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Table of Contents Tiny’s Corn Maze is now open at Sweet Valley Ranch where quality meets freshness. This is a family and group setting in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Also, don’t miss the Backwoods Terror Ranch in the same location. See Page 70 for details.
The History and Mystery of Okefenokee Swamp submitted by Kathleen Walls, editor and publisher of American Roads and Global Highways. See Page 12.
Go, See, and Do Halloweentown. In Massachusetts, by Lisa Brant. Details on P. 30.
Go, See, Do - Feature Howl-O-Ween Fun P. 6 Things to Do - Feature Find the Haunts in your Kitchen P.08 People to See Rob Lake & His Magic P.10 Product Reviews including “Let’s Go to the Barnyard” by our Things to Do Editor P. 14 Kandy Derden
Western States
P.16
Northeast States
P. 27
Southern States
P. 39
Midcentral States
P. 48
Eastern
P. 70
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This year the ghosts and goblins and witches and werewolves are glad to be out and about. Many are lurking be-
hind the trees in the woods, behind the corn stalks in the mazes and even in the pumpkin patches. Beware...
The Weekender Extended Magazine is Published Monthly by BarnettPRO Publishing Corp. 15 East Main St., Shiloh, OH P.O. Box 96, Shiloh, OH 44878 Branch office: 1515 W. 3rd, Sedalia, Mo 65301 PHONE; 419-687-0002 Email: info@barnettpro.com Publisher - Michael D. Arnold mike@barnettpro.com Editor-in-chief - Kathy Barnett kathy@weekenderextended.com Managing Editor - Norman Reed Norm@weekenderextended.com editor@weekenderextended.com Places to Go Editor: Sheeree Oney Places to Go Team: Rebecca Embry Samantha Bradley Kelley Ramsey Things to Do Editor: Kandy Derden Things to Do Team: Geremy Sowash Beth Cantrell Jake McFarlin People to See Editor: Lisa Garcia People to See Team: Lisa Brant Angie Offenburger Social Media Editor: Geremy Sowash Visit our Website for event coverage between regular issues at www.WeekenderExtended.com Subscriptions are FREE! Submit name and email address HERE and also be entered in our drawing for a FREE weekend getaway! Copyright 2021 by BarnettPRO Publishing All rights reserved. Reproductions of any material from this issue is expressly forbidden without permission of the publisher. Advertisements in this publication do not necessarily carry the endorsement of the publishing company.
Up Close: From the Editor
The Halloween season brings back so many fun memories for me. All the dress up costumes (most of them homemade), the parties and of course, all the haunted houses or woods or both. The first time I was chased by a guy with a chainsaw, I had no idea the blade was taken off for safety. I admit I screamed and ran for my life, or so I thought. Then there were the treats. It was always my goal to count my candy after we finished trick-or-treating and divide it by calendar days to make sure it lasted until Christmas candy arrived. Later, as an adult, hundreds of sugar cookie cutouts were decorated at my sister’s bakery. My kids came and helped. Their friends came and helped. Pumpkins turned into Jack-O-Lanterns and clown shapes turned into witches. I remember one evening at church for a prayer meeting, one friend related how tired she was from baking cookies. She was a cook at the local elementary school. She had baked 350 cookies, she reported. I looked at my sister. She looked at me. We just smiled. That day we had baked - 350 DOZEN. The hospital alone put in an order for 100 dozen to give to patients. But these are happy memories.
I am happy report I choose to remember only the happy memories. And this year is no exception. This issue offers so many great places to go, things to do, and people to see to create more happy Halloween memories. Like for the very first time the organizers of Pumpkintown (in Jamestown, New York) have created and added a new “Terror of Screams” hayride and walk through their woods for the adults. I was privileged to attend one of the very first nights and I can highly recommend taking the time to go experience it. I hesitate to reveal the surprises they have in store, but it will be worth it, I can assure you. See page 34. If you really, really want to be scared out of your wits, go to the Festival of Freaks, centrally located in Warrensburgh, MO. See pages 58-59 for more details. More scary haunts await you in Ohio at Ghostly Manor and the Haunted Hydro. Each are equally amazing. See pages 63-66. This weekend, join my Places-to-Go and People - to - See editors and myself in West Virginia to experience the new scares created for Fright Night and then their Fall Festival. See page 76. So there is plenty to keep us busy this month. Let’s Go!
Kathy Barnett Editor - in - Chief
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Go, See, Do
Howl-O-Ween Fun a G
reat Wolf Lodge is ringing in the spooky season with the unBOOlievable kickoff of its annual Howl-OWeen celebration, running October 1, 2021 through Halloween. Families looking for fun and safe ways to celebrate this year’s holiday traditions, will discover Great Wolf Lodge’s seasonal festivities were designed to get everyone into the Halloween spirit. This year’s events include the Trick-OrTreat Trail, The Thrill of Howl-OWeen Yoga Tails, Monster Bash Dance Party and Critter Cartoons art class, just to name a few. As families enter Great Wolf Lodge, they’re transported through a spooktacular portal and into the Grand Lobby, decked out with fall leaves, pumpkins, and festive décor. Select resort lobbies will even feature sprawling, larger-than-life creatures of the night made entirely of balloons! One of the family-favorite Howl-OWeen events is the Trick-Or-Treat Trail, where kids collect candy at stops throughout the resort and meet Great Wolf Lodge characters dressed in their Halloween best. The trail commences in the grand lobby with a final chance for guests to grab goodies, including the Teal Pumpkin trick-or-treat stop that features non-food treats for those with allergies. Families continue the journey through a friendly witches’ lair, cave of creatures, goodies in the graveyard, monster mayhem laboratory and conclude at the Howl-O-Ween selfie station to capture the special quality family time moment. As
families navigate the trail, they will be given swag and candy along the way. To allow for physical distancing, guests will be required to sign up for the trail and be given an allotted time to explore. Other highlights of Howl-OWeen include: • Monster Bash Dance Party:
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Kids can get out their jitters before bedtime and enjoy Halloween songs that will make them move their funky bones. • UnBOOlievable Story Time: To help kids get into the Halloween spirit, they’ll get to enjoy a not-so-frightening tale featuring the Great Wolf Lodge characters. • Grab ‘N Go Howl-O-Ween
at Great Wolf Lodge
Arts & Crafts: Great Wolf Lodge is offering a collection of pre-packaged arts and crafts projects that families can complete on their own either in the comfort of their room or at one of the physically distanced tables in the lodge. Fun projects include a bat hat, spider headband, ghoulish
bracelets and key chains, Halloween coloring sheets, buttons, and Halloween masks. • Howl-O-Ween Mini-Events: Boo Bingo where five in a row is a bingo and yelling “boo” is the winning lingo. Take a Wiley Guess will challenge families on their knowledge of Halloween
myths, legends, lore, and traditions. Wiley Says, like Simon Says, but with some hauntingly delightful moves that will won’t raise the dead but will definitely raise everyone’s spirits. At Great Wolf Lodge, safety is top priority. Each location will adhere to the company-wide Paw Pledge program to keep families healthy and safe while they play together at the indoor water park resort. The program focuses on personal protection, enhanced sanitization protocols and physical distancing. For more information about Great Wolf Resorts and its brands of indoor water park resorts, visit GreatWolf.com. Great Wolf Resorts, Inc. is North America’s largest family of indoor water park resorts, and through its subsidiaries and affiliates, owns and operates family resorts under the Great Wolf Lodge brand. Great Wolf Resorts is a fully integrated resort company with locations in: Wisconsin Dells, Wis.; Sandusky, Ohio; Traverse City, Mich.; Kansas City, Kan.; Williamsburg, Va.; Pocono Mountains, Pa.; Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada; Mason, Ohio; Grapevine, Texas; Grand Mound, Wash., Fitchburg, Mass., Charlotte, N.C.; Garden Grove, Calif., Colorado Springs, Colo., Bloomington, Minn., LaGrange, Ga., Gurnee, Ill., Scottsdale, Ariz.; and the newest resort in Manteca, Calif. which recently opened in June 2021, with Perryville, Md. slated for a 2023 debut. Additional information may be found on the company’s online media center
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Things to Do:
Are There Haunted Spirits in Yo When confronted by something you don’t understand, do you accept it or do you dwell on it until you can rationalize what is really happening? Most people enjoy a good magic show. However, if they know how the illusion is done, it tends to spoil the effect. The same can be said of haunted houses. Yes, I’m referring to the Halloween pop-up businesses which provide a spooky atmosphere where you can be startled, surprised and scared by lots of very creative props. Instead of spending time discussing something manmade, let’s talk about a real honest-to-goodness house, inhabited by the spirit of someone who is no longer living. Do you believe houses can really be haunted? Have you ever lived in one? Have you ever been in one? My next question: how would you know? If someone else sees these elusive images, and you don’t, how can you be sure they exist? Along about now is when the skeptics move on to another subject. Others who have never seen or heard anything unusual continue to read simply for the entertainment factor. But true believers gather among friends to discuss what -8- | WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM ~ October, 2021
new sightings they have experienced. Some even form ghost hunter clubs. In the past, I would have been among the first group mentioned. In recent years though, I’ve had some in-depth conversations with people I know and trust. The subject: the ghosts which inhabit their homes. This leads us to the obvious question: how can you live there, knowing of their existence, without being scared, or at least nervous? It’s simple really. Among all the people I interviewed, they assured me this being has done them no harm. In some cases, they have prevented injuries. In one case, a locked door was heard unlocking just in time to allow rescue workers to enter. Another person explained how an unknown voice kept calling her name until she went looking for the whoever was trying to get her attention. In the process, she found and extinguished a fire before it became large enough to trap her in the basement where she had been working. Several sources believe there are spirits who only reveal themselves to children. Perhaps this is due to the trusting
nature of young people. Or perhaps it is their guardian angels. These stories sound very similar to one in my family history. After a long hard day in the early 1900’s working on the farm with no utilities, Ida was trying to finish getting her garden planted before the approaching storm arrived. It was hot, humid, and she was totally exhausted.
