Halloween fan advances in national contest
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ANAMOOSE - April Marquart of Anamoose has long been a fan of horror movies, haunted houses and Halloween. So, when she saw an advertisement for a national contest to win a chance to meet some of the biggest actors in horror films, she decided it was worth a shot.
Marquart has finished high enough in the Face of Halloween's first two rounds of online voting to get into the third round this week, which concludes Thursday, Nov. 5, at 10 p.m.
The contest continues after this week for another five weeks. Contestants have been divided into groups, and once voting selects the top five in each group, contestants must finish first in their groups to qualify to move into a final phase of public voting.
"I've been relying on friends and family, which have been great. They've been keeping me up there in the top four," Marquart said. Marquart, who is unaware of any other North Dakotans in the contest at this point, said she hopes more people take an interest and cast votes for her as the competition gets tighter.
"I am proud to represent our small North Dakota communities in this exciting competition, and I truly appreciate the support I have received so far," she said.
Casting a single vote each day is free. Additional votes can be acquired through donations to Starlight Children's Foundation, which supports families with children facing medical expenses. The foundation states it works with medical facilities around the country, including in North Dakota. Face of Halloween is run by Colossal as a fundraiser.
The grand prize includes $13,000, a photo shoot and feature in Rue Morgue magazine, a Los Angeles ghost hunt with horror icon Kane Hodder and opportunities to meet other horror movie legends.
"I do love Halloween," Marquart said. "Halloween has always been one of my favorite holidays. I enjoy horror movies, haunted houses, paranormal investigations and everything spooky. I even keep some of my Halloween decorations up throughout the year."
She goes all out to decorate her farm home near Anamoose for Halloween.
"Our living room and our dining room looks like a cemetery. I've got gravestones. I've got headstones. I've got cobwebs. I've got spiders. I've got ghosts, pumpkins. I've got stuff all over. I love decorating," said Marquart, who actually calls this year's decor toned down from past years. She also has some Halloween inflatables in her yard.
Marquart brings a little bit of Halloween to her classroom, too, as a fourth grade teacher in Maddock.
To vote for Marquart in the Face of Halloween contest, visit her official link at faceofhalloween.org/2026/april-marquart.