Bastyr University in Kenmore is preparing to serve up the scares again with their annual Haunted Trails event starting tonight.

This year’s theme is horror movies and student volunteers are hard at work setting up five distinct attractions – but it’s a labor of love.

“It’s like a giant party atmosphere,” volunteer Chiaya Sherman said. “That we earn money towards our study abroad program is just the cherry on the sundae”

Proceeds from the event go towards tuition and study abroad vouchers for students who participate in the event. Tickets are $20 a piece, and with around 2,000 people expected during Haunted Trails’ two weekends, it amounts to a hefty chunk of change put towards students’ education.

“The sole purpose is to raise money for the students,” event coordinator Lily Isaacson said, as well as providing a way for students to engage with visitors.

“It’s a great way to meet people,” she said. “I get to see a lot of faces and hear lots of excitement around the community.”

Daniel Rose is a third-year student at Bastyr.

“A lot of different people really put their heart into it,” he said. “It’s also great fun to scare people.”

Students will be dressed up as characters from various horror movies including “IT,” “The Mummy,” “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” and “Hostel.”

Isaacson is working on what she describes as a giant spider with eight-foot long legs, which she hopes will terrify guests on the trail section of the event.

The path starts by winding its way through woodland trails in sprawling Saint Edward State Park before ushering thrill-seekers through a mummy tomb, a ‘Texas’ barbecue, a clown tent and finally a labyrinth.

Isaacson said the event keeps students entertained well beyond the the two weekends.

“You see them throughout the year, and you’re like ‘You were the mummy,’ or ‘You were the giant spider,’” she said.

Bastyr’s Haunted Trails runs Oct. 16-17 and again Oct. 23-24.

Kenmore Self Storage will also be putting on a Fall Festival from 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 24 where participants can go on a self-guided tour through The Haunted Halls.

For those with young kids, Country Village in Bothell and the businesses in downtown Bothell will host trick-or-treating on Halloween.