By JOY PERRINO CHOQUETTE

Scaring people is big business: this holds true for Hollywood’s latest horror films as well as local haunted houses, warehouses and forests.

Halloween sales in 2008 were approximately $5.77 billion, according to the National Retail Federation. Even in a lagging economy, Halloween sales weren’t affected. In fact, retail sales at Halloween are second only to Christmas sales in the U.S.

People like to be scared, said David Melincoff, director of Williston’s annual Haunted Forest. “It’s scary and it’s fun,” said Melincoff.

The Haunted Forest, said Melincoff, began in Huntington approximately 28 years ago as part of Audubon Vermont’s fall program. “It was a fundraiser,” said Melincoff. “The executive director of Audubon had this idea of doing something Halloween-related for a fundraiser for the nonprofit.”

The program initially tied in nature-themed stories relating to Audubon Vermont’s mission, said Melincoff. “Over time, people really just wanted to be scared more . . . we really made it into a Halloween event, because that’s what the public wanted.”

While the program initially drew about 300 to 400 visitors when it was held in Huntington, it grew substantially in subsequent years. Last year, the Haunted Forest broke its own record, drawing in approximately 7,500 people. The event is held during the two weekends before Halloween at the Catamount Family Center in Williston.

The program couldn’t run without the time donated by nearly 600 volunteers, said Melincoff. In fact, the Haunted Forest employs only one staff person who also acts as managing director. A board of directors meets throughout the year, making sure all aspects of the fall show are taken care of. “We work on it year-round,” he said.

Monies raised through ticket sales go directly back into the event. “A lot of members of the community donate things to us,” said Melincoff. “But, the community can’t buy everything.”

Originally, the intent was to donate some of the proceeds to a nonprofit; however, Melincoff said the group’s good intentions just weren’t logical.

“It got so big that we couldn’t do it on a strictly volunteer basis,” said Melincoff. “We were meeting as a board on a weekly basis, and needed to hire a staff person and someone to sell tickets.”

The Haunted Forest holds a 501(c)3 nonprofit status, but still donates 10 percent of proceeds to the Catamount Family Center. It also donates free tickets to the King Street Youth group. “The rest of it stays with us so that we can keep producing the event,” said Melincoff.

Of the 600 volunteers, approximately 400 work directly with the event. The other 200 volunteers are responsible for carving 1,000 pumpkins that light the forest. “The pumpkins are a huge draw,” said Melincoff. “When you enter the area and you see all the jack-o-lanterns, it’s just magical.”

In fact, Melincoff said the fact that the event is in the woods versus an indoor space is one of the reasons it’s so popular. “People come; they’re walking through the forest,” said Melincoff. “I think they really love that fact.”

Another reason the Haunted Forest is so popular is because it is a family-friendly event, he said. A large number of the people coming to the event are three-generation families.

“It’s amazing,” said Melincoff, who estimates 30 to 40 percent of the ticket sales are families. “Sometimes the older people are more scared than the kids. It almost gives you permission to be 10 again.”

Melincoff calls the Haunted Forest a true “community event,” and said it’s important to people attending the event to know that it’s produced by volunteers, which lends itself to the feeling of community.

Krissy Freeman is currently managing director of the Haunted Forest, but began her career there as a volunteer. Freeman volunteered for the event for six years, and then served on the board of directors for two before being hired as the Haunted Forest’s one paid staff member.

The chance to connect with other community members was what initially drew her to the event. “I’ve always loved theater and I started out acting, but quickly became involved in painting sets, then building, and then designing them,” said Freeman.

Freeman said she has used the skills learned through the Haunted Forest in other community theater productions, such as events at the Lyric Theater and the Stowe Theater Guild.

In addition to being a great way to connect with other members of the community, the Haunted Forest provides safe options for children – and adults – to explore their creative sides. The event attracts volunteers as young as 12 years old and adults well past middle age. Melincoff said he often is thanked by parents grateful to have a safe, fun activity for their children to participate in.

“That’s such a nice part of it,” he said. “What’s really nice is that since we’ve lowered the age of people who can volunteer, parents have noticed an increase in their child’s confidence level.”

Freeman was one of the kids who used to be dropped off by parents to work at the event.

“Year after year, I’ve sucked many people into helping at the event with me,” said Freeman. “Now as the managing director, I’ve run into so many people that I know who have said, ‘Oh, you’re doing that? I’d love to come out and help!’ It’s a really great feeling, pulling so many members of the community together.”

The event is the perfect opportunity for actors and would-be actors to hone their skills. The Haunted Forest is made up of 10 to 12 skits. “This year, because of the Quadricentennial, most of the skits will be based on Vermont,” said Melincoff. “Usually the skits are not tied together in one theme.”

The forest consists of a three-quarter mile walk. Groups of 20 to 25 people travel through the forest together, with two guides accompanying them. While the forest doesn’t use masks, it does have the expertise of a talented make-up person, said Melincoff. “It’s not bloody and gory, there aren’t any chainsaws,” he said, adding that there also aren’t any actors grabbing people as they walk past. “It’s scary, but fun.”

“We’re always looking to improve the show,” said Melincoff. “Last year, we made an investment with LED lighting.” Another change last year was the creation of an enormous animated creature called The Pumpkin King. John Cone, a local resident and employee at IBM, worked with a group of peers to create the 17-foot structure. The Pumpkin King rises up out of the ground, said Melincoff, and has remote- controlled arms. It also uses a microphone for speech, with jaws that open and close.

Besides the Catamount Family Center, which gains exposure from the event, local eateries and shops also profit from the Haunted Forest, said Melincoff.

“We probably spend $15,000 to $20,000 a year on the Haunted Forest,” said Melincoff, who added there is a definite interest in buying as many local products and services as possible. “It’s a really big web.”