Clint Pharris looks at a tombstone at his haunted trail in Cherokee Falls, made for his annual Halloween party. With visions of 9/11 fresh in their minds, parents were not too sure about allowing their children to go door-to-door for Halloween eight years ago.

Among those concerned was Cherokee Falls resident Clint Pharris, who found it difficult to answer his children when asked what the family’s plans were for the unofficial holiday.

“There were a lot of questions by a lot of parents in the area that year,” Pharris said. “The safety of our kids is our first priority. But to tell them we would have to cancel Halloween for their safety would have been tough.”

Instead of panicking, the local man did the next best thing, bringing the party to his front step.

Utilizing the heavily wooded area around his property, Pharris built a trail littered with sink holes, ghosts and ghouls all in an effort to give children the scare of their lives — yet live to tell about it.

Pharris is inviting families to the “thrill of a lifetime,” as the local man hosts his annual Halloween party on Saturday.

Beginning at 7 p.m., children will have the opportunity to play games and get their fill on candy and prizes. Costume and dance contests are also part of the event’s slate of activities.

The party is free of charge.

“The kids enjoy coming, but I don’t know who gets more of a kick out of this, me or the kids,” Pharris joked.

Supposed to be a short-term fix to ease to concerns of parents within Cherokee Falls, the pre-Halloween extravaganza has turned into an event families look forward to each year within the community.

“The first year we had about 20 children come,” Pharris said. “We’ve steadily grown each year, with us reaching an all-time high last year with over 300 kids.”

He is expecting far more this year, being informed of the party through invitations by mail or text message.

“My wife’s a little scared of how many we might see this year,” Pharris said. “I think it’s the fact that she doesn’t know an exact number that frightens her the most.”

Growth is good, but comes at a cost. The party has become more expensive each year as the crowd has continued to grow, with Pharris asking local businesses for help.

As the local man said, it’s always good to have friends.

“Without the help of sponsors, it’s unlikely that this event would go on; whether it’s money, hay, or food, they’re there to help,” Pharris said. “Some write a check without me asking, which is a blessing.”

The event will take place at 589 Peeler Road in Cherokee Falls. For more information, call Pharris at (864) 812-7234.