This year there has been a lot of hype about the Halloween season. With hype, comes hoaxes, and this year we have one that has stretched across New England and beyond. Every year, we are expected to see new things, whether trends, or milestones, that make Halloween a scary day whether you celebrate the holiday or not.

Here are The Top 5 scariest things about Halloween this season:

**Warning, there are scary clowns (#3)

5. Haunted Attractions

Everywhere you go, you will be sure to find a Halloween attraction. Out in Western Mass, there are haunted hayrides and mazes. Where I grew up, in Eastern Mass, there are plenty of Haunted Houses. Then in the cities, there are haunted museums, haunted tours, and down by the coast, haunted ships. Amusement parks, like Six Flags and Canobie Lake Park, get in on the fun. Screemfest at Canobie Lake, and Fright Fest at Six Flags, are great places to go to get scared and have a blast.

4. Spooky Weather

As the weather cools down, chances are that the nights will

become more eerie. The temperature drops down, nocturnal animals leave their homes, and wind blows the trees, making noises that seem unexplainable. Then, when it pours, you don’t feel like leaving the warm, safe comfort of your home. In Westfield over the last few days, it has been extremely windy. This has caused doors to open, close, or move on their hinges as the wind moved through our buildings. It is creepy to hear these noises, especially when close to Halloween.

3. America's Obsession

Pumpkin Spice Latte! I swear, some people would chop their

right arm off for a lifetime supply of the stuff. Dunkin Donuts is a God send to New Englanders, and when they have themed drinks, like Pumpkin Spice Lattes, they are sure to be in for a treat. College students all hurry in to buy theirs, then post a picture of it to their social media. Their addiction to the flavored drink is incredible, and the obsession is almost scary. Imagine working at a Dunks on, or near, a college campus the first day you get the Pumpkin Spice Latte; then imagine all of the students rushing in at once to order their very first one of the season. It has to be like a mini Black

Friday.

2. Clowns

The clown hoax has taken New England by storm. There are

people who dress up in clown costumes and lurk near college campuses, schools, and other public areas to creep people out. They even will sometimes chase certain people. Towns have started to ban citizens from wearing clown costumes since so many families and children are scared. I don’t blame the kids who are terrified; if I knew that some guy in a clown suit was walking around my town at random times and stalking people, I would not be happy.

1. This Year's Election

This year’s election is unlike any other seen before in the history of elections. During the debates, the candidates bickered and insulted each other. They also usually either begrudgingly shook hands, or didn’t at all, at the beginning, and end, of each debate. Trump is a candidate with no professional background in politics, which is new, and he is different from the usual conservative Republican candidates. Hillary was nearly indicted over the destroying of important government emails and is the first female presidential nominee. Both are not the cream of the crop, and there has been a lot of backlash from both parties. There are highly conservative Democrats and Republicans who have decided to vote for the candidate of the opposite party; and there are third party candidates who are believed, by their supporters, to have a chance (though their chance this time is better than it has been in the history of most elections).

So far, this Halloween season seems to be shaping up. There is plenty of terror in store for all of those who wish to seek it. It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.