A creepy cemetery scene took over the Sunset Empire Park & Recreation District's Youth Center during the annual Thriller haunted house event last year, one of Seaside's signature Halloween happenings.

Kids are invited to break out their costumes a week early. The Sunset Empire Park & Recreation District is giving the community a jump-start on celebrating Halloween with the annual Sunset Thriller and Fall Fun Fest on Oct. 24.

The thriller will take over the Sunset Pool and Seaside Youth Center from 6 to 9 p.m. with scenes involving zombies, creepy clowns, a mad doctor’s laboratory and Dracula’s living room, among others.

Dozens of volunteers, primarily high school students, will dress in costumes to play roles in the scary scenes. Additionally, the students will assist in handing out fliers prior to the event and setting up and tearing down sets the day of the event.

“They’re a super, super important part of this,” said Grace Smith, the district’s fitness and special events coordinator.

At the nearby Broadway Middle School’s cafeteria, the carnival begins at 5 p.m. with games, activities, a cakewalk and costume contest. The contest will be judged at 7 p.m. during the carnival and includes five age categories: children up to age 3; 4- to 6-year-olds; 7- to 9-year-olds; 10- to 12-year-olds; and 13-year-olds and older. A themed backdrop will be set up at the cafeteria for families to use in taking photos.

Smith said both the carnival and the thriller will be “pretty much the same format” as previous years. Last year, the district moved the annual event to the Saturday before Halloween, instead of the holiday itself. The date change seemed to work well — about 600 people attended, although the district received mixed reviews — so the district decided to keep it the Saturday before Halloween again this year, Smith said.

“On actual Halloween, people often want to go trick-or-treating or do things as a family,” she said.

Also, holding the event the Saturday before Halloween makes it easier to get volunteer help.

The cost is $2 per person or two cans of food, to be donated to the South Clatsop County Food Bank. A ticket gets patrons into both events and may be purchased at either location.

Sunset Pool will be closed Oct. 24 so staff can prepare. For more information, call 503-738-3311 or visit www.sunsetempire.com.