Skiff Medical Center offers unique Halloween experience

Entering its 18th year, Skiff Medical Center is offering a Halloween experience for children of all ages from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

Spearheaded in 1996 by Stacy Jorgensen, food service director, Skiff’s Trick-or-Treat in the hospital has been a favorite for Newton families.

“Kids needed a warm, safe environment to trick or treat,” said Deb Nilles, Skiff employee. “It’s not just about the candy. It introduces kids to the hospital in a fun way.”

The first year, the entire hospital was used, including some patients and a route to the basement. Deciding that was too big of an undertaking, the decorated area is now kept to the first floor “square.” Set up for continuous flow, children enter into elaborately themed sections decorated and staffed by hospital employees.

“Every year, I think, ‘Oh, are we going to have enough people?’ The employees and the departments, they are the ones who make it happen. They are the ones who are volunteering their time to make these decorations and to be here, dressed up, and hand out the candy to the kids who come,” said Leisa Zylstra, Foundation & Events Manager.

Beginning Thursday morning, employees will begin transforming the hospital to their respective themes before dressing up themselves to hand out treats. Typically there are about 10 areas for visitors to pass through scattered on the first floor. Past popular themes have been Peter Pan, Cinderella, Dr. Seuss and the circus, along with traditional Halloween themes of pumpkins, ghosts and witches.

“Last year the physical therapy department did a super heroes theme. They had the Incredibles, superman, batman, that was pretty popular with the kids,” Zylstra said. “I think there are a couple this year that will be really popular with the kids, but we’ll keep those a secret.”

A new addition last year were photo areas for visitors to step off of the path and get pictures among the decorations. On the side, it offers the chance to take a second for a photo without holding up the flow of traffic.

Well known throughout the community, staff asks that the public wait until 5 p.m. to come through the decorations, as tempting as it may be to get a sneak peek earlier in the day.

The event goes longer than the traditional beggars night to accommodate the large number of visitors who attend every year. The hospital plans for 1,200 children each year with a total of 3,000 visitors through out the night.

“It’s really just a night for everyone, for the whole family to come and enjoy,” Zylstra said.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com.