Do not enter the tunnels at any time other than the allotted time for this event. Do not enter without a tour guide.
CCNY’s underground tunnels are the subject of much fascination for HSMSE students, with many wondering what lies within them. The tunnels were built in 1906, along with most of the older, Gothic-style buildings on campus. They originally connected Townsend Harris Hall, Compton-Goethals Hall, and Shepard Hall, and were used for convenient passage between the buildings. Tons of colleges feature similar tunnels, some of which are still in use by students and faculty alike, but the CCNY tunnels have been dormant for years. Due to their closure to the public in 1969 and a lack of information online, they’re the subject of much mystery. Some tours are offered if you’re interested, but at a cost, which is where the annual CCNY ScareFest comes in!
Scarefest is a one-night-only event that has taken place on Halloween night every year since 2018 (with virtual tours during COVID years). It was originally pitched by one of the Vice Presidents of CCNY, Dee Dee Mozeleski, as a way to bring Halloween spirit into CCNY and bring the Harlem community together. Every year, students from the theater department transform the tunnels with over-the-top Halloween decor and lead spooky tours in groups of ten. It’s a relatively large event, with over 1,000 people having attended in 2022, which makes it a great opportunity for students to take control of a big project. They get to apply their skills by frightening the eager participants, building intricate sets, and essentially organizing the entire event. It’s free for anyone who wants to go, not just CCNY students, though it is on a first-come, first-served basis. Different activities have also been held throughout the event’s history, including a silent disco, an adults-only costume contest, and visits to the gargoyle graveyard.
The seventh annual Scarefest, titled Evil’s Embrace, will take place from 4:00 to 10:00 p.m. (family hours are from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m.) on October 31st, with the entrance on the ground floor of the NAC. Not much information is available yet on what the event will feature, except for a poster and short blurb on their website, but this is no different to how it’s been in the past. The main event will be the same, but there’s still much mystery around the specific activities. It is likely that certain things may be repeated, such as the silent disco, which has made appearances for multiple years, but who knows what else they’ll do. Will they still hand out goodies? Will they do another pumpkin-carving contest? Will they do something entirely new? You’ll have to go for yourself to find out!