The City of Bainbridge is ready to scare the socks off everyone this Monday and Tuesday at the first haunted hayride that will be held at the Earle May Boat Basin.

City manager Chris Hobby had a wish to create a haunted hayride that would be similar, but much bigger than the haunted trail the leisure services created many years ago. The conversation came about when Julie Harris was sitting in Hobby’s office and another employee asked whatever happened to that trail.

Hobby then called in assistant city manager, Roy Oliver and asked that he and Harris put something together. Oliver and Harris spent days driving around the boat basin trying to figure out where they would start the hayride, what the trails would be like and where they could find electrical outlets. They eventually decided upon two different trails: spooky and scary.

The spooky trail is recommended for children and others who scare easily. It will primarily consist of blow up decorations from the main sponsor, Home Depot. However, the scary trail will be live action with people dressed up in realistic costumes playing out a variety of scenes. Special event coordinator, Megan Wimberley created a script for the scary trail. Each hayride will have a narrator who reads the script of the frightening scene happening in front of them.

While it may seem very realistic, there will be no interaction between the actors and guests on the hayride. Most of the actors are city employees and have been working on the production for weeks.

Everyone in attendance will receive a wristband for the trail they plan to ride on, but it is up to the individual or parent for which one seems most age appropriate. Once the hayride has begun it cannot turn around to take people back.

The hayride will take place from 7:30-10 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday night and is free to the public. Kids are more than welcome to dress up in their costumes, but no disruptions will be tolerated, Harris said.

One of the sponsors, 1st State Bank will be handing out trinkets to take home along.

Harris invites everyone to come attend and see all the hard work that has been put into making this a success.

Please arrive before 10 p.m. to get a wristband; otherwise the group will not be able to ride.