BURSTWhat is now regarded as an essential part of Hallowe’en in Houston is set once again to provide a wide ranging set of experiences.
Fright Night for Life Night takes place Oct. 31, 2026, the result of a collaboration between Mick Brown from M. Brown Contracting and his spouse Ais Sheridan.
“We’re always looking for ways to contribute to our community, and in 2021, we saw an opportunity to create something unlike anything else in our region,” Brown explained.
Sheridan reached back to her childhood to remember how her uncle Wayne set up his own custom Hallowe’en displays. Combining that with her skills acquired from acting, set design, special effects and marketing with Brown’s contracting know-how, the two set up a different Hallowe’en adventure every year.
“We make a pretty good team, although our ideas seem to get a little bigger and more elaborate every year,” Brown said.
“We wanted to create a Halloween experience that people wouldn’t normally find in a small community like Houston, something that would give people a reason to come from surrounding communities while also raising money for local organizations.
“For us, the best part is seeing people enjoy something we’ve worked so hard to create, knowing that every admission helps support a worthwhile cause. It’s our way of giving back, just with a few more screams along the way.”
The first Fright for Life Night in 2021 was a small event compared to today. Staged during COVID and working within health regulations, there was a one-direction walkthrough outside. Visitors were asked to bring a non-perishable food item for the local food bank.
Since then the outdoor experience has grown and is rooted in providing a family-oriented time for young people not quite ready for an indoor challenge.
But it is the indoor experience created by transforming the lower level of the company shop into a haunted house that draws people in.
Each year there’s a new theme, a task that brings with it set design and construction as well as creating new creatures and ways to surprise and scare people.
Brown fully credits a core team of eight people, including their son who constructs sets, to a niece who has come from Terrace to act, to bringing creativity and energy to each year’s chosen theme.
“We put a tremendous amount of thought into the atmosphere, set designs, characters and special effects because we want people to feel completely immersed in the experience. We want visitors to walk through our haunted house and forget for a moment that they’re actually standing inside a contracting shop in Houston,” he said.
“We always give a little hint about the year’s haunted house theme through our event poster, but we deliberately keep most of the details a secret. Half the fun is not knowing what’s waiting around the next corner, and we don’t want to spoil that experience before people even arrive.”
The event has also evolved into one where a Houston community organization is selected each year to receive proceeds from those attending the event.
This year the recipient is the Dze L’Kant Friendship Centre Society and in turn it will be supplying 10 volunteers to handle various hosting tasks outside and to provide a display of their own.
“One of the things we really appreciate about this event is that it gives us an opportunity to learn more about the organizations making a difference in Houston. There are so many groups doing important work, often without the recognition or financial support they deserve,” Brown said.
“Our hope is that Fright for Life Night not only helps raise funds for our selected partner but also gives them an opportunity to share their work with the community and connect with people who may not otherwise know about their programs and services.”
The money raised this year from admissions will go to helping send youth to the 2027 Gathering Our Voices event in Victoria, B.C.
While every effort is made to make the experience unforgettable, especially in the haunted house, should those going through the house feel overwhelmed, the use of “pumpkin” as a safe word will result in actors stopping their performance and guiding people back outside.
“Safety is always a priority. We want our guests to feel that the event is well organized and controlled, even when the experience itself is designed to get their hearts racing.
Ultimately, our goal is to bring an attraction to Houston that people would normally have to travel to a major city to experience,” Brown said.
Fright for Life Night’s ran in 2021, 2022 and 2023 with 2024 being an off year. It returned in 2025 making this year the fifth. Attendance last year was more than 350 people.
Brown also emphasized the role of sponsors in providing amenities to make for an all-encompassing outing.
The evening begins at 6 p.m, ending at 9 p.m. at 1905 Vriend Road on Oct. 31. Admission is $4 per child and $6 per adult and payment must be in cash.