300 visitors expected for Boise State's 2026 Haunted House

Boise State University students are returning the haunted house to the Communication Building for a second year, with an expected turnout of about 300 attendees.

The event runs from 7 to 10 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30. Admission is free, though the organizing departments are accepting donations to support future productions. This marks the second consecutive year the building has hosted the attraction.

The 2026 production is a collaboration between students in the Communications and Media Departments. Dr. Sarah Silverman and Nathan Snyder lead the project. The theme centers on Silver City, a historic mining town in Idaho known for its ghost status. Communications students gathered local legends and stories about the town. They will use those narratives to build the physical set inside the building. Media students handle the technical aspects, including sound design, lighting, and fog machines. The experience includes actors and jump scares. Silverman rates the intensity of the show as at least PG-13.

Last year’s version of the haunted house featured a mix of haunted locations around Boise. A character named Dinah, who appears in campus urban legends as the ghost of the Communication Building, served as the tour guide. When asked if Dinah would return this year, Silverman said the character will make an appearance, though she did not specify the role.

Silverman stated that the event relies on community support to continue. She encouraged people to attend to demonstrate interest in campus productions. The goal is to maintain the tradition of using the building for this type of student-led event.

The Communication Building will open its doors to the public on Friday, Oct. 30, at 7 p.m. The three-hour window ends at 10 p.m. Visitors can expect a darkened environment with technical effects and live performers.

Donations can be given at the event. The proceeds help cover the costs of running the show. The next scheduled date for the haunted house is not yet announced, but the current production is set for Friday, Oct. 30.