our Kitchen ?
By Kandy Derden Things to Do Editor
necessary to make the garden grow, two beings appeared and finished planting the garden vegetables which were much-needed to feed her family for months to come. Ida was my great grandmother and she didn’t believe in ghosts. She called them angels. And sometimes that term just might be more correct for these elusive helpers. That being said, this is the season for telling ghost stories around a campfire. What recipe could be appropriate for this topic? For something with a real kick, skip the marshmallows and break out the Ghost Pepper Cookies.
Ghost Pepper Cookies
We’ve all had it happen to us. We suddenly reach that breaking point and simply can’t continue on. Being totally spent, she gave up, and joined her two small toddlers who were playing under a nearby shade tree. The older of the two remembers her saying, “I just can’t do it.” He also witnessed what happened next. Just before the skies opened up and provided the rain
1 (12 oz.) package chocolate chips or chunks 1 c. margarine, softened 2/3 c. packed brown sugar 1/3 c. sugar 1 tsp. soda 2 tsp. vanilla 1 tsp. ghost pepper salt* 1 egg 2 c. flour 1 c. nuts (optional) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt 1 c. of the chocolate pieces. Allow to cool. Cream margarine and both sugars. Add soda, vanilla and ½ tsp. salt. Add melted chocolate and egg,
blending until smooth. Stir in flour, nuts and remaining chocolate pieces. Drop onto parchment-lined baking sheet. Sprinkle with a hint of the remain salt. Bake 10-12 minutes. Cool completely on baking sheets before serving. *There really is such a seasoning as ghost pepper salt. As you would imagine, it is hot! Even though it pairs well with chocolate, you may find it to be too intense. If so, there is a wide variety of sea salts available which may be substituted to customize your favorite flavor. I normally avoid hot or spicy foods because they are . . . well, hot and spicy. I realize I’m in the minority on this subject but that still doesn’t help me understand why anyone would willingly eat something which causes them pain. Several have tried but no one has been able to fully explain it to me. When faced with the unexplainable, I try to remember there is no such thing as coincidence; it is usually one of those occasions when God chooses to remain anonymous. So, if you receive unexpected assistance from someone and can’t rationalize it, just be gracious and gratefully accept it.
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People to See
It’s in The Magic with Rob Lake FREDERICK /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- One of the world’s most celebrated illusionists, and America’s Got Talent finalist, Rob Lake, comes to the Weinberg Center for the Arts Oct. 20 and 21 at 7 p.m. with The Magic of Rob Lake.
By Lisa Garcia People to See Editor raising funds and support for his hometown, Norman, Oklahoma’s Animal Rescue.
Named “The Top Illusionist in the World” by Caesars Entertainment, Rob is internationally renowned for his mesmerizing and award-winning illusion spectacular. Tickets are $35 and may be purchased online at WeinbergCenter.org, by calling the box office at 301-600-2828, or in person at 20 West Patrick Street. Discounts are available for students, children, and seniors.
has been featured in countless films, television shows, theme parks, and live productions worldwide.
Lake has become the source of modern magic know-how in Rob Lake has been performing world class illusions to delighted the industry. He is known for his large-scale tricks, once makaudiences since he was just 22 ing an armored truck full of one years old. Lake fell in love with million dollars appear in front of magic when he was 10 years old The FedEx Forum in Memphis, and began to ferociously study TN, in live time to an audience the art of illusion. 12 years later, of 15,000 people. He has toured in 2008, he became the youngest magician ever to receive a Merlin internationally, was a finalist on America’s Got Talent, and perAward for International Stage formed an extended run at the Magician of the Year, in 2012 iconic Atlantis Paradise resort in Caesars Entertainment named the Bahamas. When he’s not perhim the “Top Illusionist in the World,” and his magical prowess forming physics defying stunts, Rob Lake dedicates his time to -10- | WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM ~ October, 2021
The Weinberg Center for the Arts is one of the region’s premier performing arts presenters, offering film, music, dance, theater, and family-focused programming. Located in the historic Tivoli movie theater in downtown Frederick Maryland, the Weinberg Center strives to ensure that the arts remain accessible and affordable to local and regional audiences alike. Weinberg Center events are made possible with major support from the City of Frederick, the Maryland State Arts Council, Plamondon Hospitality Partners, and other corporate and individual donors. A complete listing of artists and performers scheduled for the 2021-2022 season can be found at WeinbergCenter.org. Rob Lake may also be seen Oct. 16 at the Harbison Theatre at Midlands Technical College in Irmo, SC.
