Welcome to GAME, where the latest research in genetics is conducted.Here at the Genetically Altered Molecular Engineering facility the company prides itself in uncovering and creating the most advanced genetics research to help humanity.Please have a seat in our reception area and one of our doctors will be with you shortly.The lights go out.A voice comes over the PA system. “Alert. Containment breach.”It’s just darkness with flashing lights. Long dark hallways with doctors’ doors. Frightening situations are on the horizon.When people walk into GAME’s The Facility, the newest Halloween creation by Island Haunt Productions at the Vancouver Island Exhibition fairgrounds, they’re in for a scare.“It’s the thrill. If you don’t get that scare at Halloween time you don’t know when you are going to get it,” said Jolynn Mears, senior scarer for Island Haunt Productions, about why people attend the event every year.She describes The Facility as a mix between Resident Evil and World War Z. Mears said watching a scary movie or going through a haunt makes people think of the possibility of things happening.“It’s like if people watch scary movies and you think, what if that happens in real life,” said Mears.People should expect mutants to lunge from the darkness and to walk through dark corridors and on uneven floors.“There are some pretty good scare spots,” said Mears.Mears said people come to the haunt annually because the volunteers change it every year. The Facility runs Oct. 27-31, 7-9 p.m. and admission is $10. The haunt isn’t recommended for children under 13. If parents are concerned, Mears suggest they go through to determine if it is suitable for their children.Island Haunt’s event at the fairgrounds is just one of many people can attend. The Nanaimo Museum is sharing grisly axe-murder and ghost stories on its Lantern Tour. The tour is Friday (Oct. 30), 6:30-8 p.m.; space is limited.“We’ve explored some of the darker themes of history we don’t usually go into on the regular tours,” said Aimee Greenaway, museum interpretation curator.Until Oct. 31, the Nanaimo Museum’s coal mine display will be haunted with an alien theme to celebrate the season and artifacts related to Brother XII will be on display.Scary times are invading downtown with the Downtown Business Improvement Association’s Halloween Howl. The howl is 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. A Halloween craft area runs at Diana Krall Plaza, 11 a.m. to noon and kids can trick or treat at downtown businesses from noon to 2 p.m. The Queen’s Hotel hosts a free haunted house event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and a pet costume parade starts at the Old City Quarter and goes to the plaza. Library story time starts at 2 p.m. and the master pumpkin carver starts at 3 p.m. Makeup artist Max Dowie will also give two people a live makeover at the plaza during the howl.reporter2@nanaimobulletin.com