All the afterlife is a stage: Palace Theater again invites ghosts, ghouls to take residence for Halloween

Shakespeare wrote in his pastoral comedy “As You Like It” that all the world’s a stage, but each year during the end of October the historic Palace Theater in Downtown Hilo lends itself to otherworldly creatures, ghosts and more to provide all the afterlife for its own stage.

The Haunted Palace, Hilo’s largest immersive walk-through haunted attraction, returns this weekend for Halloween, and the public is invited to catch a few scares.

BEWARE: Disturbed souls run amuck.

The Haunted Palace features 20-plus scare zones inside the theater and throughout its surrounding grounds.

Keep your hands to yourself while perusing the Cabinet of Curiosities, don’t lose your party in the Labyrinth of Shadows, watch out for the Spider Queen’s web and certainly don’t stop to smell the gardener’s flowers.

Terrors await around every bend.

THE HAUNTED PALACE

Times and dates

• 7 p.m. Oct. 30
• 7 p.m. Oct. 31 (Halloween)

Tickets

• $20 in advance
• $25 at the door

The Haunted Palace features flights of stairs and tight spaces. Portions of the route are outdoors are subject to weather conditions; however, the event will take place rain or shine. Closed-toed shoes are recommended.

The attraction also features strobe effects, loud sounds, heavy fog, darkness, lasers, scenes of violence and clowns.

Flashlights are not allowed, and it takes about 20 minutes to get through all the terrors.

WARNING: The Haunted Palace might not be appropriate for keiki 12 years old and younger; chaperones recommended.

This annual spooky season event is not just frightfully fun, it’s also a fundraiser for Friends of the Palace Theater, whose mission is to restore, revitalize and sustain the historic theater as a venue that will educate, entertain and inspire the Big Island’s diverse community.

Box office proceeds benefit the ongoing restoration of the beloved theater.