Pillage The Village Review By: Brett Briggeman

During the Halloween weekend, the local Abilene and Buffalo Gap community had the opportunity to participate in an event known as Pillage the Village.

Hosted by the Buffalo Gap Chamber of Commerce, Pillage the Village was an annual, historical halloween event that used to take place until 2013 when the project was shut down. This year, Pillage the Village returned for the enjoyment of the local community.

Sam Strawn is a senior musical theatre major from San Antonio who participated in the event as a character within the haunted village. 

“I'm always excited about Halloween, so to get to do something that is both historical and spooky is super fun. It's also great fun scaring people,” Strawn said. “Dr. Spangler brought the opportunity to [the theatre department] at one of our meetings and gave us the links to sign up and I thought it sounded like a good time.”

Each volunteer had a different role within the village, adding to the unsettling ambiance of the evening.

“I was a tour guide,” Strawn said, “which meant I got to act as a creepy groundskeeper and lead guests along the path through the village to each different "haunted" building where the ghosts would be waiting for them.”

The event took place at the Buffalo Gap Historic Village. While Pillage the Village acted as a fundraiser, there are many Buffalo Gap Heritage days which are free to the public to come and participate and learn more about the historic area.

Be sure to come out and support the Buffalo Gap Chamber of Commerce, as well as our local actors and volunteers, by participating in local community events.