Darkness falls across the land, and the midnight hour is close at hand. Halloween celebrations are kicking into gear here at Robert Morris University, and students are ready to share in the scariest time of the year.

Greek Life organizations Kappa Kappa Psi and Delta Tau Delta are hosting their first ever pumpkin decorating table, playfully called the “Pumpkin Boo-tique.” For $2 students can decorate their pumpkin with a variety of arts and crafts supplies such as paint markers, googly eyes, glue, stickers and pipe cleaners. Some have already decorated their pumpkins with the likenesses of pop culture icons such as Pokémon, Disney and Star Wars.

“It gives people an opportunity to explore their spookiness and creativity through the pumpkins while also raising money for a good cause,” said Amanda Linn, the organizer of the event. October is Domestic Abuse Awareness Month, so all of the proceeds of the table are being donated to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Linn hopes that the “Pumpkin Boo-tique” becomes an annual occurrence on campus, as they have raised over $200 by their third week of operation. The remaining “Pumpkin Boo-tique” events will run from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. in PNC Café, and from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in RoMo’s Café during weekdays in October.

Pumpkin decorating isn’t the only way to feel festive on campus. The Residence Hall Association (RHA) is putting their own spin on a classic Halloween tradition. For one night only, they are converting Washington Hall into a three-floor house of horrors. Called “Haunted Washington,” the haunted house will feature three themed floors: “Penitentiary,” a floor based on “The Nun” and another based on the “Purge” series.

RHA president Jess Bauer stated that a committee chose these themes “because ‘The Nun’ and ‘The Purge’ are more current films and they wanted to do something that everyone knows. And then Penitentiary is because (she) thinks prisons are scary.”

Bauer doesn’t remember when the tradition of the haunted house started, however, she does remember that it has been a recurring event since her sister was enrolled at RMU in 2004. “Everyone does pumpkin decorating, everyone goes trick or treating. Those are fun for individual halls to do, but we wanted something that everyone could do that wasn’t just an individual hall thing.”

The RHA is accepting donations for the Ronald McDonald House at the event. Last year, they raised $50 for a variety of charities including Little Siblings. If you can’t make a monetary donation, they are also looking for volunteers to work for these charities as well.

“Right now (they) have 30 people signed up to do set up, tear down, acting, or all of the above,” said Bauer. “It’s a really big attraction for Greek Life because they need the hours. In general, people just like to hang out and scare people. If you can get volunteer hours for it, why not?”

Haunted Washington opens its doors at 9 p.m. Friday night and ends at 11 p.m. The start of the attraction is at the back of the A Tower.