Many Concerned Over Violent Side of Halloween

Trick-or-treating, carving pumpkins and bobbing for apples are warm and fuzzy Halloween traditions. Then, there are the haunted houses, horror flicks and gory attractions. WRAL'sRick Gallreported there are some growing concerns over the violent side of Halloween.

Murder, monsters and mayhem. Welcome to the "Nightmare on Pine Street" in Lumberton. An old gym has become a house of horrors for Halloween week.

Nightmare visitor Mollie Livingston said it was fun.

Ryan Ventura, another visitor, agreed.

The origin of Halloween can be traced back to a pagan festival for the dead. The early church tried to Christianize October 31 by making it the eve of All-Saints or All-Hallows Day. Well, the sinister side has not only survived, it's alive and well.

Fayetteville State University Professor Brooksie Harrington is a folklorist who is concerned about what Halloween has become.

Phil Sessoms, "Nightmare" organizer, said it's all about having fun, nothing more and nothing less.

The "Nightmare on Pine Street" is raising money for a program that gives young criminals a second chance and help pays restitution to their victims.