Dancing penguins, cotton candy, moon-bouncing and a cheerfully frightening jaunt through the woods are just some of the festivities that took place this past weekend at Burke Lake Park. Parents and their children reveled in the merriment of the annual Ghost Train Ride.

“It’s great wholesome fun and it’s great to see the kids with cotton candy all over their faces.” said Robert Chesshir, a volunteer.

The train ride has been chugging along the spook-filled woods for more than 30 years thanks to Northern Virginia Community College’s Department of Recreation, Parks, and Leisure Services (RPK). It traverses on 1.75 mile long loop through the haunted woods adorned with characters from children’s favorite fables and movies such as Scooby-Doo, the Ninja Turtles, Bob the Builder, Winnie The Pooh, The Three Little Pigs and Dr. Seuss.

“It’s sort of satire skits on children’s movies, fables, characters that young people would recognize. The goal is ages 2-10,” said Nancy Chamberlain, the assistant dean of RPK and leader of the event for the past 13 years. She donned a Raggedy Ann costume as part of last weekend’s festivities.

The train ride also offers spookier, yet friendly, features. For example, the train enters an illuminated tunnel filled with lighted skeletons, along with witches scurrying about. The ride is filled with pumpkins coming to life and handing out tasty treats while penguins dance around.

Furthermore, riders can enjoy the festivities while raising money for certain charities all made possible by the RPK program at Northern Virginia Community College. "It's a program in planning special events," said Chamberlain, "and every year we raise money for something. One year the donations went to Sports Illustrated for the Katrina Relief Program to build playgrounds. This year the donations will go the Wounded Warrior Project.”

Chamberlain said that the train ride raises about $1,000-$3,000 every year, and a quarter of a million dollars ever since she’s been involved.

“It's a lot of fun,” said Christina Swann, a volunteer and RPK student. “Lots of little kids with their costumes, everyone is so happy and perky."

On the crisp autumn day, it was the perfect way to enjoy the bustling atmosphere filled with Halloween-lovers and trick-or-treaters. The train ride runs again this weekend on Saturday, Oct 31, from 10 a.m-6 p.m.

"I think is was excellent,” said Monica Brenner, a regular train rider. “We've done it for probably five years now and the kids love it, but I'd come back even without my kids.”