Vampire, Barbara Vacarro, provided some talent and color with a variety of facepainting designs. Vacarro prettied up the princesses as nicely as she grossed up the ghouls. Photo by Teri Nehrenz

Vampire, Barbara Vacarro, provided some talent and color with a variety of facepainting designs. Vacarro prettied up the princesses as nicely as she grossed up the ghouls. Photo by Teri Nehrenz

It was an eerily outstanding night for the kids as they crept in and about the various spooky booths set up by local businesses and non-profits at the annual ShreekReeka. Creatures of all shapes, sizes and genetic make-up performed a variety of tricks at the booths to gain edible and non-edible treats.

Ghosts, Ghouls and Goblins Galore attended the ShreekReeka at the Eureka Casino on Thursday, Oct. 27. ShreekReeka is a free community event sponsored each year by the Eureka Casino’s Community Initiative program run by Gerri Chasko. Every year the event draws thousands of children and their parents from Mesquite, Bunkerville and the Arizona Strip communities.

Future basketball stars showed their stuff at the Virgin Valley Theatre Group’s booth where Zombie Janet McDonald and Gypsy Patti Bjornson offered up some tasty treats and sent them along to the many others who were too many to mention. Nearly every non-profit and then some showed up to decorate their booths and share with the whole community whatever treats they had to offer for this spooky event.

Vampire-ess Barbara Vacarro was on hand to put some color on their cheeks or arms. The vampire in her would rather have drained some color but alter-ego, Vacarro, valiantly fought the urge and prettied up the princesses as well as she grossed up the ghoulish with a little paint and artwork. Whatever the creatures who came her way requested she was delighted to “bite” the bullet and indulge their imaginations. Of course, if she got hungry or weak, C.E.R.T. members and medical help were available and ready to take care of the victims; safety for all was the number one priority for the evening’s gruesome event.

Jack Skellington loomed above the crowd keeping a close eye on his eerie subjects. Some even stopped to have their pictures taken with the very tall King of Halloween Town. Photo by Teri Nehrenz

Jack Skellington loomed above the crowd keeping a close eye on his eerie subjects. Some even stopped to have their pictures taken with the very tall King of Halloween Town. Photo by Teri Nehrenz

It was an evening that nightmares are made of and a 10 ft. tall Jack Skellington was looming over and through the crowd for a bird’s eye view of all of his un-hallowed subjects.

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The haunted house both chilled and delighted kids of all ages. Volunteers like Nancy Hewett put theatrical skills to great use frightening those who dared enter. Photo by Teri Nehrenz

The highlight of the evening was a trip through the SheekReeka’s haunted house if they dared. Volunteers including Nancy Hewett, Kathy Bussman, Susan and Mike Schultz, Pam and John Sadler and many others were putting all their theatrical and stage experience to good use with the best haunted house yet. Witchy Karen Fielding was at the gate wickedly and cleverly sending to their demise all who had the courage to enter. Haunted campsites, ghoulish clowns, demons and devils were waiting to claim those who showed the most fear. It wasn’t surprising that the adults fell victim to the fiends far more often than the young creatures who entered.

The evening was enjoyable for the whole community and a safe way for the kids to enjoy the haunted holiday. Eureka’s Community Initiative continues to provide the residents of Mesquite, Bunkerville and the Arizona Strip with events, fundraisers and programs that help strengthen those communities. For more information on the Eureka’s Community Initiative program or how you can help contact by email @ http://www.eurekacommunityinitiative.com/index.php/contact-us