ELLSWORTH – The Haunted Fairgrounds Festival scheduled for 2-8 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Pierce County Fairgrounds, hosted by The Witch on West Warner, has grown bigger than the organizers ever thought possible in its inaugural year.

Since Melissa Nelson, along with husband Gregg, began planning the festival, community contributions and excitement have exploded. The free, family friendly event will feature Halloween attractions, a haunted maze, contests, a paranormal team, kids’ activities, vendors, food, entertainment, and more.

The Nelsons’ Halloween display at their West Warner Street home in Ellsworth grew so much over the years that they decided to expand it into a community festival at the fairgrounds. Apparently, the community agrees with the decision.

“As of right now, we’ve received approximately $7,450 in cash donations from businesses, individuals, and people who simply wanted to be part of making this event happen,” Nelson said.

In addition to that, they’ve received more than $500 in gift cards and certificates, including a $200 Kwik Trip gift card to help with whatever the festival needs. Red Wing Culver’s and Ellsworth McDonald’s have contributed approximately $1,000 worth of food tokens and coupons. They’ve also received around half a dozen gift baskets, along with donated supplies, services, and equipment. Someone offered to provide food and water to the workers.

“What makes this so incredible to me isn’t necessarily the dollar amount,” Nelson said. “It’s the number of people who have stepped forward. Some have donated hundreds of dollars, others have offered services or prizes, and some have simply asked what they can do to help.

“Every contribution has meant something to me because every single one represents someone believing in what I’m trying to create.”

The festival has grown much larger than Nelson originally imagined. Nelson wanted to make sure families have a free event to attend for Halloween. She was planning to pay for many things out-of-pocket.

“There were expenses everywhere I turned, and I originally intended to pay for the workers myself. Because we weren’t an established nonprofit, students couldn’t receive school service hours for volunteering with us, which made finding volunteers more difficult,” Nelson said. “I knew I needed reliable people to operate attractions, help with parking, supervise activities, and keep everything organized and safe.”

Her personal budget was stretched thin, so she sold a vehicle she rarely drove to help make the festival happen.

“Then something happened that I genuinely wasn’t expecting. People started donating,” she said. “Some wanted to help pay the workers. Others stepped forward to cover portable toilets, a professional DJ, an LED wall, and even a dumpster—which, believe it or not, was something I had almost completely forgotten we needed!

“One business would contribute, and then another would reach out. It started feeling like a chain reaction of generosity.

“Suddenly, I wasn’t just trying to figure out how to afford the festival anymore. I was trying to figure out how to make the most of the incredible opportunity this community was giving me”

Nelson purchased a 360-degree photo booth, and Sawyer Joe’s purchased an inflatable nightclub that will be a major attraction.

The donations also allowed the Nelsons to purchase important equipment, including staff walkie-talkies, safety supplies, and heavy-duty parking signs to use year after year.

“We also expanded our prizes and activities, including the Pumpkin Queen Golden Tickets. I’ve set aside a $1,000 budget to purchase gifts and prizes from our own festival vendors, which means that money will go right back into supporting the small businesses participating in the event,” Nelson said.

They’ve also introduced the Most Wanted Game, where nine consenting adult participants will be featured on wanted posters around the fairgrounds. Festivalgoers can try to locate them and report their sightings to staff for a chance to claim cash bounties totaling $500. There are also cash prizes for the costume, pumpkin, and decorating contests, a $500 medallion hunt prize package, and activities for children throughout the afternoon.

“I’ve had people I’ve never met offer money, services, equipment, prizes, and their time,” Nelson said. “I think that says something really beautiful about the kind of community we live in. It has reminded me that there are so many genuinely generous people out there who want to make a difference. Sometimes all it takes is someone getting an idea started and giving others an opportunity to become part of it.”

Nelson has officially formed “The Witch On West Warner, Inc.,” a Wisconsin nonprofit corporation, and is pursuing federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Initial board members are Gregg Nelson, Melissa Kranz and Nelson. She would like to add more in the future as the organization grows. However, donations should not be represented as tax-deductible yet.

“I want to build an organization that continues providing free community events, brings people together, supports local businesses, and gives families opportunities to create memories without financial barriers,” Nelson said. “I also hope that establishing the nonprofit will eventually make it easier for students to volunteer and receive qualifying community service hours, something we weren’t able to offer this year.

“I want this to become something sustainable—something that can continue growing, improving, and benefiting our community long into the future.”

The festival is still looking for people to help clean up the fairgrounds on Sunday, Nov. 1 and somewhere to store festival items for next year. Anyone with a trailer willing to help transport equipment would be appreciated.

Watching her dream come true is hard to put into words.

“When you spend so much time imagining something, planning it, worrying about it, and trying to make it happen, you become so focused on the work that you sometimes forget to look around and see what’s actually happening,” Nelson said. “Then suddenly you realize that something you once pictured in your mind is becoming real.

