When it comes to Halloween, Susan Hay isn’t going to let a fire spoil the fun.

It wasn’t long after last year’s Conimicut Pumpkin Spook-tacular that all the games and costumes that went into staging the event were lost in a Thanksgiving eve fire that destroyed Woodbury Union Church Presbyterian. Undaunted and saying the community is even stronger, Hay has planned this year’s spook-tacular for Saturday, Oct. 26 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Friend’s Way parking lot in the village center. And Hay won’t let rain dampen the fun either. Should there be rain, the spook-tacular will move into St. Benedict Fr. Lawless Hall located in the basement of the former St. Benedict School behind the church.

Hay is asking people to bring their caved pumpkins to Friend’s Way from 2 to 4:30 p.m. on the day of the event. The pumpkins will be on display and people can pick them up at the end of the evening.

“Judging, that’s not what it’s about,” said Hay. Rather, than a competition the display is a show of community and local talent. She expects Boy Scout Troops 1 and 63 will bring along carved pumpkins, but by no means is this limited to kids. Everyone is welcome to bring their pumpkins.

A parishioner at Woodbury Union, Hay started the spook-tacular four years ago.

She’s getting a lot of assistance from Woodbury as well as co-sponsors Conimicut Village Association, Riverview Association, Sunbelt Rentals, Morris Farm, Friend’s Way and St. Benedict Church.

The village association is providing the candy for the trick or treaters while Riverview is making games. Both organizations are also helping out with cash donations.

“I have a great group of people to help,” said Hay, who estimated her band of volunteers at 20 people.

Hay said about 20 costumes have been provided to the Elizabeth Buffum Chace Center. Costumes are also being made available to families that need them.

As for activities, once again Hay is planning a scavenger hunt for people of all ages as well as games of skill and chance.

“We want kids to go and look at pumpkins, play some games and go home with some goodies,” she said.

Attendance has grown steadily since the first spook-tacular, even last year when rain forced people into Woodbury Union Church.

“It’s not like we have hundreds of people. It’s a nice flow every year,” she said.

No question the church fire put a crimp in things.

Immediately following the fire Father Robert Marciano made St. Benedict Church available to Woodbury for services and church supported activities such as the Boy Scouts and the village association. Hay said Woodbury membership has not waned since the faire and a few new families have joined the congregation. Reconstruction of the church is under way with the removal of burned walls last week. The hope is to have the work completed in time for Easter services next year.

Hay finds a positive from the fire.

“Even though it was devastating, it has brought the churches and the community together.” She sees the rebuilt Woodbury as “moving the church into the 21st Century.”

As for the spook-tacular, Hay sees it as bringing kids, families and individuals of all ages together.

“It doesn’t have to be a lonely night. It’s an event for everyone to enjoy,” she said.