On the evening of October 29th at the Youth Center on Minot Air Force Base, families and youth gathered for the annual Halloween event known as SpookyCon. The event, which ran from 6-8 PM, offered a line of sponsors with candy and treats, carnival‑style games, inflatable activities and a haunted house experience featuring a zombie graveyard, a surgical room, and quite a few scary Minot High cheerleaders.
Among the many offerings that evening, the base’s Keystone Club stepped up to run a snack bar to help raise funds for their upcoming trip to a national leadership conference in Florida. According to announcements posted by the Youth Center, Keystone Club members sold hot dogs, chips and juice for $3 each.
The snack bar fundraiser served a dual purpose: it provided guests a convenient meal at the event and it also offered the youth members of Keystone an opportunity to hone real‑life leadership and fundraising experience. By staffing the snack bar, handling transactions, serving customers and promoting the items, members engaged in a hands-on project aligned with their leadership development goals. The funds they collect will support their travel and participation in the National Keystone Conference in Orlando, Florida, a major event for youth in the organization focused on leadership, service and networking.
Hosting SpookyCon on base gives children, teens and their families a safe, organized environment in which to enjoy the Halloween season. The Youth Center’s promotion of the event prioritized family‑friendly activities during the first half of the evening, but later had the haunted house ramped up a little for the older kids looking for a scare, if they dare.
For the Keystone Club members, the funds raised at SpookyCon represent an essential step toward making that trip possible. From greeting guests to managing sales and coordinating supplies, the members’ involvement strengthened their ownership of the project and enriched their experience beyond simply purchasing a snack.
As the night concluded, organizers and volunteers alike noted the energy, enthusiasm and positive feedback from attendees. The success of this year’s SpookyCon underscores the strength of base community programming: bringing together families, youth leadership development and seasonal fun all in one event. For the youngsters and families who participated at SpookyCon, they not only enjoyed the fun and games, but also created lasting memories and experienced spooky thrills that will carry far beyond that one night.
