Haunted Barn VA Volunteers

10/26/2025

Thank you to all the Haunted Barn Volunteers. It’s YOU who make this event a success and we appreciate you more than words can express!

10/26/2025

💜 Thank You, Haunted Barn Volunteers! 💜

We want to give a huge thank-you to everyone who came out and worked at this year’s Haunted Barn! Your hard work, creativity, and energy made the event an incredible success.

The Haunted Barn is Diamonds in the Rough Equine Rescue’s largest fundraiser of the year, and without your help, we simply couldn’t continue to rehabilitate, feed, and care for the horses who come to us in need.

From the amazing actors who brought each scene to life, to the crew who managed guests, handled logistics, and kept everything running smoothly—you all showed true talent, dedication, and teamwork.

Because of your efforts, more horses will have a second chance at life. 🐴💜

Thank you for being such an important part of the Diamonds in the Rough family. We hope to see you all at the Haunted Barn again next year!

Ericka McKellar
The Haunted Barn & DITR Team

(PS: Please share your pictures or send them to me and I will add 🤩🤡🎃)

10/24/2025

Can’t wait to see you all tonight and tomorrow for our final weekend of the Haunted Barn! Don’t forget your water bottle and flashlight!

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Juez6iGUV/?mibextid=wwXIfr

10/18/2025

Can’t wait to see everyone tonight in their costumes and ready to put on a great show! Remember to arrive around 6 ready to scare, bring a water bottle and flashlight, and no white shoes (they glow in the black light). If you have any friends you want to bring along, we have plenty of room for additional actors. See you soon! It’s going to be an awesome night!

10/11/2025

Hello Haunted Barn Team and thanks for an amazing opening night! With the forecast looking like it is, we’re gonna go ahead and call it tonight so we don’t get people out on the roads. We will pick back up strong next weekend at the Haunted Barn and Hayride! If you haven’t completed an application & waiver and want to participate, you can find it at the link below.
Thank you again!
To participate: www.Adoptditr.com/hauntedbarn-volunteer
For tickets and info: www.Adoptditr.com/hauntedbarn or www.hauntedbarnva.com

10/07/2025

I have had questions come in about who is eligible to volunteer to support a group in the Haunted Barn Volunteer Challenge - the answer is everyone! Bring your friends, family, neighbors and besties- the more the merrier! When a participant checks in each night, they simply confirm that they are part of your group. It’s not too late to join the fun - volunteer registrations are accepted on a continuous basis up to the last night of the event! Good luck and see you soon!🎃

10/07/2025

Haunted Barn Volunteers – Opening Night This Friday! 👻

Hey everyone! The wait is almost over. This Friday is Opening Night for the Haunted Barn! 🕸️

If you haven’t already done so, please take a minute to:
👉 Fill out your waiver and mark your available nights here:
https://www.adoptditr.com/hauntedbarn-volunteer
Then click on the waiver button.

If you haven’t heard from me yet, I’ll be in touch today or tomorrow to confirm your costume and location.

Important reminders for all volunteers:
🕕 Arrive dressed to scare by 6:00 PM.
🔦 Bring a flashlight and water bottle
🚫 No white shoes (they glow under the black lights!)
👥 If you’re part of a Volunteer Challenge group, be sure to tell me so your time counts toward your team total. Check in & check out will be in front of the Haunted Barn.
💀 Volunteer parking is in the field at the front of the Haunted Barn (not in general parking area.)

New this year! 🎟️
Every volunteer will receive one raffle ticket per night worked. We’ll draw prizes on November 1st!
(No need to be present — winners will be notified and I’ll coordinate drop-offs.)

🍫 At check-in, you’ll also get a concession request form so your treats will be ready for pickup after the event each night.

🐴 Special Surprise Announcement!
We’re thrilled to share that the Virginia Beach Mounted Patrol will be joining us on Friday, October 24th — and they’re bringing their horses to help scare alongside us! Don’t miss this unforgettable night of frights and fun! 👮‍♂️🐎

We appreciate every single one of you — your support helps provide much-needed care for rescued horses through Diamonds in the Rough Equine Rescue. ❤️

If you need anything, feel free to DM, call, or text me. Can’t wait to see everyone in full scare mode starting this Friday!
~Ericka (757) 812-5185~

Volunteer for the Haunted Barn

09/27/2025

Good morning! Just a quick reminder that we will be having our volunteer meeting this morning at 10:00AM to prepare for the Haunted Barn!

We will be covering:
✅ Volunteer placement & roles
✅ Rules and safety updates
✅ New changes since last year
✅ Walk-through of the Haunted Barn and hearse path

We’ll meet at the front of the DITR barn to go over agenda items, then head inside to run through where everyone will be scaring. Please come prepared with any questions you may have! If you haven't already done so, please be sure your Volunteer Waiver has been completed online. See you soon!

09/23/2025

Good evening, everyone! Ericka McKellar will be having a Haunted Barn volunteer meeting this coming Saturday at 10:00AM to prepare for our upcoming event. I have a great feeling that our fourteenth year doing the HB is going to be bigger and better than ever! Please be sure to attend so we can go through placement, rules, and any other new changes that have been made since last year.

We will meet at the front of the DITR barn to discuss agenda items then make our way into the Haunted Barn and along the hearse path to run through where everyone will be scaring! Thank you for being committed to helping with this huge undertaking of an event! Even though we may all be different in our own ways, we choose to come together each October to share our passion for one thing...supporting the horses at DITR!🐴 We couldn't do it without you and look forward to seeing you there!

09/23/2025

🌟 Volunteer Spotlight: Carol Long 🌟

Meet Carolyn Long, one of our longest-serving and most dedicated Haunted Barn volunteers!

Carol has been part of the Diamonds in the Rough Rescue family for 15 years. A lifelong animal lover and retired Virginia Beach bus driver of 32 years, she first connected with DITR through her friendship with trainer Bob Hennessy, who taught her how to desensitize and gentle horses. Carol spent countless hours working on the ground with rescues and now passes these lessons on to other volunteers as a mentor, always eager to share what she’s learned.

Not long after joining, Carol poured her creativity into helping grow the Haunted Barn, transforming it year after year into the immersive experience our community loves today. To this day, she continues to dream up spooky fun from the moment guests arrive by decorating the main driveway, crafting the Haunted Hearse path, and even writing the storytelling script she shares with visitors each night. 🎃

Along the way, Carol found her heart horse, CJ, an Arabian-cross she trained from a fiery 4-year-old into the gentle, child-loving companion he is today.

Carol says she’s proud of all she’s learned, the horses she’s helped adopt out, and the memories she’s built through Diamonds in the Rough Rescue. We’re proud of her too because the Haunted Barn wouldn’t be what it is without her imagination, mentorship, and tireless dedication.

Thank you, Carol, for 15 years of passion, creativity, and leadership! 👏