By Mariah Trujillo, News Editor
There is nothing like the feeling of walking over crunching leaves when a hint of pumpkin spice and a cool breeze stops you in your tracks. As perfect as it may sound, why is there that lurking feeling of being watched? Could the nail-biting tales told before Halloween night have some truth to them? And could you be the main character?
Whether you’re looking to be put in the middle of a horror story or simply looking for that perfect fall evening with nothing but a squashed pumpkin as your biggest fear, then look no further. Below are several attractions fit for anyone, ranging from spooky activities to do on campus to heart-stopping walkthroughs of haunted houses.
Chills creep onto campus
The Moraine library gets into the spooky spirit with book and movie displays.
Spooky Display in the MV Library located in Building L.
This display is not only creepy with the decor, but most of the scare comes from within the display itself, which will be up until the end of October. Librarians, including Allison Isztok and Keisha Brokaw, have strategically selected certain horror novels and movies to tingle your spine.
“We chose a great variety of books and movies for this Halloween display, but some of my personal favorites are the books Shiver and The Sandman Omnibus along with the movies Red Dragon and Carrie,” said Isztok. “Shiver is a horror manga by Junji Ito, and it is by far the most spine-chilling book I have ever read.
“We have these and many more items available at the display, and I hope everyone checks it out before the end of the month.”
The MV Library has also gathered several chilling E-Books you can view and listen to from the comfort of your own home. If you’re interested in visiting this haunting display, the Library entrance is located on the 2nd floor on the south side of Building L.
Flute Choir’s Haunted Flutes Concert in the Dorothy Menker Theatre.
On Oct. 27 at 7 p.m., Moraine’s Flute Choir will perform “a wide range of eras and styles” according to the Fine & Performing Arts Center.
Admission is free. If you are interested in attending this spooktacular event, you can reserve your seating at https://app.arts-people.com.
Haunted houses heap on horror
Midnight Terror Haunted House in Oak Lawn.
If you’re looking for a real scare, you can visit this attraction that progresses through 26,000 square feet of horror, making it difficult to take every step. While this may seem just like the average haunted house with its dressed-up actors and jump scares at every corner, there is one thing this location provides that not many others do, and that’s the option to choose your own demise.
Midnight Terror, located at 5520 W. 111th St will be open Wednesday through Sunday with general admission $30 a person. The haunted house will have its last showings on Nov. 5-6, when tickets will be reduced to $25. Showtimes begin at 7 p.m. For more information visit: https://midnightterrorhauntedhouse.com
HellsGate Haunted House in Lockport.
Now, this haunted house is special mostly because of the eerie setting it’s held within. The location isn’t near a busy street with passersby to save you, or in the secure suburbs where the lights are brighter than the darkness– quite the opposite, actually. This haunted house ensured there was nowhere to run and no place in sight to hide by placing its sequence of scares deep within the woods of Lockport.
HellsGate, located at 1300 S. State St., will be open Wednesday through Sunday with general admission at $35. Events begin at 7 p.m. and end at 10 p.m. (11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays). For more information visit: https://www.hellsgate.com
Statesville Haunted Prison in Lockport.
This is the “final fear” — the last year for this popular Halloween attraction, which has thrived because of its storyline. The actors are not actors at all; they are prisoners–crazy, mad, terrifying prisoners who have just had their handcuffs unlocked. Every spectator gets the pleasure of running into hundreds of these lovely beings. If you’re looking to really get engulfed in a horror movie, this is the location to visit but beware, the guards have all fled and Statesville claims “no one escapes.”
Statesville Haunted Prison, located at 17250 S. Weber Rd., is open Thursday through Sunday until Nov. 6 with general admission at $30. Events begin at 7 p.m. and end at 10 p.m. (11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays). For more information visit: https://statesvillehauntedprison.com
Pumpkin patches provide less petrifying fun
Bengston’s Pumpkin Farm in Homer Glen.
This location is the perfect middle ground for someone who doesn’t necessarily enjoy being petrified but would still love to get into the Halloween spirit. This pumpkin farm provides a lot more than just pumpkins, with hayrides, petting zoos, and even haunted barns making it worth the trip.
Bengston’s is located at 13341 W. 151st St. and is open every day, as early as 10 a.m. on select days. Admission ranges from $18.99 to $29.99, depending on the date, but the price includes the attractions listed above and many more. For more information visit: https://pumpkinfarm.com
Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up in Chicago.
If you’re looking for the most Instagram-worthy pumpkin patch, then this is the spot for you. This location has numerous photo ops with glistening lights covering just about every inch of the display, making it perfect for group photos or even selfies. You can also expect pumpkin patches, corn mazes, carnival games, and even full bars.
Jack’s Pumpkin Pop-Up, located at 1465 N. Elston Ave., is open every day of October (rain or shine) with varying hours depending on the date selected. General admission starts at $29, but add-ons and group packages are available. For more information visit: https://jackspumpkinpopup.com
Puckerville Farms in Lemont.
Now, this pumpkin patch has literally been described as a “hidden gem.” This location is quiet, peaceful and everything nice and sweet about the fall season. It’s not the most “exciting,” but it is the perfect place to go to pick out some pumpkins, catch a hayride, eat some sweets and watch the kids run around the empty field.
Puckerville Farms, located at 13332 Bell Rd., is open every day of October from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. with no admission fee. For more information visit: https://puckervillefarms.webs.com
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