Haunted Gibbs Fest
Monday through Friday, Oct. 23–27
Join us as we go on an adventure throughout the week filled with frights and delights. The WMU student-focused events kick off with thrilling Vampire themed Escape Room. At the end of the week, the fest continues with evening activities that include Ghosts of Kalamazoo Tours and an outdoor movie screening. Don't forget to venture - if you dare - through the Haunted Food Forest! Spooky attire and homemade costumes are encouraged!
EVENING FESTIVITIES: Friday, Oct. 27
Registration for the following events are for WMU students, staff, faculty and their guests aged 18 or older. Under 18 requires an accompanying parent or adult guardian.
Ghoulish Gathering: 6 to 8 p.m.
Stop by and hang out with our team! We will have a variety of activities including; yard games, apple cider press demonstrations, music, pumpkin carving and decorating, a photo-booth and a costume contest! The winner(s) will receive our EcoEssenials grab bag and a mystery gift. Refreshments will be provided.
Haunted Food Forest: 8 to 10 p.m.
Greetings traveler, enter the Haunted Food Forest if you dare. It is a realm in which terrifying spirits come to life and torture the living. We are so sure you will be scared that we are requiring all guests to sign a waiver before entering the realm. The Haunted Food Forest will be sure to give your nightmare's nightmares so bring a friend with nerves of steel. Each trip is limited to 4 travelers at a time.
This portion of Haunted Gibbs Fest requires pre-registration! Additional registration, as described below, is required for the Escape Rooms and the Ghosts of Kalamazoo Tours. Upon arrival, please stop by our check-in table to complete the wavier to participate in any of the activities. Bring your Bronco ID!
General Registration *Requires a WMU email to access page and to register.
Be sure to sign out of your personal Google account. WMU Google Login Instructions.
Additional information is provided below about event cost, accessibility information and parking.
Escape Rooms: Monday through Friday, Oct. 23-27
Registration is for WMU students only.
The Office for Sustainability and the Student Professional Readiness Series (SPuRS) invites WMU students to participate in a Haunted House Escape Room experience at the Gibbs House during the week. Registration is required using the link provided below. Each time slot is limited to 6 people per session. You are only allowed to sign-up for 1 spot per experience to allow all students a chance to participate. Monday through Thursday, you should be able to park right at the Gibbs House. For Friday, parking will be in Lot P7 near WMU Soccer Fields. Please be sure to arrive a few minutes early to participate. You may need to add travel time to allow for parking and walking to the facility. The experience will start on time.
"While camping and hiking in a remote part of Central America during fall break, you wake up one morning to find curious bite marks on your neck and arms -- bite marks in the shape of bloody teeth marks. With research of the area, you have come to realize that you have been the victim of a vampire bat attack. As fear begins to set in, and anxiety spreads, you return to the Kalamazoo area, researching the effects of a vampire bat attack so close to Halloween. As speculation would have it, it is the one time of year that you risk permanent damage. If your bites remain untreated by All Hallows Eve, you will become a member of the undead. You've heard rumors of an ancient vampire living in the Kalamazoo area near Asylum Lake who answers to the name Selene Devonshire. With any luck, she may be able to help you and share the remedy and cure for this deadly attack. With the help of a few friends, you decide to sneak into Selene's lair and plan to plead your case to her before tonight's full moon. Will you be able to persuade Selene to help you? Or will you become a vampire yourself? Only time will tell."
Ghosts of Kalamazoo Tours: FRIDAY, OCT. 27
Registration is for WMU students only.
The Ghosts of Kalamazoo Tours are brought to you by the JCI Kalamazoo.
"Modeled after the ghost tours found in big cities all over the country, the Ghosts of Kalamazoo Historic Tour hopes to provide history with a twist — delivering the weird, the haunted, and the historic stories found throughout Kalamazoo." – JCI Kalamazoo
Registration is required using the links provided below. Each time slot is limited to 6 people per tour. You are only allowed to sign-up for 1 spot to allow all students a chance to participate. Tickets are $5 for students day of via cash or card. Tours will leave every 20 minutes starting at 6 p.m. from our general check-in area and will last 30 minutes with the last tour leaving at 7:40 p.m. Please be sure to arrive a few minutes early to participate. You may need to add travel time to allow for parking and walking to the facility. The experience will start on time.
Additional Information
Event Cost: Free *except for the Ghosts of Kalamazoo Tours
Accessibility Information and General Questions: Please call our office for further details at (269) 387-0943 or email @email.
Free Parking: Parking is available in the WMU Soccer Field Lot at Parkview Campus, Lot P7. Parking Directions
From there, follow the signs leading to the Gibbs House. The voyage takes approximately 5 minutes through a parking lot, sidewalk and grass. Carpooling is highly encouraged and appreciated. DO NOT PARK AT GIBBS HOUSE. Please connect with our team if you would like to reserve an accessible parking space for the event.
*At this time, the east bound Parkview is closed due to construction. Drivers should plan to come to Gibbs House via Stadium Drive and then Drake Road.
Free Bus Rides:
Bus Pick Up Location Main Campus
Circle Drive in front of the WMU Student Center
5:15 PM, 6:15 PM, 7:15 PM, 8:15 PM, and 9:15 PM
Bus Pick Up Location Parkview Campus:
Newell/Gibbs Parking Lot
5:40 PM, 6:40 PM, 7:40 PM, 8:40 PM, 9:40 PM, and 10:15 PM
Acknowledgments: We would like to thank the Student Professional Readiness Series (SPuRS), CAB, and JCI Kalamazoo for partnering and collaborating with us on this adventure.