Thread: Can you use public locations for your haunt? (legal ramifaciations, etc) Pls HELP!!!

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Hi everyone... looking to find out if anyone has experienced or can give me some advise on the following... We are doing a haunted hayride (thru town to a secluded riverside park, not a traditional park). We will be setting up a few scenes at a bar, museum and community center. The Musuem and community centers are not open at the time and we will just be outside of the buildings on the sidewalk & in the parking lot, while driving the hayride thru these areas. A narrator will be telling the ghost story. We will then be getting off the hayride at the park and doing several scenes and props thru the park and down by a small river with a huge bank and will have a fire and cider, hot cocoa there. The park is secluded & Wooded (Will not be causing any damages to the park), but open, until midnight. We will only be doing this from 6pm to 9pm at the very latest. Part of the park is owned by the city and the river is actually by the county. This is a free hayride for a club that we belong to and are putting it on for, but the club is not sponsering the event. Its just a bunch of individuals putting it on. What are the rules about parks, public parking lots, etc? I don't want the cops showing up, so we were going to inform them of the hayride and the haunted scenes. Because it is low key, we aren't getting insurance (not even sure who exactly we would insure), the public locations would have general liability insurance. None the less, we will be having the characters of the haunt and the riders sign a waiver, agreeing to ride at their own risk, waiving the right to seek any legal, medical & financial action towards city/county, individuals putting it on, the indviduals participating, club, etc. If you have done anything like this or have knowledge regarding this, please let me know! I don't want a night of fun and "horror" turning into a literal "horror!" Thanks!!

I'm no lawyer, but I pretend I know what I'm talking about.

I'm guessing that the rules will vary depending on which government entity owns the property and maybe depending on whether it's for profit or not. I understand you wanting to have you ducks in a row, but sometimes it's easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permision. It would be good to find out what the rules are and then decide whether or not to break them. If what you are doing is low-key, not for profit, not later than park hours (if there are any) and not annoying the neighbors, I wouldn't expect anyone to bother you.

Locally, there is a neighborhood group/community council that hosts a TOT in a public, city-owned park. It's usually before dusk and geared to the wee ones. Local businesses donate treats and neighbors set up scenes. Some folks have brought quiet generators and others have done a fire-juggling act. Don't know if everyone had necessary permits or not, but I'm sure the general event is sanctioned by the powers that be. So; it can be done.

I have arranged for historical reenactment events in public parks in the past and what is OK or not depends on a lot of different things. What are the park rules? What exactly are you planning? Contact the appropriate park department and ask what is and is not allowed. some of your props [fake weapons for example] may be prohibited. You may need to get a permit or something. this isn't really something we can answer here since every city/county/state has different rules governing the use of public parks. You know when the park is closed, and you know what parts of the park you want to use. That will help you get answers about other stuff. One major drawback of a public park is that it is public--you can't restrict access to other people even if it will screw up your event. PM me if you want some advice on specific questions. I'll give what help i can