FORT RUCKER, Ala. (October 18, 2012) -- Halloween gives people plenty to be scared of during the holiday, but people on Fort Rucker shouldn't be afraid to attend events on the installation that offer fun, food, fitness and frights.
The Fort Rucker Bowling Center will host its 2012 Monster Bowl Oct. 26 from 9 p.m. to midnight, and the Directorate of Family, Morale, Welfare and Recreation will host the 2012 Spooky 5k Oct. 27 beginning at 9 a.m. in front of the Fortenberry-Colton Physical Fitness Facility, which will be followed by a 1-mile fun run.
The events are a chance for people on the installation to celebrate Halloween in a fun and safe environment, said Ron Cook, Fort Rucker Bowling Center business manager.
"The Monster Bowl is our take on a Halloween night out," he said. "We've got a full house of events planned for the night with giveaways and costume contests that will go on throughout the night."
The Spooky 5k will also have a costume contest that people can participate in different categories such as adult, child, scariest, best overall and most original, according to Kristi Fink, fitness programs manager for Fortenberry-Colton PFF.
"The event is open to the public and all ages are encouraged to participate," said Fink, adding that patrons are allowed to run in their costumes as long as it is safe. "There's nothing wrong with some healthy competition."
The bowling center is another good place where people of all ages can take their competitive nature and let loose on some bowling pins, as well as spend leisure time with friends and Family in a Halloween-themed environment.
"The night isn't geared toward any specific age group," said Cook. "We will be doing some things that will be kind of spooky with a haunted house kind of feel to it, but we're not going to create a situation that smaller children can't enjoy -- it'll be friendly for all ages."
The Monster Bowl will also have a costume contest for different ages, as well as a dance-off and other giveaways.
"We'll be giving away gift vouchers for the snack bar, pro shop and a lot of in-house stuff, and we also have an absolutely wonderful service here that handles our music, so we will have the opportunity to do a dance-off with things like the chicken dance and the Monster Mash." said the bowling manager. "People don't have to come out to just bowl, we want them to come out and have a good time with us."
Cook said that the bowling center will have some surprises in store for participants that come out to enjoy the event.
"There are going to be a few tricks up our sleeves that we don't want to let people know about yet," he said. "We've had a year to plan this, so we've got a lot of things people didn't see last year -- it's going to be a really good time."
Lanes for Monster Bowl can be reserved for the night, and are also on a first-come-first-serve basis, said Cook. The cost for the lane is $45 and includes a large one-topping pizza; pitcher of fountain soda or sweet tea; tortilla chips and salsa; unlimited bowling for up to six people per lane and shoe rental.
"There are only 18 reservation spots available, so people should reserve a lane as soon as they can," said Cook, adding that reservations don't have to be paid for until the night of the event. "Also, people that have reserved lanes can come by, up to a half an hour before 9 p.m., to set up their lane, but if people don't show up for their reservation by 9:15, we will go to the standby list."
People interested in participating in the Spooky 5k should register at either Fortenberry-Colton PFF or the Fort Rucker PFF. Registration is $20 until Oct. 20 and $25 after Saturday up until the race day for individuals, and includes a T-shirt while supplies last, according to Fink.
People may also register for $12, which does not include a T-shirt, and in teams of up to eight for $100. Additional team members beyond eight must pay normal registration fees.
For more information on Monster Bowl, call 255-9503, and for more information on the Spooky 5k, call 255-3794.
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