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Go, Do, See
The History and Mystery o
I
I
r ec en tl y c a mp e d a t S tep h e n Fo s te r S ta te Pa r k i n the O k e f e n ok e e Swamp . It ’ s a be a uti f u l pl ace wi th a s t rang e a n d i n te re s ti ng his t o ry . O k ef e n oke e Swamp co ve rs a lmos t 7 0 0 s qu are mi l e s, mos tl y i n G e o rg i a bu t a sm a ll s e c tio n e xte nd s int o no r th F l or id a . O n a bo at t o u r of th e s wamp wi th Rang e r A le x , I le arne d s e veral ne w th in g s a b o u t the o ld swa mp . O n e t hi ng he t o l d me “ I t’ s n ot re al l y a swa mp . I t’ s th e h e ad wate rs o f bo t h th e S uwa n ne e and t he S a i n t M a r y s r i ve rs . It’s jus t e as i e r to s a y ‘s wamp ’ t han ‘ na tur a l we tl and s p re ser ve . ’” Be fo r e w h ite s e ttl e rs d i s co ve re d th e d i ve rs i ty o f the Ok e fe no k e e , Na tive Ame rica ns l i ve d a n d h unte d i n t he swa m p . T h ey cal l e d i t “La nd of th e T r e mb l i ng Eart h.” Ra n g e r A le x to o k me t o a p a tc h of so me ty p e o f g rass e s th a t were i n the pro ce ss of f or m i ng l and . Tru l y , w h en I p oke d at the sm a l l i s l a n d w ith my p ad dle, i t tr emb le d . Be t we e n th e b o at tri p wi t h Ra n g e r A le x and a b i t o f k ayak in g I d i d o n my o wn, i t ’ s ea s y to s e e ho w a perso n c ou l d b ec ome l o s t fore ve r i n th is p l ace that is m o re wa te r th a n l and . Rang e r A le x tol d me o ne
p i e ce o f valuable in f ormati o n. If you bec ome lost , j u s t to ss in a h an df ul of l e ave s a n d see wh ic h way the y fl oat . Th e c urren t will take them, an d a lost person fo l l o win g t h e leaves, bac k to the park doc k. It’s n o w on der legen ds ab o u t gh ost s, UFO abduc ti o ns , an d st ran ge swamp cre atu res like t h e Pigman , a cre ature resemblin g t h e E ve rgl ades Skun k Ape, ci rcu l ate. Th ere are t ales of we re -d eers, were- bears an d we re -p a n t h ers seen on t h e s wamp ’s islan ds at n igh t . L i ke th e t radit ion al werewo l f, o n ly silver bullet s c an k i l l them. A fourt een - year- old boy camp i n g wit h h is f amily at Ste p he n Fost er St at e Park re p o rted a sigh t in g of t h e P i gman in 1972. A c reat ure
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t h at looked like a c r os s bet ween a c h imp a nz ee a nd a small person at ta c ked t h e boy. I t t ried t o b i te the boy’s n ec k but h e s c r ea m ed an d h is paren t s hea r d a nd sh out ed bac k. Th e c r ea tu r e let go of t h e boy, j u m p ed in t o t h e wat er, an d s wa m ac ross an d disap p ea r ed i nto t h e w oods. Th e f ear gen era ted b y all t h e myst eriou s ta l es of st ran ge c reat ures a l l owed t h e swamp t o be u s ed a s a ref uge by t h ose d es p er a te en ough t o en t er. Du r i ng the 1800s bef ore an d d u r i ng t h e Semin ole war s , N a ti ve Americ an s used t he s wa m p t o elude soldiers, i ntent on ban ish in g t h em to Okl a homa. Billy’s I slan d , a b ou t a 2- mile boat t rip fr om the park doc k, is beli eved to b e n amed f or Billy Bowl egs , a
of Okefenokee Swamp Sem i no le , w h o h i d the re to eva de th e s old ie rs . R u nawa y sl a ves h i d d ee p i n the swa mp . W he n Wil l i a m Bartram came t o ex p l or e it i n the 1700 s, h e le a r n ed a Cre e k leg e nd h e la ter r eto l d i n bo o k , T r a vel s , of an i mmo rt al n a ti ve tr ib e “who s e wo m e n a r e in c omp arab l y be au t i f ul ” w h o l i ve d i n an encha nted l a n d whe re me n go t l o st in th e s wamp . B art ram bel i e ve d th e y we re t he Yam a s e s , a tr ib e ne arl y ex t e rmi n a ted b y t he Cre e k na t i o n th a t c a m e to the Ok e fe n ok e e a n d e s tab l i s he d t he i r co n tr ol of th e s wamp . One s tr a n g e s i ghti ng i n t he swa m p h a d a b as i s i n pro ve n f a c t. Peopl e cl ai m t o ha ve s e e n a n d e ve n b e e n pu rsu e d b y g r ee n g l o wi ng o rbs . S c ie n c e c a n e xp l ai n t hi s. I t ’s s wa m p gas , al s o cal l e d “ f ox f i r e ” and “we tlan d fl a tul e n c e. ” O rganic mat t er li k e le a ve s and gra sse s e ve n d e a d ani mal s sin k i nt o th e wa te r and de cay . T h e d e c a y re l e as e s me t han e g a s . S om e ti me s t hi s g l o w s . I do n ’ t k n ow a bo u t the we re -d e e r b u t I s aw d o ze ns o f d e e r r oa mi n g the p ark whi l e I wa s th er e . R ang e r A l e x sa i d Novemb e r i s a go o d mon th to s ee b e ar. T he sc a ri e st c r e a tur e I s aw was a lar g e a ll i g a tor th at was j u s t
ahe ad of my kayak. H e subme rg e d as I got c lose an d I wo rri ed t h at h e migh t deci d e to get un der my kayak and turn it over so h e c ould have a morn in g sn ac k. Many of t h e c ypress kn ees and re mn an t s of c ypress tre e s c ut durin g Okef en oke e ’s l oggin g period w h en the He bard Cypress Company b e gan h arvest in g t h e old cy p re s s t rees in t h e early 1900s have st ran ge sh apes. O ne s tump t h at I saw w h ile kayak i n g resembled a Bigfo o t i n a c rouc h n ear t h e s ho re . A no t h er paran ormal even t p e o p l e c laim is t h at t h e s wamp plays t ric ks on t ec h no l o g y. I did f in d on e weird thi ng . M y c ell ph on e lost i ts s i g n al in side my van but
By Kathleen Walls Contributing Editor AmericanRoads.net
c ould pic k up som eti m es just out t h e door . M a yb e, just n ot man y c e l l tower s i n t h at vast wet land . Wh et h er you a r e s eeki ng an en c oun t er wi th a s m el l y Sasquat c h , searc hi ng f or a UFO, or just want a p ea c ef ul plac e t o c amp , S tep hen Fost er St at e Park i n the Okef en okee N at i ona l Wi l d lif e Ref uge is it .
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Second “Let’s Go” Book Is Here
Our Things-To-Do editor has done it again! Her second book in the “Let’s Go” series has been published and is ready to order for the holiday gift-giving season.
“Let’s Go To The Barnyard” is a children’s picture book that tells the story of Dexter who moves to his new home. As he tries to make friends with the other animals, he is mistaken by their hesitation. Dexter soon learns first impressions are important and social graces can hinder the progress if not addressed properly. Also, there are times when we think we should submit to peer pressure when there wasn’t any in the first place. As in the first book, “Let’s Go To The Circus,” Dan Clevenger again provided the artwork for this book. His skills contributed greatly to the characters and story line of the book. Some may wonder why Kandy Derden didn’t choose to write “Let’s Do” books or why the Places to Go editor didn’t write destination books. There are several very good reasons. First of all, our placesto-go editor Sheeree Oney, is extremely busy with another full-time job requiring multiple responsibilities at numerous locations across the country. When at home, her grandchildren take over her spare time. When traveling to one of her many job locations, Ms. Oney loves to shop for bargains. Her monthly column started out reporting what she discovered. This led to her side business of running a discount bargain resale shop. -14- | WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM ~ October, 2021
Kandy Derden spent several years decorating cakes, working at a bakery, and helped her husband run their own bakery. At first, a collector of cookie cutters (more than 300), then switching to recipes (at least 13 file boxes plus several books), it was only fitting her column should feature a shared recipe.
Her writing abilities stem clear back to high school days. Upon taking journalism, she became an editor of the school newsletter and helped put the yearbook pages together. After college, she became a teacher, continuing to perfect her writing skills whenever she had time. With her teaching experience, she began to write children’s books with a lesson or moral implemented into the story line. After a study of available library books, it was determined there was not a series available to compliment the travel articles shared by this publication. So the idea was born, the goals were set, and Global Authors Publications, (GAP Publishing) accepted her submissions and made them a reality. It will soon be available on Amazon for $7.99 plus shipping. You can currently order from the author by emailing her at editor@weekenderextended.com. So is Kandy ready to repeat what she does a third time? “You betcha,” she said. “Again and again.” So stay tuned More to come very soon.
