HALLOWEEN HAPPENINGS
Creepin’ it Real
By John Whitlock
Not everyone may celebrate Christmas.
Not everyone may get into New Year’s Eve.
But everyone loves to have fun on Halloween. Here’s a select sampling of Lexington options from tots and toddlers all the way up to grownup zombies.
Artist’s Studio: Mini Pumpkin Decorating, Eastside Library
October 24, 6 pm
Highlights: Decorating mini pumpkins
Express your artistic side via a variety of materials and techniques. Paint and decorate a mini pumpkin! Please dress for mess. This event is designed for grades K-5.
Arty Party Night of the Living Dead, LexArts
October 27
Highlights: Art, drinks, and partying with zombies
Come support the arts while having fun. Check out the height of zombie fashion while enjoying Beekman’s diner-backyard-cookout-casual and the beverage of choice is beer. As an after-Thriller Parade party, the dress code is anything from post-Apocalyptic to cutting-edge zombie.
Blue Grass Stockyards Trick or Treat
October 31, 5 until 8 pm
Highlights: Weather-proof trick or treating and other indoor activities
The businesses and neighbors of Blue Grass Stockyards are excited to celebrate the second annual Trick or Trick night. This is an all-indoor Halloween Night Trick or Treat, featuring fun kids activities, prizes for all kids of all ages. This event is presented by the Blue Grass Regional Marketplace.
Boo Bash, Eastside Library
October 30
Highlights: Halloween fun for young kiddies
Little pumpkins aged 0-5 are invited to celebrate the holiday with some not-so-spooky songs, activities, and a costume trick-or-treat parade.
Devine’s Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch, Harrodsburg
Through October 28
Highlights: Food, agriculture and an amazing maze
Devine’s Corn Maze consistently garners national attention. This year’s maze celebrates Triple Crown winner Justify. But there is lots of other things to do outside the giant maze including a straw crawl, an animal petting area, a kiddie maze, a hay maze and pumpkin picking. There is also a nightly bonfire and free marshmallow roasting. Devine’s also features “cornstalk paintball wars’ and zipline racers for everyone 8 and up who meet the physical requirements.
Fright Nights, Jacobson Park
Through October 31
Highlights: Haunted Attractions
Open through October 31, Fright Nights begin in our own backyard at Jacobson Park. Fright Nights offers three haunted attractions at on location spread over 40 acres of terrifying land. Feed your screams in Dark Forest, 13 Doors and Candyland.
Ghost Hunts at Waveland, Waveland State Historic Site
October 12 and October 26
Highlights: Do ghost exist at Waveland
Is Waveland haunted? There are two chances to find out for yourself. The Lexington Paranormal Research Society will hold ghost hunts. Tickets are available on the evening of the walks which begin at 8 p.m. The paranormal investigation will last until midnight. Not recommended for children. The organization is donating all proceeds to the Friends of Waveland.
The Ghost of Pineville, Lexington Children’s Theatre Learning Stage
October 20 and October 21
Highlights: Graphic novels come to life
The Ghosts of Pineville by Sara Turner and Jeremy Kisling, a locally-grown ghost story, will take the stage at the Lexington Children’s Theatre. Main character Chopper Sweeney never really believed in ghosts until one started believing in him. You’ll like this play if you like stories about friendship, local authors, mysteries, and spooky stories.
Halloween Trick-Or-Treat, Fayette County
October 31, 5 until 8 pm
Highlights: Costumed children extorting sweets from adult under the threat of reprisal.
Trick-or-treating in Fayette County will be from 6 to 8 pm on October 31.
“The Haunting Party!” Murder Mystery, The Kentucky Castle
October 31
Highlights: An interactive murder mystery at the famous Kentucky Castle
An interactive murder mystery dinner where guests who solve the mystery will compete to win a valuable prize. In ‘The Haunting Party,” It’s 1942, and Hollywood film director, Victor Marshall, hosts a Halloween film party for his new movie, “Return to Horror Island!” The show will be accompanied by a special meal. Overnight accommodations are available.
Little Goblins Galore, McConnell Springs
October 13
Youth can wear their Halloween costume as they visit their favorite characters along an enchanted trail. There will also be a petting zoo, a happy haunted house and special entertainment. Food and soft drinks will be available to purchase throughout the day.
Play + Create: Spooky Fun, Eastside Branch
October 29, 1:30 pm
Highlights: Mixing art and spooky fun
Drop by for hands-on activities from games to art projects to science experiments! This event is designed for grades K-5.
Pumpkinmania, Transylvania University
October 30, 6 pm
Highlights: The noble jack-o’-lanterns as art
Pumpkinmania will return to Transylvania University. There will be food trucks, music, plenty of candy for trick-or-treaters and free, nearby parking. Hundreds of jack-o’-lanterns on the steps of Old Morrison off West Third Street will be lit. Trick-or-treating will be from 6 to 7 pm with the jack-o’-lantern lighting at 7 pm.
Pumpkin Patch Train- Bluegrass Scenic Railroad Museum, Versailles
October 6-7 and October 13
Highlights: Trains, campfires and pumpkins
Join Bluegrass Scenic Railroad Museum staff as Life Adventure Center hosts a stop at the pumpkin patch. During the train ride to scenic Tyrone Bridge, you will make a stop at Life Adventure Center’s Abbott Station and experience a campfire while you pick out your very own pumpkin to keep.
Safety City Trick or Treat Night, Safety City
October 26, 6 until 8 pm
Highlights: Safety tips and plenty of candy, candy, candy for kids
Walk around the safety city, stopping for treats and scares along the way. SCAPA students will perform a spooky concert from 6-6:30 pm. Community organizations will hand out candy and resources.
Thriller and Halloween Parade, Downtown Lexington
October 28 with events starting at 2 pm
Highlights: Zombies, Halloween fun and of course, Thriller
The Lexington Thriller and Halloween Parade, which has been named a top 10 Halloween destination by USA Today, returns to downtown Sunday, October 28. This year’s event features the Wicked Wonders Art Market (2 – 8 pm); the Halloween Variety Show (6:30 pm); and Halloween and Thriller Parade (8:30 pm).
Wicked World Scaregrounds, Tates Creek Rd.
Through October 31
Highlights: Haunted Attractions
Wicked World Scaregrounds host three absolutely scary attractions. Quarantine is haunted miliarty compound. Terror on Tates Creek Rd is a haunted carnival run by Ivan Darkwood that claims that you will enjoy yourself so much so that you may never leave. The Nightmare Haunted House is haunted by Doctor Colin Sheppard and the nightmare that occured in the fall of 1957. Wicked World Scaregrounds is open Thursdays through Sundays and is open Monday October 29 though Halloween.
This article also appears on page 12 of the October 2018 print edition of Hamburg Journal.
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