Tour James Day’s Haunted Woods in Kahnawà:ke

Have you ever had a nightmare that felt so real?

Well, the monsters at James Day’s Haunted Woods in Kahnawà:ke are not a dream, it’s reality but the haunts are for a good cause.

“Create memories with us,” said Day. “That last forever.”

What began as a little maze back in 2005, grew into this spook-tacular initiative.

“We were sitting in the driveway looking back at the woods,” Day recalled. “And we’re like, wow, let’s make a haunted house, but let’s make one on steroids.”

“Then here we are 19 years later,” he added. “It’s like the Winchester house, we just can’t stop building.”

To enter the maze, not only must one be brave — but a nonperishable food item is your ticket in.

“We do it for the Kahnawake food basket,” said Day. “We get food and money and stuff like that and we donate it.”

“We do it for a good cause.”

Now, if one is a scaredy-cat, should they even think of attending?

The answer is yes, but maybe not at night.

“In the daytime we have like an easy show,” explained Day. “Then at night it’s like for the brave.”

Every year, the community comes together to help make the scares possible.

From adding wood to the maze or even volunteering their time to dress up and run after the attendees.

While Day, his family, and friends pour their hearts into the initiative every year — this edition has a deeper meaning.

“I love Halloween so much since I was a little kid,” said Day. “My dad, I’m doing this show for him since he passed away a couple days ago.”

“I feel it’s a lot, you know, to do the haunting stuff of that, but this is what he would have wanted.”

“And he wanted me to be happy,” added Day. “So I’m gonna continue being happy and making other people happy.”

“It’s my first time here this year,” said Ryan Whiteduck, while waiting in line. “But I heard tonight’s supposed to be a better one than ever.”

“I was scared,” added Whiteduck’s daughter. “Because I thought it was real.”

“I want to encourage everybody to come out and enjoy this spooky season with us,” said Day. “And just have a good time.”

Something Day’s father would certainly be proud of.

Happy Halloween and tour James Day’s Haunted Woods…if you dare.