Wolcott Elementary School's Haunted Forest is scheduled to return this month to the wooded area on the north side of campus, between the school and Wolcott Park. The 5-to-8 p.m. event is planned to include student-, family- and staff-built scenes along the trail, as well as games, crafts and a new food truck.
The date remains unclear in the available listings. we-ha.com reports that the 2026 event is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 17, with Saturday, Oct. 24, as a rain date. A separate Google Sites page for the Wolcott PTO lists Saturday, Oct. 18, but does not specify a year. The discrepancy is unresolved.
The event's planned activities include arts and crafts, games, a family-friendly movie, seasonal snacks and the outdoor maze, according to we-ha.com. The Rescue Dog Food Truck is new this year and is expected to serve family favorites throughout the event.
A Gentler First Hour for Little Ones
Families with younger children are encouraged to visit from 5 to 6 p.m., when the trail is intended to be less frightening, according to the report. After 6 p.m., organizers plan to add more surprises and jump scares for visitors seeking a scarier experience.
Tickets are $8 per person or $30 per family, and can be purchased at the event using cash or digital payment through Zeffy, according to the report. The event also offers advance tickets, though a dedicated 2026 ticket listing was not available at publication; a prior Zeffy page from the 2025 event listed a family pack with unlimited entries and noted that all proceeds support the Wolcott Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization.
A Decade-Plus Tradition Powered by Volunteers
The Wolcott PTO has hosted the Haunted Forest for more than a decade as a fall fundraiser. The event relies on dozens of volunteers and attracts visitors from West Hartford and beyond, according to we-ha.com. Proceeds support programs and activities for Wolcott students throughout the year.
We-ha.com reported that Principal Scott Dunn and this year's organizers, Bill and Emily Weckman, spoke about the event's importance to the Wolcott school community.
The event's history includes a strong return after its COVID-19 pause: well over 1,000 people attended the forest tour in 2022, according to an earlier we-ha.com report. In 2024, the event also ran from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Wolcott Park woods, with $8 individual and $30 family tickets and scenes built by Wolcott Elementary students.
Where to Go and What to Watch For
Wolcott Elementary School is at 71 Wolcott Road. The Haunted Forest is planned for the north side of campus, along the wooded area toward Wolcott Park. If weather forces a change, the rain date is Saturday, Oct. 24; updates are expected on the Wolcott Elementary PTO's Facebook page.
The park setting and the new food truck
The Town of West Hartford says Wolcott Elementary adjoins Wolcott Park and uses an Outdoor Classroom in the wooded area between the school and the pond. That description does not establish that the Haunted Forest uses park facilities. The event coverage says the new truck will serve family favorites; CT Insider reports that the Wolcott-based Rescue Dog Food Trucks business was founded by Matt Terase and Phillip Yager, restaurant-industry veterans with a soft spot for rescue animals. That background does not establish a specific rescue partnership or fundraising connection.