Fall Season Must Haves... Pumpkin Rolling Pin Cookie Stamp
This embossing rolling pin with Jack O’ Lantern alike pattern is made of solid beech wood that grew on the slopes of the Carpathians. Then it was engraved with a very high precision laser technology. The pattern is deep enough to make a high quality imprint on a pastry, fondant or a clay. Also it can be used with a play-dough and salt dough for children games! Price: $19.90 Etsy.com
Halloween T-Shirts There are more than 1500 designs available to order online at Tizifi There are adult sizes and children’s sizes. Price: $24.99 each Available at https://tizifi.com/halloween
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Places to Go
Haunted Igloo City
CANTWELL - This abandoned roadside hotel lies near the Denali National Park and Preserve on the Parks Highway. A four-story concrete building, it never opened to customers. This remote area is dark and empty, except for the times when travelers have reported seeing the lights on in the long empty building, and seeing the silhouette of a woman standing in the windows of the hotel.
Alaska’s two largest cities on the Parks Highway. Cantwell is named after Lieutenant J. C. Cantwell, military explorer and commander of the revenue steamer Corwin on the Yukon River, 1898-1900. Prior to the settlement, the only inhabitants of the Cantwell area were nomadic Tanana Indians and Athabascan Native Alaskans who hunted and fished. In their language they named Cantwell Intended to one day Yede’teni’na. The serve as a hotel, Igloo town began as a City was never actuflag stop on the ally completed. It was Alaska Railroad. constructed someThis flagstop time in the 1970s, but supplied the could not meet the Valdez Creek building codes of the mining area, time. While it might which had the be easier to meet some “This strange and mysteriname “Denali” of those codes today, too for the Valdez ous hotel was never opened to much of the hotel has Creek comdeteriorated over the munity. Many overnight customers.” years to make renovation Indians from - Wikipedia worthwhile. Not for lack the village of of trying, though. Ever Tyone came to since its construction, the building has gone through work at Valdez Creek and later lived out their lives in many owners, none of whom could get it up to par. The the Cantwell area. Many Tyones are buried in the old four-story concrete structure can be seen by airplanes Cantwell graveyard, next to the railroad tracks. Oley at 30,000 feet it is so large. But the interior was never Nicklie, a Native Alaskan, sought work with the railfinished. We know this because the igloo is no longer road after fur prices dropped. He and his two brothers padlocked as it once was—with so many parts starting then founded part of the settlement. Cantwell is 20 to fall apart, it’s impossible to keep curious passersby miles away from the abandoned igloo hotel. from wandering in to explore—and many have made their way inside.
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For More On Alaska, > CLICK HERE
Things to Do at Mortimer Farms
Corn Maze and Pumpkins DEWEY - Get lost in our giant corn maze and find the perfect pumpkin in the pumpkin patch.
spired playground filled with rides, games, and activities and tons of farm fun! Admission gives you an all-day pass to enjoy everything at the farm!
Admission includes the corn maze, farm-inspired rides, games, activities, Ropes Course, Buckaroo Pony, Redneck Swing, Buckin’ Bull Pipe Swings, Pillow Jump, Zip Lines, and admission into the pick-your-own experience! You will also enjoy tetherball, the animal encounter, giant race slides, farm to table food, and field roller races! Additionally, the an extensive list of shows and entertainment, Grain Train, Barrel Train, and Hayrides are enjoyed every Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Columbus Day all October long. We look forward to having your family enjoy 80 acres of farm-inspired fun at Mortimer Farms!
Starting October 1st, on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday + Columbus Day you will enjoy pig races, shows, entertainment, hay rides, corn maze, pumpkin patch, and more! And when the sun sets, you will enjoy all the activities at the farm plus fire dancers, karaoke, barn dances, and navigating through the corn maze in the dark, and entertainment!
Enjoy over 40 farm-inspired rides, games, activities, farm animals, the lovely farm scenery, ziplines, ropes course races, and more! To receive a more in-depth experience, book a Farm Tour. Farm Tours give families and schools the chance to talk to a real farmer, ask questions, and learn all about what we do. Pick n’ Play combines the fun had in The Farm Park and admission into The Gardens by giving you an all-day pass to enjoy both! Tickets start at $16.50 per person. For more information, visit https://www. mortimerfarmsaz.com/ On weekdays (Monday - Thursday) hayrides, grain train rides, outside vendors, shows, and entertainment will not be offered. You will enjoy farm-inspired rides, games, activities, corn maze, pumpkin patch, animal encounter, and more. Join us for a day in our farm-in-
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WOODLAND HILLS - Ready for a boo-tiful Halloween experience? The entire holiday lives in one fun-filled place at HAUNTOWEEN LA, where families can stop in for a spell and let the ghoul times roll for as long as they like, footloose and car-free! HAUNTOWEEN LA is back and will be open nightly from October 1 through October 31, from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. PT, at 6100 Topanga Canyon Blvd., Woodland Hills, CA. “2021 is about getting back to the fun festivities that families deserve to enjoy, while still being safe,” says Experiential Supply Founder & Chief Experience Officer Jasen Smith. “Don’t think of it as just a walkthrough. Families can set their own pace and thoroughly explore our thematic interactive environments.” HAUNTOWEEN LA is a kid-friendly, non-scary thematic exploration adventure featuring six massive, interactive environ-
ments. And of course, there’s lots of CANDY to take home. Trick-or-Treating is back, and this year kids will be able to walk door-to-door for their treats in the Town of Hauntoween. Candy is included in the ticket price. The Hauntoween Pumpkin Patch has more than 30,000 pumpkins on display and for purchase. With hay installations, detailed vignettes, and life-sized props flooding the environment, this is by no means your typical pumpkin patch. When families have found “the one,” they can head over to the Pumpkin Carving Village to create their own jack-o-lanterns! Attractions for 2021 include a playful Funny Bones Graveyard with enormous hay sculptures and hundreds of friendly skeletons for great photo ops. Also new is the maze-filled Scarecrow Gardens, in which traditional Halloween colors are enhanced
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by a neon and UV overlay, ready to ignite imaginations, young and old. Experiential Supply is an award-winning company to which the Hollywood film industry turns when it comes to creating large-scale, immersive experiences for such big budget movies as IT: Chapter 2, Ready Player One, The LEGO Movie, Smallfoot, and more! Open daily 5-11 p.m. from Oct. 1-31, tickets start at $30. To purchase, visit www.SoCalHauntoween.com.
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Go, Do, See
ERIE - There is terror in the Corn. And there are zombies in the paintball field! Let’s go on a haunted hayride and join in the fun at the Anderson Farm Fall Festival through Oct. 31. Prepare to be scared when you visit one of the Escape Rooms on site. Whether you want to escape from prison, free yourself from a maniac’s secret lair, or pull off the diamond heist of the century.... here’s your chance. Can you survive under pressure?? Try one or try all three!! With tons of great activities, including the 25acre corn maze, there is plenty of fun to be had. Spend the day or spend an hour....it’s all up to you! The old-fashioned paintball gallery is similiar to a carnival experience the whole family can enjoy. Right next door to the gallery is the ZOMBIE PAINTBALL HUNT, Colorado’s answer to the Zombie Apocalypse. You and your friends will enter the containment zone known as Snowbrier (a military base that has been overrun) in one of our zombie attack vehicles outfitted with splatter weapons to locate and take out the infected. So, the only question you should be asking yourself is are you up for the challenge? Other attractions and activities available are the pumpkin patch, paint a pumpking junction, gem mining, sand diggers, train rides, a tire mountain, and ducktona halfpipe duck races. A group may rent a spot for a campfire. It is great for marshmallow roasting and telling ghost stories. For more informaiton, viait online at https:// andersonfarms.com/
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Places to Go:
The Haunted Swamp at Magic Mountain Resort TWIN FALLS - The Haunted Swamp began 11 years ago as a fundraiser for Ski Patrol and Ski Instructors, and to support other charities in the area. It’s a 1-mile walk through outdoor terrain that covers rivers, bridges, trees and more. But, as the name implies, it’s more than just a scenic walk. Ghosts, goblins, zombies and other scary creatures await your arrival and try to scare you out of their swamp! “We’re extremely proud of what the Haunted Swamp has developed into over the last decade,” says the owners of Magic Mountain Resort. “We’ve got some of the most amazing props and we continue to create an experience that’s both frightening and fun for people of all ages. Plus, there are 60-75 actors waiting to play their part in giving you a unique experience so you won’t get bored!” The Haunted Swamp is open just in time for fall and guests are welcomed throughout the season before winter and ski season arrive. Come and try your luck in getting out of the swamp on any of the following dates: Open every weekend through Oct 30, there are also Bonus Wednesdays Oct. 23rd & 30th. October 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. is Kiddie Day at the swamp to make the attraction fun for families. Kiddie Day is a fun way for the younger kids to trick-or-treat through the Haunted Swamp and play games, ride the mini train and jump around in the bounce house. Discounted tickets are $8 each. For more information or to buy tickets, visit https://magicmountainresort.com/ haunted-swamp/ Think you can survive the swamp and make it to the other side? -20- | WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM ~ October, 2021
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Things to Do:
Ghostly Adventures
You can get spooked pretty easy in these ghost towns and adventures.
