Old Cary Elementary School will be transformed Saturday, Oct. 28, into a “freaky carnival,” haunted classrooms, a spooky hospital and much more as the Town of Cary presents its first Haunted House event.

Co-produced by Applause! Cary Youth Theatre and Jordan Hall Arts Center, the Haunted House has been created by kids, for kids. Twenty local youth participated in Fright School, a six-week program sponsored by the town. Fright School was led by town employees Rachel Green, Lyman Collins and Lisa Honeycutt, as well as Meredith College professor James Cuthrell and nine students from his stage crafts class who are participating as part of Meredith’s service learning program. Each leader is quick to point out that this event is more than just building a haunted house, it is a theater production with a story outline, set production, costume design and character development.

“It’s been a really empowering learning experience for (the participants),” Green said. “Their work is going to be showcased for the community.”

The Cary Teen Council will host events for younger children from 5 to 6:30 p.m. that include a “not-so-scary” tour, refreshments, games and a costume parade. Truly “spine-chilling” Haunted House tours for older children take place from 7 to 9 p.m. No refreshments or games will be offered during that time.

Fright School was open to youth ages 9 to 18, but Collins said it drew more from the younger end. The median age is about 12, Green said.

On Saturday, they’ll meet for the last time before the event to put on all the last-minute touches and get the Haunted House ready for the public.

Ian O’Gorman, 14, will play a scary doctor in the “hospital room.” Over the weeks, he has worked behind the scenes to help set up the different scary rooms, while he also developed his own “doctor” character.

Ian said he has most enjoyed meeting other kids and experiencing the teamwork that’s gone into creating the finished product.

“That’s really what it’s all about, I think,” he said.

Meanwhile, Maggie Gleason, 10, Quinn Jenkins, 11, and Emma Lux, 10, worked to create three haunted schoolrooms including a front office, detention room and cafeteria. But they won’t give too much away — kids will have to come and be surprised.

“I don’t want to tell everyone everything,” Quinn said.

No prior experience with theater was required, though for many of the participants, theater was not a new venture. The spooky nature of this project, however, was new to many.

“Most us of do theater here,” Maggie said. “This is my first time with a haunted house.”