Seeking spooky fun

Why do we enjoy scaring ourselves? Psychologists have done studies on the "type T" (thrill-seeking) personalities - it might be that they enjoy the heart-pounding, palm-sweating, hair-raising experience; perhaps for others, theorizes Glenn Sparks, PhD, of Purdue University, it's the satisfaction felt after facing a fear, and living to tell the tale.

Halloween is made for the “type-T” personality, and there's plenty of opportunities to enjoy a good scare happening between now and Oct. 31. Here's a few going on locally:

- Terror in the Trees - A haunted forest tour held at SUNY Fredonia Thursday through Saturday nights during the two weekends before Halloween - Oct. 18-20 and Oct. 25-27 from 8 to 11:30 p.m. It's a self-guided, 20- to 30-minute tour in the Campus Woodlot on Ring Road. For advance tickets, visit fredonia.edu/tickets (early tickets are $4 - I'd be remiss if I didn't mention an opportunity to save cash in this time of economic collapse) or purchase at the tour entrance for $5 each.

- Harvest Moon Cemetery Tours - Held this Friday and Saturday at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Fredonia, running 7 to 10 p.m. I went on this last year and really enjoyed it. The horse-drawn trolleys depart from Barker Common. Reservations are required and seating is limited on the trolleys. Call 1-888-414-4818 or 672-4818 to make reservations. The cost for tickets is $12.50 which includes refreshments.

- Lighthouse Ghost Hunt - The sixth ghost hunt in the series of investigations being held at the historic Dunkirk Lighthouse this Saturday is sold out, but there's another event planned for Oct. 26 and 27. Presented by Village Haunts and Beyond Ghosts, each event includes a lighthouse tour and paranormal investigation. Reservations/tickets are required – visit dunkirklighthouse.com to learn more.

- “Fright Night” Community Barn Dance - Held Saturday, Oct. 27, with ghost stories and a dance from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Red House in Cassadaga. Costumes are encouraged.

Drop me a line at adiodato@observertoday.com if you know of any other spooky opportunities. I went to a haunted house for the first time in many years last weekend in Hamburg and it was a lot of fun - I chickened out of the sixth, “scariest” house (out of five), though. Maybe I'm too timid to be considered a “type T.”

P.S. The second season of "American Horror Story" premieres tonight, 10 p.m. on FX - I can't wait!