling.The rules
Write a one-page safety plan: hazards, who is in charge, first aid, what to do if it rains.
Arrange a first aider and a stocked first aid kit.
Check your group’s insurance covers this.
Remember NZ Halloween falls in spring with long evenings; plan sessions after dark or black out the space fully.
Get written permission for the building or grounds, and agree finish times with neighbours in mind.
Design a one-way route with a clear 'chicken exit' halfway through for anyone too scared.

On the day

Count the float with two people before you open, and write the total down.
First aider on site, and everyone knows where the kit is.
Run two levels: a lights-on 'little kids' session early, and a scarier session later (age-guided).
Recruit older students or parents as actors; brief them: no touching, no chasing outside the route.
Sell timed tickets online or at the door ($5-10 per person is common for small events, estimate) and cap group size per entry.
Put a marshal at the start and end of the route with torches and radios or phones.
Add a spooky-food and drink stall at the exit where queues form.
Do a full walk-through with the lights on beforehand to find trip hazards.

After

Pack down the same night and photograph the space for the building owner.
Count the takings in pairs and bank them within a day or two.
Thank donors, sponsors and helpers, by name where they’re happy with that.
Tell supporters what you raised and what it will pay for.

Watch out for

Very young children get genuinely frightened; a lights-on session avoids tears and complaints.
Some families and churches avoid Halloween; offer a neutral 'spooky' or 'glow' theme if your community is mixed.
Blocking exits with drapes or props is a real fire risk.

Usually in a school building or hall with the owner's permission; keep evacuation routes clear and check haze machines against fire alarms. A school is a PCBU under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

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Halloween haunted house or trail: checklist

Before

On the day

After

Watch out for

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