Bathurst High School is once again preparing to transform its hallways into a haunting spectacle for the fifth edition of A Nightmare on St. John Street. What began in 2018 as a bold idea has now grown into one of the city’s most anticipated Halloween events, thanks to the vision and determination of longtime community volunteer Calvin Sisk.
Calvin is no stranger to organizing large-scale youth events. For nearly two decades, he has been deeply involved in safe grad celebrations and community initiatives across local schools, always with a focus on giving students opportunities to lead. “Everybody has a super power,” he says. “For me, it’s creating opportunities for kids to really contribute to something. I help them run with their ideas, and then we build on that together.”
That spirit of trust and collaboration has been key to the event’s success. Acting as both producer and mentor, Calvin handles behind-the-scenes logistics, everything from advertising to contacting the fire marshal, while encouraging students to take ownership of the creative side. “Following through with what I say is going to happen makes it easier for people to believe this will come true,” he explains.
The result is an event that blends youthful imagination with community spirit. Roughly 40 volunteers, ranging from Bathurst High students to Superior Middle School leadership kids, parents, and other community members, come together each year to bring the haunted experience to life. The money raised goes directly back to the students, supporting their school trip.
Halloween in Bathurst hasn’t always had a marquee event to call its own. In fact, Calvin says the inspiration came from noticing that many families were leaving the city to attend Halloween events elsewhere.
Last year, between 400 and 500 people attended across the weekend leading up to Halloween. Tickets are priced to balance accessibility and value: $10 per person or $25 per family. There are also two levels of fright Friday, October 24th from 7-10PM will be a full scare event, while a milder scare will take place on Saturday, October 25th between 4-6PM, before a final full scare event Saturday evening from 7-10PM. They will also be passing out treats during the milder scare on Saturday between 4-6PM while they last.
The event’s growth has been both rewarding and challenging. “Last year was so busy we couldn’t even give the kids a break,” Calvin says. But for him, the payoff is clear: seeing the creativity and confidence of young people flourish, and watching the community rally around them.
At its heart, A Nightmare on St. John Street is more than just a haunted house. It’s a testament to what can happen when one person’s vision sparks a collective effort, blending fun, fear, and community pride into a tradition that Bathurst can truly call its own.