Icy cold dripping walls of an old fort surrounded by a damp and mossy moat, spider's webs dating back to ancient times, and a witches brew of rodents, rabbit's tails and other such creepy gore will all make up the Fort Hamilton Halloween Ball at Fort Hamilton.

The Ball, on October 29, and the Haunted Playground, a free event for children on October 27 and October 28, are being hosted by Volcanic.

All proceeds from the Fort Hamilton Halloween Party, formerly known as the Devil's Ball, will go to the Bermuda Society of Arts (BSoA).

Volcanic partners Jon Legere and Matthew Strong said the new venture is a movement under LAVA and the primary aim is to support all forms of art and to bring people together.

"In response to Bermuda's need for cultural and entertainment events of a global high quality, Volcanic Productions present the Fort Hamilton Halloween Ball at Fort Hamilton," said Mr. Legere.

"We aim to provide a creative positive environment geared to young professionals whilst creating an outlet for Bermudian artists and performers to showcase their talent.

"We want to create links between the arts community and those whom would not otherwise be exposed to that environment, in order to draw together Bermuda's increasingly cosmopolitan subcultures.

"This is an event to raise funds and awareness for the Bermuda Society of Arts. A proportion of the proceeds will help sponsor the children's community event; The Haunted Playground."

Mr. Legere said everyone involved in the Haunted Playground is volunteering their time.

"We kind of started with the Devil's Ball (now the Fort Hamilton Halloween Ball) and we were going to do this Haunted Tour through the moat and that is really beautiful.

"People were asking whether we were a charity, but it is like, 'no, we are not a charity we are a production company and we are putting this on for children for free'. So, in that sense it is charitable, but we are not a charity."

The Haunted Playground is for all children aged between five and 11 years-old who come with adult supervision. The events begin at the Fort at 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.

This particular event was designed to be fun, with an educational component about Fort Hamilton.

"No one really knows about the Fort and a friend of ours worked at the Maritime Museum and she has given us some information on that," said Mr. Legere and Mr. Strong.

"Also my sister volunteered there and schools are saying with the new seatbelt laws it is hard to do class trips. We are getting positive response from the schools who are saying this is great ? there is an educational element and it's fun.

"We have also had a great response from the community for the Haunted Playground, it is something that we want to go really smoothly as, it is something that we want to build on for years to come.

"We want this to become 'the annual Halloween event' for all ages."

Along with the festivities there will be competitions with prizes up for grabs for the Best Dressed Boy and Girl.

"The prize for those will be toys and we are getting sponsors for that," said Mr. Strong. "We will be giving them some candy afterwards, we don't want to give them apples ? when I was a kid, I wanted candy."

But children do not think for a moment that you are going for an easy walk in the park, where things "might" pop out at you, or that you "might" see a ghost or someone in a witches hat.

"After you have gone through the windy lane that leads to Fort Hamilton," said Mr. Legere. "You will be led across the drawbridge ? where God only knows what you will find ? and then you'll be led down for a haunted tour of the moat.

"After you have been completely grossed out, you will ascend up 500 stairs, which have been cut out of the rock and that leads into the middle of the Fort. Once there ? or into what I call the Little Village area ? there will be all sorts of Halloween games and other things."

Essentially the Halloween Ball will follow a similar pathway, but the partners have warned that the Haunted Playground, by comparison, quite literally is a walk in the park.

"Guests will be greeted with a cup of witch's brew to help them on their journey through the underworld," they said while smiling devilishly.

"This journey will take them on a tour through the historical Fort's moat, underground passageways and chilling catacombs.

"If they manage to make their way back up to the world of the living, they will be serenaded by the creative Chewstick band and Friends.

"Then just as the moon peaks in the blackened sky, guests will spend the rest of the Ball bedazzled by the sounds of The Butcha, a NYC DJ, and the Calisthenics will entertain with a serious mix of tunes and entertainment from the darker side.

"Surviving patrons should expect rock, reggae, funk and house to shake their bones to, while enjoying stunning views of the City of Hamilton and sipping Halloween cocktails."

There will be performances in the Haunted village and here is where they can relive childhood with Halloween favourites such as apple bobbing, fortune telling, pumpkin carving and the scariest scream etc.

Simply put, costumes are a must, said the organisers.

"There are costume prizes in the following categories; best male, best female, best group, most creative, and most humorous. We have brought in some costumes and we don't have any tailors as yet, but most of the volunteers are coming up with their own costumes.

"There is a website www.fantasycostumes.com and they take about a week to deliver. In town there is the Annex, People's Pharmacy, Toy's 'N' Stuff and Jackson School of Arts, which as well as costumes also has a great selection of wigs.

"We do encourage people to get their costumes soon, as if someone came without one, they would be the odd one out."

Dress to impress ? wicked prizes will be awarded to those who make the effort. Categories include, Best Female Costume, Best Male, and Best Group.

The event will be adorned with jack o' lanterns from the pumpkin carving competition. Contestants can drop them by the Fort on Wednesday, October 26 between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. or before 5 p.m. on Thursday October 27.

Participants should include contact name and details. There will be prizes in several categories including best amateur and professional artists.

Mr. Strong said Mr. Legere was always into the arts and he into the sciences.

"I had some involvement, but Jon always had the New Year's Eve parties at and to raise funds for the Bermuda Music and Dramatic Society (BMDS)," Mr. Strong said.

"It is one of their larger fundraisers of the year. So there has always been a desire to promote the arts ? and that is what Volcanic is all about. We actually wanted to help the BSoA, as we are members, and it was just one of those things. We are dedicated to the fine arts at the BSoA."

Mr. Legere compared this fundraising venture to that of the Unit? Group (The White Party).

"We think it is great that all these things are going on and the synergy between the groups," he said. "It is bringing people together and it is so important with this racial divide.

"I think, more importantly, the younger generation of Bermuda needs to show the older generation that we are a lot more unified than they think. We just need to hang out and realise that we have so much in common ? it should really be a diverse crowd and that will be great."

Remember to arrive early enough to be led on a tour through the devil's underground inferno which promises to make you soul shiver something sweet.

"There is a lot to do on that night and it is good that people have options, but I think what is really great about our location is that it is creepy and the presence is very fitting for Halloween.

"I hope that when people are making their decision on where to go ? they take this into consideration. It is a once in a year event, which is truly haunting.

"We have done our research as far as horror and slasher films, so I think the mood will be right. It is something that we have a passion for."

Volunteers from the art's community are helping out where ever they can.

"Actors are taking on characters and providing stalls and support," they said.

"We are really excited. I love Halloween and I love the fact that everyone gets dressed up," added Mr. Legere. "Everyone looses their inhibitions and the party is always more fun," said Mr. Strong, "Everyone dances, because everyone is hidden.

"We want to encourage people attending the Ball that whether they are 18 or 65, no one is going to know. Come and hang out and have a great time. There will be tons of security and if you can't secure a Fort, what can you do?"

Join the undead for a night of festivities at Fort Hamilton. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the Haunted Tour ends at 11 p.m.

Possible patrons are being advised not to procrastinate as they are not allowed to sell tickets on the gate and also there is a limited number of tickets.

Tickets $35 can only be purchased in advance at The Edge, LAVA, Jackson School of Dance and online at www.Boxoffice.bm. Spread the word, the more souls the better. Parking can be found in the King Street parking lot. Fort Hamilton Halloween Ball 8 p.m. ? 1 a.m.