Clowns haunt the Demon Trail

There are no coincidences in life, but in this case, there appear to be.

The second annual Demon Trail — which converts Crossroads Farm into a haunted, five-acre Halloween venue with demons and ghouls ready to scare visitors who choose to walk the path — will feature a new premise this year: a Carnival of Souls, including creepy clowns. “At this point in time [it] doesn’t seem like a good idea, but we’re going to do it anyway,” said David Coonan, president of the Malverne Community Theatre, which organizes the event each year.

Coonan was referring to several recent news accounts of scary clowns, who have frightened and threatened people across the country. Earlier this month, a 14-year old Malverne student reportedly saw a clown wielding a knife during his walk home from school in Lakeview.

Coonan maintains, however, that the Carnival of Souls has been in the works for some time. It will include not only clowns, but other things that might be remnants of a long-ago carnival, such as show tents where visitors will find, er, surprises inside. “You’ll be walking through whatever is left of it,” Coonan said. In marketing materials, the scene is described as “a once vibrant carnival, full of carnival-ish things. Deserted. Overgrown. Abandoned. But not everyone — or everything — left. The demons are running the show now.”

Coonan said that small groups will be taken through the trail with enough distrance between them to create a singular experience for all. “Last year, we had a total of 400 people walk through the Demon Trail,” he said, adding that this year’s trail will be better and scarier.

Coonan said he is making sure that all cast members play their clown personas only at the farm, and that it will be clear to people attending that clown characters are supposed to be there. No clowns will harm visitors — and the farm is asking visitors not to hurt the clowns. “I’m hoping that the people who come are smart enough and will understand that the clowns are just actors in costume,” Coonan said. “And if they don’t, perhaps going to Carnival of Souls should not be part of your Friday night plans.”

The Demon Trail: A Carnival of Souls will be held Oct. 21-22 and again Oct. 28-29 and will open at 8 p.m. on all nights, with the exception of Oct. 22, when it will begin at 9 p.m. The trail will close at 11 p.m. Tickets are $10. Carnival of Souls is appropriate for ages 14 and up.