Ahoy, Matey! There be PIRATES haunting Half Moon Bay! Aaargh. We’re in the Johnston Haunted Barn, aye. Not alive. Not dead. We’re among the undead, sez I. It was the late 19^th century when we seized the barn from that landlubber Johnston. Sure, we were in need of a place to hide out and store our treasure. There is much to be seen, ye scalawags!  There be the remains of our Shipbuilder in his shop. The ghost of our Swordsmith still haunts, aaargh.  Ye’ll be seein’ a Ghost Ship caught in a never-ending thunderstorm. Aye, the Treasure is still there, but ye’ll have to pass through Davey Jones Locker to get to it. There’ll be swordfightin’ and walkin’ o’ the plank. There’ll be danger and adventure. So join with us at the time of the Pumpkin Festival, October 17-18, ya scurvy swabs! 

The Haunted Johnston Barn features live (undead) actors from The Coastside Young Actors Workshop alongside audio-animatronic figures, projected and transparent ghosts, intense lighting, sound, and fog effects, and unexpectedly dropping and shwooping objects caused by unseen forces. The real treat is the young actors themselves, students from grade school through high school trained in the art of improvisation, staying in character, and playing for an audience. The theme of each room is based on a script, but the performers are able to interact and play with the visitors’ reactions, making each tour a unique experience.

The Coastside Young Actors Workshop has been presenting themed haunted houses at the Half Pumpkin Festival since 1990, in various locations. Past themes have included a Haunted School, Haunted Medical Clinic, Haunted Toy Store, Haunted Mini-Mall, Haunted Gym, Haunted Laboratory, and others. This is the fifth year for the Johnston Barn. 

The Johnston Barn is located behind the Historic Jail, at 505 Johnston Street, just one block away from the festivities on Main Street, in Half Moon Bay. The Haunted Barn will be open during the Pumpkin Festival, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, October 17-18. It is considered appropriate for families, however, children under 5 may find the experience too intense. Admission is $5 per person, and proceeds go to benefit the non-profit children's theater group, The Coastside Young Actors Workshop. For more information contact Auri Naggar, Director, Coastside Young Actors Workshop, (650) 726-1304 or visit www.coastsideyoungactors.com.