It’s scary how much it costs to preserve Maine’s historic and natural resources.

So that’s why it’s appropriate that the biggest fund-raiser for Fort Knox Historic Site in Bucksport, Fright at the Fort, is built around Halloween.

Leon Seymour, executive director of Friends of Fort Knox, explained that the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands, which oversees Fort Knox, faces $38 million in under-funded projects, $8 million of which have been identified as critical.

“The State of Maine can’t afford to take care of what it has,” Seymour said bluntly.

Rather than wait for help from above, the Friends of Fort Knox have opted to increase Fright at the Fort VI to two weekends, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 22-23 and 29-30. There’s also a special toned-down version of the event for children under the age of 8 from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30.

Around 3,000 people attended last year, and Seymour hopes to double that number this year.

“It’s been a moneymaker every year,” he said. “We put more into it every year to get more back. We call it a fun-raiser, because there’s no reason you can’t have fun while raising funds.”

This year’s event promises to be bigger than before, as the Friends have bought several thousand dollars worth of props from a service organization that went out of business.

About 150 volunteers staff Fright at the Fort, either individuals or groups such as the Searsport High School drama club and the 20th Maine Civil War Re-enactors troop.

The event depends on people such as mother and daughter Eileen and Jessica Ormsby, taking part in their third Fright, and their friend, Sandra Nason, in her first year. All three will be zombie girls.

What all three share is a love of Halloween.

“Halloween is my favorite holiday,” Eileen Ormsby said. “When you grow up, and can’t dress up anymore, this is a great way to do it.”

“To me, Halloween is more exciting than Christmas,” Nason said. “I usually do this at my parents’ house. It’ll be fun to see the reactions.”

For Jessica Ormsby, the Fright is an extension of acting in high school.

“To get away with scaring the crap out of someone is the best,” she added. “It’s great.”

What kind of reactions have the zombie girls gotten?

“It all depends on the age,” Eileen said. “Little kids hide their faces. Older kids are too cool to be scared. Women get really scared, and just want to flee. It’s great to get about an inch from their heads from behind, where they can feel you there. When they turn around, it’s priceless.”

“We’ve had people fall down they were so scared, or they’d try to hit us,” Jessica added.

The trio start planning next year’s costume as soon as this year’s Fright is over. It takes them about two months to assemble their outfits, and a half-hour to 45 minutes to get their faces on.

“You just get pumped right from the start, and want to get going on it,” Nason said.

Seymour, who also serves as producer of the Fright, holds an orientation beforehand “to position people, see what’s working, check the lighting and sound and get a feel for where props are most effective.”

The event is held in various parts of the fort. The zombie girls will be setting up in the officers’ quarters, which have been totally restored after a decade of being closed.

Spreading out the Fright over two weekends allows for more promotional events. On Oct. 22, the first 100 parents who purchase at least three tickets will receive a free pumpkin. Salute to Armed Forces Night is Oct. 23, with active-duty military personnel who show appropriate identification admitted free.

At the Kids Day event on Oct. 30, a costume parade and contest will be held at 3 p.m. and a best-decorated pumpkin contest will be at 3:30 p.m.

Related activities are planned in Bucksport. A Halloween parade will be held at 11:30 a.m., followed by Lunch with the Witches afterward at the Gazebo. A half-hour of cartoons will be shown at 1 p.m. at the Alamo Theatre.

During the American Revolution and again during the War of 1812, British naval forces controlled the lower stretch of the Penobscot River. Fort Knox was built during the mid-19th century to thwart a third British invasion that never came.

Proceeds raised from the Fright will go toward renovations at the fort. Among the most urgent needs, Seymour said, are the roof and interior of the Battery A powder magazine (cost about $75,000), restoration of two original and two replica carriages for four 20-pound flank howitzer cannon tubes ($30,000) and a boat dock ($25,000) so visitors can enter Penobscot Bay and sail right up to the fort.

Seymour would like to see Fright at the Fort become more of a regional event.

“We like to think we’re the premiere Halloween attraction in this area,” he said. “No one else in Maine is taking on Halloween with this much gusto.”

He also cautioned potential visitors to be ready to be scared.

“This is not about cookies and face painting,” Seymour said. “It’s more about traditional Halloween fright. People who get involved have embraced the idea of Halloween as a scary, and fun, event.”

Tickets for Fright at the Fort VI are $5 at the night events and $3 for the special Kids Day. For more information, call 469-6553 or visit http://fortknox.maineguide.com/fright. Dale McGarrigle can be reached at 990-8287 and dmcgarrigle@bangordailynews.net.

Fright at the Fort VI

When: 5:30-9 p.m., Oct. 22-23 and 29-30; 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30 (for children under 8)

Where: Fort Knox Historic Site, Prospect

How much: $5 for the night events and $3 for the special Kids Day

Contact: 469-6553 or visit http://fortknox.maine-guide.com/fright