Camp Edey in Bayport becomes a Halloween party for the whole family on Saturday, October 24, when the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County host the third annual Ghoul Scout Halloween Happenin' at the camp on Lakeview Avenue. The event runs from 3 to 9 p.m., is open to all ages, and does not require anyone in the family to be a Girl Scout. Admission starts at $10 for adults and $20 to $25 for children, plus online processing fees.

This year's theme is Rise of the Villains. The storyline borrows from Disney's Descendants films: the villains have escaped the Isle of the Lost, taken over Camp Edey, and need to be sent back. Guests are invited to come in costume and bring a trick-or-treat bag.

Daytime: crafts, archery and boating on the lake

The afternoon block runs from 3 to 6 p.m. Activities listed by the council include themed crafts, a costume contest (sign up at check-in), a poison apple toss and other lawn games, boating on the camp's lake, and a photo booth.

Two activities cost extra. Pumpkin painting is a $5 add-on and is capped at 300 pumpkins. Zombie Archery is also $5, is open to children in third grade and up, and has limited spots, so the council recommends booking it online ahead of time. A Girl Scout shop will be set up on site with merchandise, apparel and light-up accessories, and The Circus Truck will sell food throughout the event.

Nighttime: the Villains Unleashed Spooky Trail

From 6 to 9 p.m., the event shifts to its after-dark program. The main draw is the Villains Unleashed Spooky Trail, a guided walk through the woods with scenes created and performed by Girl Scout troops. A Girl Scout storyteller leads each group along a path of just under half a mile, and the council warns that the trail can include flashing lights, loud noises and gory images. Parents are asked to use their own judgment about younger children.

For families with small or nervous kids, the 6 and 6:30 p.m. trail times are designated Baby Bird sessions. It will not be fully dark yet, and performers hold back on jump scares and loud noises for guests who identify themselves as Baby Birds.

Also on the evening schedule: an outdoor marathon of Disney's Descendants movies, marshmallow roasting, glow-in-the-dark games and crafts, plus the photo booth and shop.

New this year: reserved times for the trail

To cut down on lines, the Spooky Trail now runs on reserved time slots. There is no added charge for the trail, but it takes two steps at checkout: choose a ticket labeled With Spooky Trail for each person who wants to walk it, then add one free Spooky Trail reservation per person under the add-ons. Buying a trail ticket without picking a time does not guarantee a spot.

Slots are going quickly. An update on the ticket page dated October 14 said the 6, 6:30, 7 and 7:30 p.m. times were sold out, with a very limited number left at 8 and 8:30 p.m. Families who do not get a trail time can still buy a ticket without the trail and take part in everything else. One admission covers both the day and night programs.

Ticket prices

Online prices, before processing fees, are $20 for registered Girl Scouts, $25 for children who are not Girl Scouts, and $10 for adults. Each type is sold with or without the Spooky Trail at the same price. The early bird offer of a free event patch ended October 13, though the council says patches can also be bought at the event.

Getting there and what to know

Camp Edey is at 1500 Lakeview Avenue in Bayport, just east of Sayville. The parking lot and nearby street parking are paved, but the trail winds through the woods over uneven ground, with steps up and down and tight passages between the camp's tentalows. Strollers and wheelchairs are welcome on the grounds, though some trail stops may need to be skipped. Pets are not allowed; trained service dogs are the only exception, and no animals of any kind may go on the trail.

The event is rain or shine and will close only if conditions are dangerous. Tickets are sold online through the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County ticket page, linked from the council's Halloween Happenin' page at gssc.us. Questions go to [email protected] or (631) 543-6622.

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