By Mariah Trujillo, JRN 101 Student
Looking to have some spooky fun without the additional scare of a virus lurking around the corner? Look no further. Below are a few attractions offering both a safe and affordable experience not too far from Moraine Valley.
All of the attractions listed note they are taking extra precautions to keep everyone safe, including employee wellness checks, constant sanitizing of all areas, limiting crowds, maintaining social distancing and requiring face masks. Online ticket purchasing is required for most of the attractions.
Haunted houses
Midnight Terror Haunted House. This haunt takes the approach of making safety a priority while still offering spooky fun.
“It was just as fun as it would have been prior to COVID-19,” according to Amira Biba, a freshman at University of Illinois-Chicago. “We still got to enjoy ourselves, and the only difference was we had to wear masks which actually kept us warm. Every group had to be six feet apart and we had our temperature checked too.”
The haunted house, located at 5520 W. 111th St will be open Thursday through Sunday until Nov 7. Events begin at 7 p.m. and the cost is $20. For more information visit: https://app.hauntpay.com/events/midnight-terror-2020
Disturbia in Downers Grove is another good yet safe scare, according to Samantha Kruger, a 2020 graduate of Harold L. Richards High School.
“I actually think it’s better than prior to Covid-19 because only a certain amount of tickets are sold for different times and dates so you aren’t waiting so long in line,” she said. “The haunted house was the same–people still get in your face and scare you.”
Disturbia, located at 1213 Butterfield Road, will be open Wednesday through Sunday starting at 7 p.m. The cost is $29.99.
Basement of the Dead in Aurora is another haunt worth checking out. It is an affiliate of Disturbia. Located at 42 W New York St., it is open Thursday through Sunday with events starting at 6:30 p.m.. The cost is $30, but if you’re brave enough to visit both of the haunts, a special combo price is offered. For more information visit https://hauntedhousedisturbia.com.
13th Floor Haunted House in Melrose Park is another great attraction to frighten you in all the right ways. Located at 1940 George St. it is open every day during the week of Halloween starting at 7 p.m., and is also open on Nov 6 and 7. Tickets range from $25.99 to $32.99 depending on the date selected. For more information visit: https://www.13thfloorchicago.com/index.html.
Pumpkin farms
Bengston’s Pumpkin Farm in Homer Glen, is worth taking a stab at if haunts are not your thing. This farm is one that everybody can’t seem to get enough of this Halloween season.
“Everything there was the same. Everything was open. They had a lot of bottles of hand sanitizer wherever you went and lots of areas to wash your hands,” says Gianna Pasek, a 2020 graduate of Oak Lawn High School. “I had a great time and we went on a day where they were pretty busy but everyone had masks on and there were even prints on the floor that told you where to stand.”
The farm is located at 13341 W 151st St. and is open every day, as early as 10 a.m. on select days. Admission ranges from $15 to $25.99, depending on the date attending. Included in the price are unlimited attractions such as kiddie rides, hayrides, petting zoo, pig races, haunted barn, fun barn, and the vortex tunnel. Pony rides will cost an additional $6. For more information visit https://pumpkinfarm.com
Siegel’s Cottonwood Farm in Lockport is a comparable attraction to Bengston’s. Admission includes more than 30 attractions, with farm animals, play areas, and a giant corn maze. An all-inclusive weekend pass, available only online for $27.95, also includes gem mining and two rounds of paintball. Siegel’s is located at 17250 Weber Rd. and is open Friday through Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. General admission online is $17.95 and $19.95 at the door.
Jack’s Pumpkin Pop Up in Chicago is worth checking out if you’re looking for beautiful scenery with strict guidelines and great group bundle deals.
“I would say the activities manage to be fun but it’s not quite the same,” says Nailea Godinez, a 2020 graduate of Harold L. Richards High School. “Workers constantly ask you to wear a mask. I do feel like everyone is more aware of one another, though, and everyone is more open to being nice.”
Jack’s is located at 1467 N Elston Ave. and is open every day until Halloween from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The average admission price is between $21 and $23, depending on the package selected. For more information, see the website: https://jackspumpkinpopup.com
Other fall attractions
Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago is hosting Boo Fest. Activities include a pumpkin drop event, dissecting an eye, playing with Franken slime, trick-or-treating and many more. The museum even allows you to wear a costume.
“They were amazing,” says Elodie Berna, a Moraine Valley student. “There are a lot of activities that involve touching so they gave us our own personal stylus at the entrance. There are dispensers of hand sanitizer everywhere. We did a virtual reality activity and they sanitized the machine, the seats, washed their hands and then finally let us in. There are limited capacities for activities open to everyone and masks are obligatory.”
The museum is located at 5700 S. Lake Shore Dr. and is open Friday through Sunday. Tickets range from $12 to $22. For more information visit https://www.msichicago.org/explore/whats-here/events/boo-fest/.
Brittain’s Tunnel of Terror in Elgin is another interesting fall attraction. Through Oct. 31, Brittain’s Car Wash on 1572 Larkin Avenue, will be transformed into Brittain’s Tunnel of Terror. For each ticket sold, $5 goes to Food for Greater Elgin to help the less fortunate in the Elgin area.
“It is an amazing organization that is feeding 20 percent more people during COVID-19 than we have in the past, so we really wanted to give the community something fun to do, but also help people in need,” said car wash owners Mike and Laurel Warren.
Tickets are sold at $20 per car and includes Brittain’s top-of-the-line car wash full of special effects, scares and safe fun, all while getting a Platinum Clean car.
If you’re looking for a safe and interesting way to have fun and get some chores done, while never even leaving your car, visit Brittain’s car wash! For more information visit: https://brittainscarwash.com/tunnel-of-terror/