Travelers seeking spine-chilling thrills this fall should experience one of these spooky haunts, starting with the Bannack Ghost Walks. These live reenactments highlight significant events throughout the history of Bannack, an old mining town once bustling with life—now the afterlife. Those willing can meet the ghosts of Henry Plummer, Joe Pizanthia, Cyrus Skinner, Doctor Glick, Mattie Silks and many more rouges from Bannack’s colorful past. The ghosts come alive for two shows nightly typically the Friday and Saturday prior to the week of Halloween, the first at 7:00pm and the second at 9:00pm. Performances presented by the Bannack Association are based on historical events that occurred at Bannack. From Bannack, outdoor enthusi-
asts interested in learning about Montana’s mining past can head north to Garnet. There’s a self-guided tour of the 30 buildings in this historic mining town, including the J.R. Wells Hotel, F.A. Davey’s Store and two old western saloons. It’ll give you a glimpse of what life was like during the gold mining boom of the 1800s. You can also hike the surrounding trails ranging from 1-3 miles. For something a little more frighten-
ing, the Old Montana Prison in Deer Lodge won’t disappoint. Just a short drive from Garnet, visitors can take a guided or self-guided tour through the intimidating Cell House and into the chilling slide bar cells and black box of Maximum Security. If that doesn’t sound creep enough for you, there’s a Ghost Tour from 9:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 9. There you will experience the hot spots where reports have been made about paranormal activity.
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Go, Do, See these Scaregrounds
PORTLAND - ScareGrounds PDX returns this fall to Oaks Amusement Park on select nights between Oct. 8-31, 2021. Considered the city’s ONLY Scream Park, it is located in one of the oldest amusement parks in the country, the historic Oaks Amusement Park. The event features three horrifying haunted walkthrough attractions, House of Horrors Scarezone, Graveyard Pumpkin Patch, Scream Parlor Photo Ops, as well as Oaks Park Thrill
Rides, Games, Concessions. Alcoholic beverages are available for adults, 21 and oler ScareGrounds PDX is your destination for a scary good time this Halloween! As guests make their way to one of the Haunted Attractions, they will encounter the House of Horrors and reluctantly have to make their way through the Scarezone to reach their destination. Consider it a hodge-podge gathering of the worst of the worst. All the monsters you’ve
dreaded since childhood have taken claim to the House of Horrors and the midway at Oaks Amusement Park — From bloodthirsty chainsaw wielding maniacs to horrifying clowns — Get ready to scream, because they’re not just going to let you pass through unscathed. The Oaks Park is open 3-10 p.m (5-10 p.m Oct 25-28. The haunted attractions are open 7-11 p.m. (until midnight on weekends.) For ticket and more information, visit https://scaregroundspdx.com/
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MURRAY - It’s back for the biggest Halloween season ever in 2021! The screams are loud and unfiltered this year as the show expands into three new sets. Dead City Haunted House is Utah’s fastest growing haunted attraction and quickly becoming one of the best in the nation. Can you survive what waits for you around every corner? Test your bravery this year with all new surprises you won’t want to miss. Honored as one of the “Haunters to Watch” recipients in 2020, Dead City Haunted House has continued to innovate the industry with customized animatronics and special effects created entirely in house. You will experience an Adventure. Located next to the Murray cemetery at 5425 S Vine Street , free parking is available on site. Advance general admission online is $26.95. Optional Death be Gone (For Kids or Chickens!) @ $1.00 per ticket. They are open weekends from 7:30 p.m. to midnight (11 p.m. on weeknights). Repeat Offender (2nd Entry Same Day) is $8. As a teenager the owner of Dead City Haunted House attended several haunted house events which generated further interest, made fun memories, and provided a wealth of experiences to draw from when creating future events. He learned how to make many special effects in a high school electronics class including plasma balls, Jacobs Ladders, Tesla Coils, strobe
lights, zap effects and more. Having an interest in animatronics and robotics, he attended the University of Utah and received a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering. While at the U of U he developed an animatronic control circuit card and used it to make coin operated talking skeletons. In 1997 he opened his own first haunted house called The Haunted Old West. It was located at the Wagonmaster restaurant, ironically in the same building that Dead City Haunted House now resides. The event was around 18,000 square feet, had several automated effects, approximately 40-50 actors, vortex tunnel, two giant puppet characters, and many other fun effects. After its success, several other opportunities arose. There was a period of time where he even consulted for other haunted attractions in the area. He wandered around in the underground tunnels of one attraction, thinking up effects for his next haunted event. In 2003 – 2004 he designed and operated an outdoor haunted house event for Hollywood Connections family entertainment center in West Valley City. He also designed a fully
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automated Halloween animatronic theater that performed for guests. From 2010 to 2016 he was a 12% owner of the Castle of Chaos haunted house and resided mainly at the Nightmare Mansion event in Taylorsville Utah. From 2015 – 2017 he designed a haunted house that operated at the Utah State Fair. In 2016 he created his own line of animatronics control systems along with a line of amazing animatronic monsters! In 2017 work began on the new 30,000 square foot Dead City Haunted House location where the legacy continues! For tickets and more informaiton, visit https://www.deadcityhauntedhouse.com/
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Go, Do, See
Three Top Haunted Happenings
Fright Fest
Georgetown Morgue
Haunted Woods
Maris Farms Haunted Seattle offers tons of not afraid to encounter monsters. Three haunted attractions are also Woods (Oct 1-31, on selected events and activities for not recommended for small chil- days) Halloween—ghost tours, dren. SCARE-a-oke fun takes place It’s sure to provide a thrillhaunted houses, and every Friday night. ing and chilling experience. The trick-or-treating. Not to Haunted Woods is a 35-minute Georgetown Morgue frightening quest through the mention wild parties at numerous Seattle clubs Haunted House (Thu Nov. 6) corn with creeps, mutants, weird The Haunted House located at characters, and other dangers at and venues, especially at the Georgetown Morgue is one every corner. The farm also has a Pioneer Square and Capi- of the scariest Halloween attrac- less scary Flashlight Maze & Night tions in Seattle. The Georgetown Wagon Ride attraction. The seatol Hill neighborhoods. Fright Fest at Wild Waves Theme & Water Park (Oct
8–31) Fright Fest at Wild Waves Theme & Water Park invites visitors of all ages for six weekends of Halloween-inspired fun. Family by Day activities for little ones run from noon to 6 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. But by night, the park gets genuinely frightening. So the time from 6 pm to 7 pm Fridays through Sundays is reserved for older kids and those who are
Morgue of Seattle witnessed thou- sonal fun continues each weekend sands of funeral preparations and throughout October. cremations. The frightening story tells that nine morgue staffers were forced into the crematorium chamber and burned. Also, the notorious Dr. Simons has acquired the Georgetown Morgue and discovered catacombs underneath For more on that might contain glowing toxic chemicals. Will you dare to inWashington vestigate what is going on at the Georgetown Morgue?
