Music Existence Because of Music, We Exist
This October, the legend of the Jersey Devil comes to life with the debut of SCARED IN JERSEY, the Northeast’s premier Halloween event, taking place every Thursday through Sunday throughout the month, plus Halloween night, at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ (dates listed below).
The multi-attraction event, presented by Live Nation, is the brainchild of industry veterans Artist Group International, SRae Productions and Blood Drums by Street Drum Corps. SCARED IN JERSEY features such attractions as the Pine Barren Maze, Mother Leeds’ Haunted Cottage, The Devil’s Midway and multiple live performances from Blood Drums nightly.
“As entertainers and producers working in the Halloween industry for over a decade, we feel confident that Scared In Jersey will give Halloween lovers and haunted attraction goers just what they need,” share the creators and founders of Blood Drums: Bobby Alt, Adam Alt and Frank Zummo. “We are looking forward to introducing you to the Jersey Devil and the story of his haunted legend!”
The legend of the Jersey Devil is not one for the faint of heart. Folklore claims that the Leeds family was an eccentric one: Mother Leeds was a witch and Father Leeds a drunkard, described as the Devil himself. Upon learning of the conception of her 13thchild, Mother Leeds exclaimed “let this one be a devil!” As the child grew in her belly, she knew her child would be a special one. Legends say that she purposely performed ghastly spells to ensure the Devil’s birth. On a dark and stormy night in October 1735, Mother Leeds went into labor. The birth was one of terrible struggle and a physician was called upon to aid the midwife. When the child was born, it was seemingly a perfectly healthy baby boy, but within minutes, much to Mother Leeds excitement, the child began to turn. The changeling suddenly sprouted horns; his head began to morph into that of a goat with terrible vampirish fangs; its feet formed into hooves as the fingers on its hands elongated and grew sharp claws; bat like wings began to expand from his back while a forked tail burst forth from his tailbone. The midwife stared in amazement as Mother Leeds began laughing hysterically at the creature she had just birthed. Suddenly, the changeling became aware of his surroundings and turned on the cottage’s inhabitants, taking out the midwife first, and then his father, by ripping their throats via its razor-sharp claws before finally turning on his mother, ripping her abdomen to shreds. After the murderous scene unfolded, the monster darted to the fire place and flew out the chimney to wreak havoc on the Pine Barrens area for centuries to come. The only witness to the Devil’s birth to survive was the physician; read his journal entry about it here.
Attendants of SCARED IN JERSEY will wind their way through a Pine Barrens-inspired maze–whose walls will be formed by large pine trees, branches and fallen leaves–where ghosts of 18th century victims and the Jersey Devil will frighten all that make their way through the winding paths. At Old Mother Leeds’ Cottage, an experiential theater style attraction, guests will experience the birth of the Jersey Devil while witnessing scenes played out in Mother Leeds’ residence. The Devil’s Midway experience is plagued with the ghosts of 18th century individuals that were attacked by the Devil himself. Attendants can buy food, purchase merchandise and engage with the victims of the Jersey Devil’s terrifying chilling attacks.
Tickets for SCARED IN JERSEY–taking place every Thursday through Sunday in October (October 5, 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)–are available now online via Ticketmaster.com and Live Nation.com, by phone at 800-745-3000 or at the venue box office starting at $25.
About Street Drum Corps:
Street Drum Corps is a world-renowned, high energy, drum and percussion show formed in Los Angeles in 2004 that performs on musical tours and a wide range of events. Founding members Bobby Alt, Adam Alt, and Frank Zummo had a vision to create something unique and unseen in the percussion world. Today, SDC has grown into a global movement with honorary members such as Tommy Lee, Adrian Young, Max Weinberg, Shannon Leto, Rob Bourdon, Jeremy Piven, Chad Smith, Matt Sorum, and Stephen Perkins.
