The Oak Harbor Boys and Girls Club is sending in the clowns. But instead of juggling and the usual light-hearted shenanigans, they will do something more terrifying. The clowns are joining the zombies, witches and dentists that will scare the wits out of people in honor of Halloween.

The Boys and Girls Club is holding its annual haunted house beginning Friday, Oct. 26 and going through Halloween night, Oct. 31.

The clowns are just some of the surprises that will be lurking in the darkened nooks and crannies of the Roller Barn basement, which is the traditional home of Frightville, currently in its seventh year.

“You’re getting a good deal plus it’s a good haunted house,” said Brian Boyle, one of the volunteers who is designing and building this year’s Frightville.

The group started brainstorming in late September to come up with new ideas. Volunteers had used the clown theme several years ago. Boyle said he wanted to incorporate some kind of doll room this year. But he didn’t find the space. Maybe that’ll happen next year.

“Clowns and dolls always scare people,” Boyle said.

In addition to the red rubber nosed clowns, there will be a dentist room, a zombie bar, and a spiked room plus the traditional cornfield and graveyard that are always popular parts of a haunted house.

Around 10 people have been supplying the manpower to build the haunted house. But a lot more are needed to don makeup and work the haunted house during the days it is open to the public.

Boys and Girls Club board member Duncan Chalfant said between 25 and 30 volunteers are needed for each showing of Frightville, but there is room for 40 people to help.

Frightville is a popular fund-raiser for the Oak Harbor Boys and Girls Club. Last year, the club raised approximately $4,000.

“We’d like to raise even more this year,” Chalfant said.

He said there will be more guides working this year to help escort people past the terror. That way it will shorten the long lines that form when Frightville is open.

The haunted house aims to attract horror lovers from all over Whidbey and Fidalgo islands. Boys and Girls Club members from the neighboring clubs are invited to the opening night. If they bring their club cards they get in for free. Not a bad price for seeing the dentist.