The University Board will provide students with a pre-holiday event made to get Eastern in the Halloween spirit Wednesday.

“Nightmare on 7th Street,” will begin at 7 p.m. at 7th St. Underground.  Admission is free.

Tylen Elliot, UB Mainstage coordinator, said the open mic night will include live performances.

“People are able to sign up the night of the event, but we are also looking for advance sign-ups,” Elliott said.  “We have quite a few pre-sign ups. We have a piano player and a couple poets so far, so it’s going to be a good show.”

The event will also include candy, a costume contest and a haunted photo booth that will hopefully get students in the mood for Halloween.

“We will be giving away gift cards and Halloween movies,” Elliott said.

“Nightmare on 7^th Street” has provided UB and the Mainstage and Special Events coordinators with a new experience that did not happen in past years.

“This is the first time that we’ve done a Halloween event through UB Mainstage.” Elliott said.

Elliott said he found inspiration for this year’s Mainstage events through previous coordinators.

“In past years, I know that past coordinators have wanted to do an event like this, so I thought I might as well bring it along,” he said.

Mainstage hopes to bring students’ talents to a new light through their various new events this semester.

“It’s really about showcasing students’ talent. I feel like the University Board, especially Mainstage, being a performing arts committee, should serve as an outlet for performers on campus.”

Other events will showcase student talents include the upcoming Mainstage event titled “Vegas,” a unique lip-synching competition.

Auditions for “Vegas” will be from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Nov. 4^th in the University Ballroom of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

“Vegas” will take place at 7 p.m. Nov. 12^th in the Grand Ballroom of the Union.

Samantha Middendorf can be reached at 581-2812 or semiddendorf@eiu.edu.