A Halloween event this weekend will invite partiers in their best costumes to help raise money for a good cause.

“Nightmare on the Nansemond” will be held at the downtown Hilton Garden Inn, 100 E. Constance Road, from 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday. Tickets are $19.99 and can be purchased online. They will not be sold at the door. The event is for people ages 18 and up.

The first-ever event will raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

“My grandmother had breast cancer,” said Heather McPherson, secretary of the Nightmare Foundation. “My friend, who is treasurer for the foundation, a couple of her friends have had breast cancer. It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It was just kind of an obvious choice in that aspect.”

McPherson and her husband are “really into Halloween,” as she puts it. They decided to have a Halloween party, and it has morphed into the bash that will raise money for breast cancer research. Entertainment includes regional bands Juniper Green and Chasing Eden, a haunted maze, the GamerBUS, fortune telling, a DJ, horror movies and more.

A number of prizes will be given away at the event, including a television, iPad, Wii bundle and a variety of gift certificates from local businesses.

The organization hopes to continue benefiting the community in the future.

“Our goal is to start having this every year,” McPherson said. “We’re going to talk internally to see what other events we may be able to put together.”

For tickets and more information, visit www.nansemondnightmare.com. Tickets can be reserved on the website up through 6:30 p.m. Saturday.