“I hope people understand that this festival isn’t just about Halloween. Halloween is the theme, but bringing people together is the purpose.”

THE HAUNTED FAIRGROUNDS FESTIVAL SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Friday, Oct. 30

MEDALLION HUNT: Follow Snowballs Bar in Ellsworth on Facebook for clues to find the hidden medallion and win a $500 prize package!

Saturday, Oct. 31
10 a.m.–noon | PUMPKIN CONTEST REGISTRATION: Bring your carved or decorated pumpkins to the shelter for a chance to win $100 cash!

2 p.m. | FESTIVAL OPENS!

2–8 p.m. | FESTIVAL ATTRACTIONS & ACTIVITIES
* Haunted Walk-Through Maze — Live scare actors, no physical contact. Strobe lights used after dark.
* Sawyer Joe’s Inflatable Nightclub — Live DJ, music, special-effect lighting and fog.
* 360° Photo Booth
* Photo Wall with Fun Props
* Face Painting
* Slime Bar
* Potions Station
* Duck Pond
* Kids’ Games & Activities
* Pet Cemetery
* Free Tarot & Palm Readings by Tarot by Lavone
* Food Trucks, Sweet Treats & Shopping Vendors
* Supernatural Investigators of Minnesota (SIM)

PUMPKIN QUEEN GOLDEN TICKET GIVEAWAYS — $1,000!
Keep an eye out for our Pumpkin Queen! She’ll be spreading Halloween magic with $1,000 worth of FREE activities, food, drinks, apparel, toys and more from festival vendors!
Lucky festival goers of all ages will receive Golden Tickets redeemable for special treats and experiences!

PRIZES, CROWNS & GIVEAWAYS
* 150 Crowns from Georgia Jones! Ellsworth’s own 9-year-old pageant queen, Georgia Jones, is generously providing 150 crowns to be given away to children attending the festival!
* Red Wing Culver’s: 100 Scoop Tokens and 10 food baskets available as festival prizes and giveaways.
* Ellsworth McDonald’s: Food coupons available as festival prizes and giveaways.
* Additional Prizes: Gifts, gift baskets, toys and more throughout the festival!

2–6 p.m. | KA’S KINDNESS CAULDRON FOOD DRIVE
Bring a nonperishable food donation to the shelter between 2–6 PM and receive an entry into a special prize raffle!
Help us fill Ka’s Kindness Cauldron and make a difference for families in our community.

2–6 p.m. | CONTEST VOTING
* Pumpkin Carving & Decorating Contest: Vote for your favorite pumpkin! $100 cash prize.
* Festival Decorating Contest: Come vote for the best decorated display! $500 in cash prizes.
* Decorating contest registration is closed. Come support the participants and vote for your favorite display!

4–6 p.m. | TRUNK-OR-TREAT
Bring your treat bags for two hours of Halloween fun!

4:30 p.m. | SPECIAL HONORARY CEREMONY & CAULDRON UNVEILING
Join us at the shelter as we honor Mike and Deb Wilson, the creators of Our Haunting Off Piety, in recognition of nine years of bringing Halloween magic, excitement and unforgettable memories to children and families throughout the Ellsworth community.
The ceremony will also feature the official unveiling of Ka’s Kindness Cauldron, celebrating the spirit of generosity and community giving.

5 p.m. | SUPERNATURAL INVESTIGATORS OF MINNESOTA (SIM)
Join the Supernatural Investigators of Minnesota, a paranormal investigation group, for a special presentation exploring the world of paranormal investigations and unexplained phenomena!

7 p.m. | HALLOWEEN COSTUME CONTEST
Join us at the shelter for the costume contest!

$100 CASH GRAND PRIZE!
Plus lots of additional gifts, gift baskets and prizes!
The costume contest will be judged by Pierce County Journal Editor Sarah Nigbor along with additional guest judges.
Following the Costume Contest: Additional contest winners and prize announcements.

8 p.m. | FESTIVAL CLOSES

PARKING & TRAFFIC INFORMATION
Festival Entrance: All vehicles must enter the Pierce County Fairgrounds from Cairns Street. The Highway 65 entrance gate will be closed.
Accessible Parking: Designated accessible parking will be available. Please notify a parking attendant upon arrival for assistance.
Festival Exit: All vehicles must exit on the east side of the fairgrounds onto Grant Street.
Please follow posted signs and directions from festival parking attendants to ensure safe and smooth traffic flow.

FESTIVAL RULES & SAFETY INFORMATION
* No pets permitted, except service animals.
* No weapons or firearms permitted.
* No alcohol permitted on festival grounds.
* Haunted Maze: Live scare actors, no physical contact. Strobe lights used after dark.
* Inflatable Nightclub: Special-effect lighting and fog will be used.