Spooky, Hogwarts-ified KVSR train/station raises $10,000 for Summerland Secondary Dry Grad

Turning Summerland's Kettle Valley Steam Railway into a haunted ghost ride for Halloween is nothing new. It's been done a few times in the past. But it hasn’t been done like this.

This year, it was the Heather Pescada show.

Trout Creek resident Pescada has gained a certain measure of fame in recent years for setting up some of the most elaborate All Hallows Eve happenings in the South Okanagan, usually to benefit the Summerland Secondary School Dry Grad.

So when she got the call way back in February to lend her expertise to a proposed 2022 event at the steam train, she accepted -- even though her own kids have already graduated.

And this Friday through Saturday, 900-plus people enjoyed the spoils. First, a spooky train ride across the valley featuring ghost stories, live actors (kids from Summerland Secondary) and of course props. But unlike previous years, that was just the opening act.

Back at the station, Pescada's masterpiece awaited. Named "Magical Village," it featured hundreds of her own props, special effects galore, a maze of distinctive rooms and hallways, and of course even more ultra-enthusiastic live actors/students.

That the whole thing was based on Harry Potter -- the train on "Hogwarts Express" and the Magical Village on Hogwarts itself -- undoubtedly added to its appeal. And appealing it was. Once the completely sold-out event had ended, in the neighbourhood of $10,000 had been raised for Dry Grad.

"I took two weeks off work starting on the 11th to build this," said a smiling but exhausted Pescada Saturday afternoon. "I walked 126 kilometers and lost six pounds during this. That’s what happens when you decorate a maze. Even though you have to go only ten feet, you have to walk 30 or 40 to get there."

Pescada spent many late nights at the isolated train station during setup. She said she was concerned just one evening, when she spotted someone outside "hanging around." Thankfully, nothing ever came of it.

"But this will probably be the last one I do," she smiled, knowing full well that she's told us the same thing in the past.

"This one's been different because I had a lot of friends at the other ones, so we'd hang out together. But I was here mostly by myself."

Maybe so, but Saturday afternoon as the student actors readied for the afternoon show, there was nothing but gratitude for the creator of this temporary Halloween world.

Gratitude and adoration. And some scary glances.