The Place will be holding their first ever "Spook-tacular Evening" from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, October 21. The event is free to attend and open to Chenango County teens aged 13 to 19. (Photo by Sarah Genter)

NORWICH — Chenango County teens are encouraged to don their best Halloween costume and stop by The Place from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday, October 21 for the "Spook-tacular Evening" costume party. The event is open to Chenango County teens aged 13 to 19, and will feature music, food, costume contests, and prizes.

The Place Teen Program Coordinator Julie Dealing held a focus group last month with local teens, and the Halloween party was one idea brainstormed by that group.

"We had a couple of teens that came, and by the time they left, they all agreed that they wanted to have a Halloween party where they got to dress up," said Dealing. "So that’s how this all came, because the kids that came to the focus group said that’s what they wanted to do. So pretty much the next day I was like, all right, let's do it."

Since then, Dealing has been hard at work preparing for the Spook-tacular. She said teens at the focus group wanted it to have a fun, dance-like feel, so she's decking out The Place's front room with spooky decor, speakers, lights, and a photo booth.

"We’re going to have food. We talked about maybe having make your own cupcakes or cookies where they decorate it spooky or Halloween-y, however they want it," said Dealing. "When you first walk in there’s a big room, we're going to decorate that all out. I have speakers that have lights and stuff for music."

"I’m going to try to add a photo area and have maybe some photo booth props, because there's a couple good spots in there that if I get balloons and maybe some streamers to hang down that’ll maybe just look like a nice little backdrop," she continued. "I really want the room to not look like our little kid eating area like it does right now. I really want, when people walk in, to be like, 'oh I didn’t know it could look like this.'"

There will also be the chance to win gift cards at the costume contest. Categories include Best Overall, Most Original, Funniest, and Scariest.

Registration for the event is recommended. Parents or guardians can register their teens at forms.gle/iSFfbuNn7VBpyZcX8 or by scanning the QR code posted on The Place Facebook page.

"I want to make sure we have enough food and stuff, and also on the registration there is a spot for parent or guardian contact information just in case," said Dealing.

"There’s also a spot for allergies and food restrictions, because I want the party to be inclusive for everybody," she added. "I’ve definitely gone to a lot of things where I can’t eat anything. So if I can make sure that doesn't happen to other kids I would really like that."

The first event of its kind at The Place, Dealing said she has high hopes the Spook-tacular Evening. Should the event prove to be popular among local teens, she has no doubts it will return next year, hopefully bigger and better.

More information on The Place and the Spook-tacular Evening can be found at ThePlaceNorwich.com or on The Place Facebook page.