Elgin car wash offers soapy scares for Halloween

An Elgin car wash is offering some good, clean Halloween fun this week, and raising money for charity to boo. Err, boot.

Brittain's Car Wash is hosting its first "Tunnel of Terror" Wednesday through Saturday, 6 to 10 p.m., at 1572 Larkin Ave.

For $20, patrons will get Brittain's top-of-the-line car wash with some extras that aren't normally on the menu.

It all seems normal when you drive in, save for the fog machines and colored lights filling the space with a spooky red, blue and green glow. Music is simulcast on an FM station to which you can tune in.

But you know it's not the same old car wash when the soap runs off your windshield to reveal a knife-wielding clown. Or a guy in a Donnie Darko rabbit mask.

"We were just really trying to figure out what we could do to help the kids in the community kind of deal with the whole COVID Halloween thing," said Mike Warren, who owns the car wash with his wife Laurel. "And so we thought that this could be a fun, safe family event."

Food for Great Elgin will receive $5 from each entry to help people with food insecurity in the Elgin area.

"It is an amazing organization that is feeding 20% more people during COVID-19 than in the past," said Warren, who was a founding board member and past board chairman of the organization. Warren said the event is safe for all ages, and people with younger kids can request a less-scary experience.

"We're going to do our very best to create a fun, scary experience while you're waiting to get into the car wash and while you're getting through the car wash, and when you leave, hopefully, you're a little happier," he said.

"And of course, you have a clean car."

Warren said people should check them out on Facebook or at https://brittainscarwash.com/ for details on traffic patterns for entering the car wash.