HOOPESTON — With Halloween just a few weeks away, haunted houses in the area are ready to cause some frights and raise money for good causes.

The Danville and Hoopeston Jaycees are teaming up again for a haunted house. This year’s theme is “Twisted Fairy Tales, The Nightmare Returns.” The haunted house will open this weekend at 323 E. Main St. in downtown Hoopeston, in the MainSource bank building across from the Lorraine Theater.

Everything won’t be completed yet inside and outside of the MainSource bank building, said Susan Ballengee, with the Danville Jaycees.

The haunted house will be discounted this weekend only, and as a result: $3 a person and $5 for couples. Regular cost is $5 a person.

Ballengee said the rooms and characters will change for the rest of the weekends. Part of it also will be outside for the other weekends.

“Everything is mobile,” Ballengee said.

The haunted house will be in the upper level, above the bank.

Ballengee said the theme hasn’t been done before. The theme is inspired by a past Danville Jaycees president.

“We’re making it come alive and we hope it’s a good one,” she said.

“It’s a take on all of the classic fairy tales, the Grimms’ fairy tales, with some surprises,” she added.

The fairy tales include Little Red Riding Hood and Hansel and Gretel.

The space is a smaller area than past haunted houses, but “it’s not what you’d expect with the size of the building,” Ballengee said.

About 25 volunteers are helping with the haunted house.

The Hoopeston and Danville Jaycees groups will use the money raised from the haunted house for Christmas presents for underprivileged children in the area.

The Danville Jaycees are planning a “Shop with a Hockey Player” event.

The haunted house will be open from Oct. 12-14, Oct. 19-21 and Oct. 26-28. Times are 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays. The haunted house’s Facebook page is: Twisted Fairy Tales the Nightmare Returns.

“It’s a lot of fun. It’s definitely different. We like changing this up,” Ballengee said.

TILTON

The Tilton Fire Department has a new location this year for its annual haunted house.

“The Foundry of Terror Haunted House” will open this weekend, too, in an office building at the former GM Foundry, Interstate 74 and G Street, in Tilton.

Fire chief Richard Austin said the semi trailers used last year didn’t go over very well.

“We’re getting back in a building.” Austin said.

Previously the haunted house had been in the old Tilton Grade School.

This year’s haunted house will use one story of the two-story, old office building. Austin said they couldn’t use both stories this year, but hope to next year.

Dates and hours: 7 p.m. to whenever on Friday and Saturday; 7 p.m. to whenever on Oct. 19; 9 p.m. to whenever on Oct. 20 due to the Tilton block party; 7 p.m. to whenever on Oct. 26 and 27; and 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Oct. 31.

The cost is $7.

Austin said the haunted house is fun to do. It’s also a fundraiser for fire department equipment. The fire department has purchased rescue equipment and stabilization jacks with the proceeds.

GEORGETOWN

The Haunted Hideaway is again at 1201 E. 12th St., Georgetown.

Dates and hours: 6-10 p.m. today, Sunday and Oct. 18, 21, 25, 29 and 30; 6 p.m. to midnight on Friday, Saturday and Oct. 19, 20, 26 and 27; 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Oct. 31.

Admission is $9 adults/$8 seniors/$7 ages 12 and younger.

There also is a new After Hours Amateur Investigations.

For more information, visit the website http://www.thehauntedhideaway.com.

There also is a Facebook page for The Haunted Hideaway.

Jaycees anniversary

Danville Jaycees is celebrating its 70th year with an anniversary celebration at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 3 at David S. Palmer Arena. All current and past Jaycees are welcome to attend. The party will be in conjunction with a Danville Dashers hockey game. The fee includes dinner, the game and beverages. Past Jaycees can call (765) 326-5201 or email danvillejaycees@gmail.com for more information.