Scaring for a cause: Cox Hill prepares for frightening fundraising
Published 12:01 am Friday, October 24, 2014
![Characters in the Cox Hill Festival and Haunted Trail participate in a rehearsal. At top right, a character playing Jason Voorhees carries Amber Stevens, 16, during rehearsal.](https:https://www.natchezdemocrat.com//wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2014/10/102414_CoxHill1MAIN_web_SG.jpg)
Characters in the Cox Hill Festival and Haunted Trail participate in a rehearsal. At top right, a character playing Jason Voorhees carries Amber Stevens, 16, during rehearsal.
NATCHEZ — Goblins and ghouls will scare Miss-Lou residents this weekend, but for a good cause.
The annual Cox Hill Fall Festival and Haunted Trail will take residents on a 15 to 25 minute hayride, but this ride is not for the faint at heart, Cathy Warren said.
The festival will take place at 7 p.m. tonight and Saturday with $10 admission for adults and $5 for children eight-years-old and under.
![Marlee Butler, 5, screams as BJ Neely comes towards her with a chainsaw during the Cox Hill Fall Festival and Haunted Trail rehearsal Thursday before the festival begins tonight at 7 p.m. All proceeds from the festival will be donated to two local women with cancer. (Sam Gause / The Natchez Democrat)](https:https://www.natchezdemocrat.com//wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2014/10/102414_CoxHill2_web_SG-300x219.jpg)
Marlee Butler, 5, screams as BJ Neely comes towards her with a chainsaw during the Cox Hill Fall Festival and Haunted Trail rehearsal Thursday before the festival begins tonight at 7 p.m. All proceeds from the festival will be donated to two local women with cancer. (Sam Gause / The Natchez Democrat)
Four relatives, Jody Stevens, Cathy, Crystal and Kimberly Warren organized the festival, and promised this year’s event will be better than ever.
Not only will spider webs and skulls take up the trail, but more than 75 volunteers have pledged themselves to give riders a night they will never forget.
“Beware of anything and everything,” Cathy said. “We get better at this every year.”
This year, organizers have added The Walking Dead and Insidious to their line up of cult classics such as Friday the 13th, Freddy Krueger, Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Michael Myers.
“We will have zombies and vampires all throughout the woods,” Cathy said.
Cathy’s sister, Stevens, created the event 15 years ago.
“I love this event because it provides an activity for kids to do for Halloween, that’s safe,” Stevens said. “But also, with this event we are able to provide support for people who are going through hard times.”
Every year, all proceeds collected during the festival go toward a hand picked individual who is going through cancer, death in the family or a disaster.
This year, the proceeds will go on to help both Janet and Vicki Byrnes, who both are battling cancer.
![A character playing Jason Voorhees carries Amber Stevens, 16, during rehearsal. (Sam Gause / The Natchez Democrat)](https:https://www.natchezdemocrat.com//wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2014/10/102414_CoxHill3_web_SG-300x199.jpg)
A character playing Jason Voorhees carries Amber Stevens, 16, during rehearsal. (Sam Gause / The Natchez Democrat)
Janet was diagnosed with stage three Adenocarcinoma of the lung in April, while Vicki was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer in August.
Organizers hope to give Janet and Vicki strong support through the festival.
“The funds will help ease their minds of worry,” Cathy said. “It gives them a peace, even if temporally.”
Crystal and Kimberly said haunted houses and scary movies fascinate them, and to be a part of this event is a wonderful feeling.
“To be able to help your community is a great thing,” Crystal said. “We are called to help our brothers and sisters.”
Food, games, drinks and entertainment by DJ Nate-Dog will be available while attendees wait for their haunted trail ride.
For more information or to make a donation, call Stevens at 601-431-3163 or Cathy at 601-431-3377.
The event will pick back up Oct. 30 and 31 and is located on 22 Springfield Road, off of Liberty Road.