Photos by Madeline Scarborough Shawn Starcher, with the New Era School House, stirred apple butter at the Spooktacular Fall Festival Saturday morning.

Dave Bunner, one of the event organizers, said the haunted school, which was held on Friday and Saturday and will return the 29th and 30th, always brings out a crowd. With the day kicking off at 11 a.m. and going all the way to 10:30 p.m., those volunteering at the fundraisers had a full day.

At the fall festival in the morning, attendees could enjoy a craft fair, food, apple butter and bounce houses.

In the evening attendees could enjoy the haunted house and school grounds, make s’mores or enjoy other concessions and train rides.

The tour of the school takes about 10 minutes.

Rise Snyder and her son Mathew James Snyder, 9, toast s’mores at The New Era School House’s annual haunted house Saturday.

Following a walk through the building, people can head around back and check out buildings on the school grounds featuring more fright scenes for visitors.

“It’s geared toward children,” he said. “There are a lot a spooky places around but none or our stuff is overly frightening so it’s good for the younger children.”

Bunner this year dressed up as Bubba Jones, a “long lost” cousin of Indiana Jones and conducted the tours.

He took attendees through the school to see the haunted items he had discovered over the years.

“We try to change the theme every year,” he said.

The changing of the theme allows them to use different props in different ways and keep the tour fresh.

“We change things up every year and have new things along with new items each year,” he said.

Some of the pieces have had to be retired due to age and wear, but a few of the original pieces that have seen all 13 years of the annual event are still kicking, according to Bunner.

“I like Halloween Stuff,” said Max Smarr, 4, who attended the event with his family.

Smarr said that he has been before, and that he “remembers that spider in the outhouse and it won’t scare him this year”.

Photo by Madeline Scarborough Emily Grimm, 5, who is dressed as supergirl, poses with a skeleton pirate crew at The New Era School House annual haunted house Saturday.

“I like the fake spiders,” said Smarr.

Proceeds from both events will go towards the upkeep of the New Era One Room School House Museum.

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Madeline Scarborough can be reached at mscarborough@newsandsentinel.com