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Go, Do, See
Fright-Seeing Ghost Tours Wyoming State Capitol Building The Ghosts of Wild Elections Past
It’s a brush with the underworld right here in Cheyenne. Join us as we illuminate the spirits of the wild and wooly cowboys and Indians that once inhabited the vast prairie. Expect numerous bumps in the night as the Trolley travels through the haunted highways and paranormal passages of Cheyenne. Explore the darker side of Cheyenne as you hear chilling tales of the local haunts in this destination. The tour route is different each year with all new surprises, so you can come back for more...if you dare. We recount people’s ghostly ex-
periences as relayed to us. The tour is based upon actual spine tingling events as people perceived them. We work closely with paranormal investigation groups to provide relevant paranormal data. The investigators participate in the tours. Costumes are encouraged!
From gruesome murders to unexplainable phenomena, this 70-minute tour will leave you wondering what is imagined - and what is truly real.
Make reservations for any Friday, Saturday or Sunday in October, either at 6 p.m. or 8 p.m. For Whether you call Cheyenne more information, visit https:// home, or you’re visiting for the www.cheyenne.org/things-to-do/ first time, the Cheyenne Trolley cheyennetrolley/ Tours offer a great introduction to Cheyenne and the Wild West. The Cheyenne Street Railway Trolley Wild West tours show you the city’s most interesting sites and historic buildings, with lively narration. A Cheyenne Trolley CharFor more on ter Tour is the solution for many Wyoming group outings within Laramie County, as well. Travel in style to and from your destination.
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Seaside Shadows Await on Haunted History Tours There are many questions to be answered regarding this pathway through Downtown Mystic. Where does the famous giggling ghost of Mystic visit dining guests? What curse haunts the landscape of Mystic? What historic artifacts and headstone engravings have been found in Mystic’s antiquated burial grounds? Who keeps watch over the town’s Civil War Office awaiting the arrival of her lost love? Who is the lady calling for her long-lost love on the wind? How did colonial people store their dead? Hear the answers to this along with more legends and spooks when you take a Seaside Shadows Downtown Mystic tour or Mystic Moonlit Graveyard Tour. Courtney McInvale Reardon and her team will take you by lantern light on the tour of your choice where they will answer all of these questions and more. Starting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, The Seaside Shadows Downtown Mystic tours go through the bustling landscape of shops and restaurants surrounding the famous drawbridge. On Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday at 7 p.m., Seaside Shadows Mystic Cemetery Tours allow guests to walk through the Whitehall Burial Ground associated with the famously sighted ghosts of this burial ground. Halloween week, the last week in Oct., additional tours are available. For instance, join Seaside Shadows guides for a walk through Mystic’s Water Street on Oct. 28 and hear about the haunting tales of your favorite local pubs and taverns. This tour will feature stops at some of your favorite local pubs. The tour includes a total of three beers! Tickets for all Ghostly Tours are $25 per person in October and $20 during the rest of the year.To reserve online or for more informaiton, visit https://www.seasideshadows. com For More on Connecticut >ClickHere October, 2021 ~ WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM | -27-
Go, Do, See
Theme Paint Along
Oct. 3 /CAPE PORPOISE -Local artist and amazing teacher Hope and her child Kai will show you how to paint an amazing Halloween themed painting. Open To all ages, a great family activity! $35.
Pumpkin Harvest Festival
Oct. 23//SACO -The community is gearing up for Saco Main Street’s Annual Pumpkin Harvest Festival to be celebrated on Main Street in Saco. Some of the events are a spectacular line up of local businesses with children’s games, food vendors, music, arts and crafts. 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Haunted Hearse Tours
PRESQUE ISLE - Join Presque Isle Historical Society to hear about lingering spirits and ghosts at 13 sites around downtown Presque Isle based on findings by the Maine Paranormal Investigative Team. Tickets $10 per person. Departs from Historic Fire Station, 11 Church Street. Reservations REQUIRED. Rain or Shine! FMI, contact Presque Isle Historical Society at pihistoricalsociety@ hotmail.com or 762-1151. All tours at 7:00 pm EXCEPT on Halloween October 31. For October 31, tours will be given at 6:00 pm, 7:30 pm, and 9:00 pm. Price is $10.
Masquerade Party
Oct. 30 /OGUNQUIT -One of the biggest nights of the year is back for 2021. Join us on Saturday, at 9 p.m. featuring two dancefloors with Resident DJ’s AGA & KEN and of course our annual COSTUME CONTEST! http://www.mainestreetogunquit. com
Haunted Grandview Manor
LEBANON - For Halloween thrills, visit the Haunted Grandview Manor in Sanford. No one will leave this house the same!!! This haunt has been visited by hundreds of people, with nothing but great remarks!!! Open from 7-9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays
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in Oct. For more information, visit online at www.hauntedgrandviewmanorcom ‘‘
WICKED
MEXICO - The River Valley Haunted Walk. With more than 15 different rooms and nearly 9,000 square feet of space, WICKED is one of Maine’s largest and scariest haunted houses! See paranormal investigators from the web series Haunt-Me (http:// haunt-me.com/) investigate the old Mexico High School building, where WICKED and the River Valley Recreation Center are located. Tickets are $8! Doors open at 6 p.m. and the first walk starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are sold by time slot, so reserve early Refreshments will be available at the snack bar prior to your entry time, and entertainment will be provided in the gymnasium. Bring your friends and find out who is WICKED brave, and who isn’t! hwww.facebook.com/RiverValleyWicked/
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People to See
The Honey Dewdrops
Baltimore Americana duo, The Honey Dewdrops, will take the Weinberg Center stage Thursday, October 7, 2021, at 7:30 PM as part of the Tivoli Discovery Series, an emerging artist concert series featuring up and coming artists. Tickets are $10 online or pay-what-you-want at the door. Tickets may be purchased online at WeinbergCenter.org, by calling the box office at 301-600-2828, or in person at 20 West Patrick Street. Laura Wortman and Kagey Parrish, together known as The Honey Dewdrops, have long felt the push and pull between their original roots in the Appalachian mountains of Virginia and their current home in Baltimore, Maryland. Artistically, Wortman and Parrish are inspired by American folk and traditional music and their sound expands on that style and showcases the dynamism and intimacy of musical duos. The Honey Dewdrops have released six albums and toured internationally since 2009, with over a thousand shows under their belts on stages such as A Prairie Home Companion, Merlefest, Celtic Connections (Glasgow, SCO) and the Bluegrass Jamboree (Germany). The duo’s latest collection of songs, Anyone Can See, was released in March 2019. Baltimore
Magazine says “…their sincere, stripped-down songwriting is just the kind of music we need more of.” They plan to release a new album of original songs in the spring of 2022. ABOUT THE WEINBERG CENTER FOR THE ARTS The Weinberg Center for the Arts is one of the region’s premier performing arts presenters, offering film, music, dance, theater, and family-focused programming. Located in the historic Tivoli movie theater in downtown Frederick Maryland, the Weinberg Center strives to ensure that the arts remain accessible and affordable to local and regional audiences alike. Weinberg Center events are made possible with major support from the City of Frederick, the Maryland State Arts Council, Plamondon Hospitality Partners, and other corporate and individual donors. A complete listing of artists and performers scheduled for the 2021-2022 season can be found at WeinbergCenter.org.
