The setting and location of Wildwood Cultural Center tucked away in a wooded area in Mentor with trails along the grounds is a perfect setting for a Halloween event. During the daylight hours, kids can have as many thrills if not more than those seeking a few chills after dark at the Mysteries of the Manor festival. The popular two-day fall event offered a family-friendly experience on the grounds of the historic Wildwood Cultural Center from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Oct. 25 and Oct. 26. A graveyard represented by local businesses stood outside Wildwood Cultural Center in Mentor as part of the Mysteries of the Manor on Oct. 26. (William Tilton – News-Herald) The just-scary-enough Kids Fright Zone featured a peewee area for those 5-and-under. Haunted games, inflatables, dancing, glowsticks, vendors and a visit to the Haunted Wildwood Manor estate including the indoor Wildwood ‘O’ gauge train display in the craft room were available. Food trucks were onsite as well. Painesville resident Katie Bateman and her 2-year-old daughter Mariam wasted no time taking advantage of the cool, but sun-splashed afternoon, enjoying the child’s ball pit in the large area set aside for games, vendors and inflatables. “It is a beautiful day and I think Wildwood does a great job of maximizing the chance for kids to play and enjoy this event as well,” Bateman said. Two-year old Frankie Lazar enjoys the inflatable slide at the Mysteries of the Manor festival at Wildwood Cultural Center in Mentor on Oct. 26. (William Tilton – News-Herald) Also getting started prior to the 2 p.m. was 3-year-old Frankie Lazar of Willowick, who was getting a workout on the inflatable giant slide. Michelle Lazar said they have been coming since Frankie was 10 months old and the event just keeps growing and getting better. “All the employees here are super friendly and they keep building it up and we love it,” Lazar said. The Mysteries of the Manor Trail Golf Cart Hayride, a feature added in 2020 on the suggestion of recreation coordinator Heather Zimmerman, allowed families to view the sights and sounds of the spooky manor trail which features over 12 decorated haunted stops with live actors and props. Golf cart tickets were $18 each for residents and $20 each for non-residents. Kids 1-and-under rode for free. Mentor Parks and Recreation Director Kenneth Kaminski said the Mysteries of the Manor festival at Wildwood Cultural Center is one of the more popular events of the year. “Our Kids Fright Zone is designed to delight our younger visitors, with just the right amount of spooky excitement. It’s the perfect way for families to create lasting memories together,” Kaminski said. “From haunted games and inflatables to our enchanting golf cart hayride, there’s something for everyone at this festival.” Golf carts are lined up at Wildwood Cultural Center ready to take customers around the haunted trails as part of Mysteries of the Manor in Mentor on Oct. 26. (William Tilton – News-Herald) “This is one of the great events that Wildwood puts on throughout the year, we are very pleased to have such a great asset for the community,” he added. Wildwood Facility Manager Linda Wintersteller agreed with Kaminski that the event is one of the more popular at the center and is something they take plenty of feedback on and start planning for the following year before the current year’s festival is complete. “We started planning for 2025 on (Oct. 25),” Wintersteller said. “It is also important to note that you can’t put something like this on without our wonderful volunteers and the help of the rec department. It is not just Wildwood and we all work hard to make it something families can enjoy.” Wintersteller said about 1,700 tickets were sold for the event, but people could also pay a $5 fee to just enjoy the area with vendors and bounce houses and not go on the golf cart ride. Zimmerman said it is important for the event to stay current and listen to what the families in attendance want more of. “One of our main goals is to pay attention to what is going on,” Zimmerman said. “It is important to know where things are heading and to keep up.”