It’s that time again, when creepy, crawly things go bump in the night. If you like chills with your thrills, you’re in luck. There are a handful of haunted houses for your viewing pleasure this Halloween season – if you dare.

Take Lake Square Mall, for example, which is featuring the Vaudeville Hotel Haunted House, with accent on the “evil” in the middle of the hotel’s name.

“The idea is that the staff is possessed and they don’t like people leaving,” says Josh Blake, the mall’s design director.

This year’s haunted house, located in the former J.C. Penney store, is twice as big as last year’s, he says. There’s no touching, but jump scares, weird lighting and messing with people’s minds.

He and his assistant, Evan Williams, used wooden frames in the former department store to hold up painted cardboard walls, a desk and other materials to create the sets.

The entertainment began in early September and the crowds have grown ever since. Some of the visitors even maintain their own haunted house events.

Evan Williams, left, Josh Blake, right

Josh, who has worked for Lake Square Mall for six years, is a former Disney and Universal Studios employee, including at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights.

“A friend told me I could do my own, and I said no,” Josh says. But he has created his own scary story, which features 11 actors this year.

He got his start early. His dad formed a musical touring group in the 1960s.

People aren’t “ghosting” Halloween these days. “It used to be Christmas was the big thing. Now, it’s Halloween,” he says.

Like other haunted houses in the area, Fridays and Saturdays are the biggest days.

The mall is also featuring Sam’s Spooktacular Stage Show at noon Saturday, Halloweenfest on Saturday from noon to 5 p.m., with a costume contest, character meet-and-greet, and trick-or-treating on Oct. 31.

Not all events are for kids. The hotel is recommended for ages 13 and older, though it offers ticket prices for younger children.

Far Reach Scream Park

More Haunted Fun

Tales of Terror in Astatula offers three different levels of horror, including options for getting sprayed with fake blood. Its website, talesofterrorhaunt.com, includes a list of things you should not bring — like guns, masks, drugs, alcohol, and “your children.” It is located at 14200 Corkwood Lane.

Dr. Grimley’s Haunted Trail on Roger Giles Road in Umatilla offers a lights-out trail, horror show, and other choices. Tickets are available at drgrimleyshauntedtrail.com.

There’s also Fear Reach Scream Park, at 1255 S. Dora Blvd. in Tavares. Like the other attractions, this one comes with a creative storyline on its website, fearreachscreampark.com:

“While investigating the mysterious events of Willow Budge and the dark energy found beneath Reach Manor, the Obscura Agency has uncovered something they cannot control. The dark energy they are attempting to harvest from beneath the floorboards of the old home has taken control of the house itself. Hungry for the souls of these unwelcome agents, Reach Manor has come alive to seek revenge, and claim all the power for itself. Can you escape this possessed manor?”

Photos by Frank Stanfield and provided