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Go, Do, See
Halloweentown
Salem is a small New England town just 16 miles north of Boston and is most famous for the Salem witch trials of 1692. Throughout the entire month of October the ultimate Halloween experience is celebrated everywhere in this unique town and the fun and excitement are without equal! So if you get goosebumps just thinking about the eerie month of October, abandon all hope and surrender to the spell of Salem! Salem brews up more Halloween activities than you can shake a broom at.Here are just a few of our favorites:
Peabody Essex Museum
161 Essex St. 866-745-1876. More than 300 years after the Salem witch trials, the personal tragedies and grievous wrongs that occurred still provoke reflection. Learn more about factors that fueled the storied crisis and explore two creative responses by contemporary artists with ancestral -30- | WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM ~ October, 2021
links to the trials, speaking directly to the historical trauma evident in the authentic 17th-century documents and objects on view to provide a powerful connection between past and present. Information and Tickets
Kids’ Fun Fest On Salem Common
Kids Fest will be October 23, 24, 30, and 31. Salem Common. 11am-5pm. The Salem Common Neighborhood Association invites you to this year’s Kids’ Fun Fest! A yearly tradition held on the Salem Common in October, the Fun Fest has lots of great family activities for kids of all ages. Bounce houses, slides, rides and fun houses will be onsite as well as face painting and fall activities. Pricing information TBD. The Kids’ Fun Fest is run by the Salem Common Neighborhood Association, a non profit and sponsored by Fiesta Shows. Kids Fun Fest
Hollowed Harvest – Wicked Labyrinth
Hollowed Harvest211 Bridge St. Sept. 17-Oct. 31. The magic of Halloween awaits you at the Hollowed Harvest: Wicked Labyrinth featuring 1,000 intricately carved JackO’-Lanterns that offer a new twist on the magic of the Hol-
By Lisa Brant lowed Harvest. This new version is a different experience than the outdoor variety and is only offered in Salem this year. Information and Tickets
Salem Horror Fest 2021
Starting October 1. Immerse yourself in the darkest delicacies of horror from the Halloween capital of the world. This year’s program features more than twenty five premieres in addition to ROMERO LIVES, a celebration and retrospective of the life and legacy of the Master of Horror featuring a curated month-long series of screenings and special programs in partnership with The George A. Romero Foundation. Info and Tickets Haunted Happenings Marketplace
Witch Dungeon Museum
16 Lynde St. (978) 741-3570 Considered the most exciting experience in Salem, the mood is set from the moment you enter the Witch Dungeon Museum. You are there – in Salem Village in 1692, and you are guaranteed a unique educational experience with a chill or two. You’ll experience the acclaimed performance of a Witch trial adapted from the 1692 historical transcripts. Professional actresses in repertory reenact the electrifying scene. For more information, visit http://www. witchdungeon.com/
The Salem Haunted Magic Show – Hysteria X
Starting Sept. 25. Celebrating our 10 Year Anniversary
with All New Magic, Mind Reading & Frights! Each performance piece will take you on a trip into the bizarre & unusual. New magical illusions, incredible mind-reading, and hauntingly creepy experiences make the show immersive, participatory, and appropriate for audiences of all ages! The 2021 season will be no exception! This year we’ve even crafted a few additional surprises to really make this show memorable when you leave! Information and Tickets
Hocus Pocus at Ropes Mansion
Ropes MansionRopes Mansion, 318 Essex St. Free event. The Ropes Mansion will be decorated as it appeared in the popular Salem-based film Hocus Pocus. You won’t have to bob for apples during this visit to Allison’s house but this is a must-see for any fan this October! No reservations required. Hocus Pocus at Ropes Mansion
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Places to Go
New! Westerntown Paintball
Welcome to Pumpkintown. It’s a destination for seasonal activities and fun for all ages! This family-fun attraction offers more than 20 different fall attractions. There is a petting zoo, a corn maze, a spook shack, haunted house, sports zone, and play area with a giant slide and pumpkin themed games. Special guest attractions each weekend have included live chainsaw carving, magic shows, Halloween costume contests, and visits from local service groups including the K9 search and rescue team. An antique tractor show will be held Oct. 3. The special attraction Oct. 10 will be helicopter rides. The food shack on the 53-acre premises offers many varieties of food & desserts. Don’t miss the delicious pumpkin donuts and apple cider, a favorite among repeat customers. Other things to do are pony rides, gem mining, apple cannons, hay wagon rides, riding the
cow train, sliding down a giant slide, face painting, and giant jump pads. Pumpkins are for sale and prices depend on the size chosen. New to the 2021 season are nightmare hayrides on Friday & Saturday evenings, The Field of Screams is now open from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Also among the new additions to Pumpkintown this year is Westerntown Paintball. Come check it out for yourself and join the fun! “We are a family run and operated business that started in 2018,” said owner Eric Andrews. “We add new attractions yearly and plan to expand with each coming season! The cost is $12 for adults and children, ages 3 and up; seniors 65 and older are $6; veterans and active military with I.D. are free. Free for children 2 & under. Open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. throughout the month of October.
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For more information, visit http:// pumpkintownwny.com/ or on facebook at https://www.facebook. com/pumpkintownny
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Places to Go:
Old Jail Museum
JIM THORPE - In 1877, seven members of the Molly Maguires, a secret union of Irish coal miners, were imprisoned and executed at Jim Thorpe’s Old Jail Museum. Today when you tour the jail, you can wander along the Old Jail’s cold hallways. Peek inside the cell 17 in the preserved building, where a Molly Maguire member left a dirty handprint before his hanging as a declaration of innocence (mysteriously visible after the wall was washed, painted, and plastered). Stand under the gallows ahsds fhe accused were put to death! Creep into the eerie dungeon. Hear stories (in Small Groups) of actual experiences visitors have had in the jail Don’t forget to check out the book that tells more of the story,
“Ghosts of the Molly Maguires?” It is a collection of visitors’ firsthand accounts of strange happenings in the Old Jail. Historians today feel the Molly Maguire trials were a surrender of state sovereignty. Resembling a fortress standing guard over the town of Jim Thorpe (formerly known as Mauch Chunk), the historic Old Jail Museum is a beautiful two-story stone structure. Containing approximately 72 rooms, this magnificent structure shouts to all “Be good”! The building has 27 cells, plus basement dungeon cells used as solitary confinement until 1980, women’s cells on the second floor, and the warden’s living quarters across the front of the building.
Yes... there are ghosts in this jail - although they are considered friendly. They usually make their presence known to tourists who aren’t looking for them. Sometimes, they appear during a regular daytime tour. You never know if your group will be one of the lucky ones for their visit. Ghost tours are scheduled every Saturday through October starting at 6 p.m. and last tour ending at 9 p.m. Admission tickets are $15 per person. For more information, visit http://www. theoldjailmuseum.com/
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Voices From the Land Exhibitio
WOODSTOCK – The Billings Farm & Museum presents the Voices from the Land exhibition by celebrated Vermont photographer Jim Westphalen. The exhibition, in partnership with the Woodstock Inn & Resort, is open now through October 20. The Voices from the Land will tell the story of Americans who have forged, and continue to forge, a life from the land. There will be 22 large-format photographs created with Jim’s vintage 4x5 view camera that he’s adapted for digital capture. Each picture tells a story, through indelible images of rural structures and landscapes of Vermont. The featured images will be available for purchase, with a portion of the proceeds supporting the Billings Farm & Museum. “It’s an honor to host this special exhibition,” said David
Simmons, Executive Director of the Billings Farm & Museum. “Billings Farm & Museum is a natural venue for Jim Westphalen’s striking and stunning images of rural America.” As a professional photographer for more than 30 years, Jim Westphalen documents scenes of human occupation within natural surroundings, with images of aging farms, barns, and other rural structures across America. Born and raised in Long Island, New York, he moved to Vermont in 1996 to be closer to the rural landscape he loves, and it has been home ever since. The Voices from the Land exhibition is included with admission to the Billings Farm & Museum. Guests of the Woodstock Inn & Resort receive complimentary admission to the farm and exhibition. Find more information here.
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The Billings Farm & Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. through October 31 and weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. during November through February. Admission rates, hours, and events can be found by visiting www.billingsfarm.org. For the continued safety of our staff and guests, all guests over the age of 2 are required to wear a face covering in all indoor spaces. For outdoor spaces, mask wearing is optional for fully-vaccinated persons; unvaccinated persons must wear masks when around people and unable to maintain 6’ physical distances. No entry is permitted without a face covering. Visit www.billingsfarm.org/safety/ for details.
About Billings Farm & Museum
Located in Woodstock, Vermont, the Billings Farm & Mu-
on at Woodstock Inn and Resort
seum is an operating Jersey dairy farm that continues a 150-year tradition of agricultural excellence with a museum offering programs and exhibits that explore Vermont’s rural heritage and values. Find more information at www. billingsfarm.org.
About the Woodstock Inn & Resort
Located in idyllic Woodstock, Vermont, the Woodstock Inn & Resort defines country sophistication in one of New England’s most charming and popular year-round vacation destinations.
The 142-room, AAA Four Diamond Resort, and a member of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts LVX Collection, offers award-winning dining in two restaurants, ranked among the finest in New England. The Woodstock Inn & Resort is owned and operated by The Woodstock Foundation, Inc. Proceeds from Resort operations support The Woodstock Foundation and Billings Farm & Museum education and conservation programs. For more information about the resort visit: www.woodstockinn.com.
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Port Salerno Ghost Tour Stretching more than 22 miles along the Atlantic coast of South Florida, Martin County provides an uncrowded escape that combines Old Florida nostalgia and authentic seaside charm. From secret sun-drenched coves and private stretches of sand to expansive, lifeguard-protected beaches, there’s plenty of room to spread out and explore. This easy-to-get-to but hidden gem also offers more than 100,000 acres of parks and conservation land, world-class fishing, lively downtown districts, endless golfing, unique attractions and more Port Salerno Ghost Tours “throws shade” on Florida’s sunny reputation with dark, shivery tales of this historic fishing town. During the bone-chilling tour, guests meet the spirits of ancient Indians, plundering pirates, a phantom widow watching for lost seamen and the victims of a deranged police officer who still linger at the Devil’s Tree (where their bodies were eventually found). Does Black Caesar still steer his ghost ship toward Dead Man’s Point? Are there ghostly clues to sunken treasure off Port Salerno’s coast? What other spirits still lurk along these picturesque shores? Tours are led by Patrick and Patricia Mesmer, authors of “Ghosts of the Treasure Coast” and experienced local guides who base their stories on extensive history and professional
paranormal research. They also conduct separate paranormal investigations and events at other haunted locations throughout the year, such as the House of Refuge—Martin County’s oldest surviving building, which once served as a safe haven for travelers who shipwrecked along Florida’s treacherous shores. To assist on the tour, guests are equipped with instruments like electromagnetic field detectors and infrared thermometers; the same tools used on TV shows like “Ghost Hunters” and “Ghost Adventures.” The two-hour walking tours take place most Saturday nights, with equal emphasis on local history and paranormal activity. Port Salerno Ghost Tours, 4745 Southeast Desoto Avenue, Fish House Art Gallery, Stuart, Florida; (772) 223-5482 or check https://www.facebook.com/ portsalernoghosttours for updates and upcoming events. In Martin County, a thriving arts and culture scene celebrates historic preservation and the region’s rich legacy. Area restaurants feature fresh-caught fish served alongside ingredients from local, organic farms. Martin County offers many lodging options, including quaint inns, one-of-a-kind bed and breakfasts, chic oceanfront resorts, quirky fish camps, rustic campgrounds and your favorite national and global hotel brands. www.DiscoverMartin.com
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Only 30 minutes south of Atlanta, and a convenient stop on the way to Savannah or Orlando, Henry County includes the cities of Stockbridge, McDonough, Hampton and Locust Grove, as well as delightful family farms for tours, produce, honey, handcrafted soaps and more. Memorable attractions include Atlanta Motor Speedway, inspiring animal encounters, military museums and helicopter rides in military aircraft and one of Georgia’s few remaining Civil War battlefields. Fear the Woods is a professionally-produced haunt emphasizing ghoulish actors over animatronics; it has consistently been ranked one of the top haunted tours in Georgia. The Haunted House preys on one’s psychological fears; the Haunted Trail challenge is finding the way back after being dropped off in the middle of the woods and corn fields with the Skinner family. Pandemic is a new 80,000-square-foot interactive,
competitive, combat field where skills determine each guest’s fate. The Yule Forest Family Farm offers kid-friendly outings from October through mid-December. The farm is open seasonally for pumpkin picking, fall fun, free Saturday afternoon concerts, an action-filled festival with a hay maze, hayride and petting zoo. Kid-friendly Pumpkin Patch open every day. Fear the Woods open Friday-Sunday in October, not recommended for small children. Call or check website for pricing, times and details. From Thanksgiving through mid-December, return for precut and cut-your-own Christmas trees. Yule Forest Family Farm, 3565 North Highway 155 Highway North, Stockbridge, Georgia; (770) 954-9356. FeartheWoods.com At Southern Belle Farm, enjoy a pumpkin patch, four-acre corn maze, U-pick flowers, farm market and bakery. At The Georgia State Fair enjoy exciting attractions and shows along with live music,
carnival rides and your favorite fair foods. Held at the Atlanta Motor Speedway October 1-10, 2021, tickets should be reserved in advance. The Army Aviation Heritage Foundation and Flying Museum honors the military’s “Sky Soldiers” by restoring and maintaining vintage aircrafts of the Vietnam War. Veteran pilots take guests on chopper rides aboard a UH-1H Huey or AH-1F Cobra attack helicopter. Visitors can find family-friendly and upscale dining as well as a variety of lodging options from familiar brand hotels to sleeping under the stars at beautiful campsites. www. VisitHenryCountyGeorgia.com
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in Natchitoches NATCHITOCHES - In north-central Louisiana along the banks of the Cane River is the oldest city in the state.. Named after an American Indian tribe, Natchitoches (pronounced Nack-a-tish), its 33-block National Historic Landmark District is paved with weathered brick and lined with wrought iron-laced buildings, stately live oaks, magnolia trees, shops and restaurants.Nearby, Melrose Plantation was built by the family of a former slave who attained her freedom. Don’t miss the works of renowned folk artist Clementine Hunter who began life as a field hand and cook here. A Natchitoches couple transformed a literal ghost town into Dark Woods Haunted Attraction, an outdoor adventure that combines a vintage setting with 21st century technology. Buildings in the former logging village have been preserved along with a rural cemetery and a turn of the century grave diggers shack.
The new-each-year storylines bring the horror, folk tales and legends of Louisiana together in a unique immersive experience that is top-rated by aficionados, including The Scare Factor and Louisiana Haunted Houses websites. Character actors, detailed costuming, realistic sets and Hollywood-style special effects produce an atmosphere of foreboding and fright covering over one terrifying mile. Black lights, 3-D attractions with Chroma-depth 3-D glasses, strobe lights, fog and moving floors add to the shock, awe and fear factor. Open October 1-2, 8- 9, 15-16, 21-23, 29-31. Dark Woods Adventure Park, 4343 University Parkway (Louisiana Highway 6) Natchitoches, Louisiana 71457, (318) 2899019; www.DarkwoodsHaunt. com If You Go: The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum celebrates the achievements of legendary
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Louisiana athletes and sports figures, along with unique state cultural traditions from early Native American civilizations to the present. Take a riverboat ride aboard the Cane River Queen or tour the riverbanks and picturesque downtown streets of Natchitoches in a classic horse-drawn carriage. Don’t-miss restaurants include Lasyone’s Meat Pie Kitchen, where the legendary recipe was thought to originate, Cane River Commissary, with Creole cuisine and a monthly Zydeco Brunch and Mariner’s, serving seafood and sunsets along Lake Sibley. Stay in one of 30-plus B&Bs in the “Bed & Breakfast Capitol of Louisiana.” www.Natchitoches.com
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Haunted Vicksburg in the Mississippi Delta
The Mississippi Delta runs south from Memphis through fertile fields and welcoming communities along the banks of the mighty Mississippi River. Visitors will see why the landscape, the languid ambiance, the architecture and hospitality invite long stays for plenty of time to dine, explore and experience. With nine counties to explore, there is plenty to do, including driving The Mississippi Blues Trail and savoring unique food and dining opportunities from roadside stand to white tablecloth. Casino entertainment, Civil War history, shopping and family-friendly fun add to the mix. www.VisitTheDelta.com Just 45 miles west of Jackson and 75 miles north of Natchez, Vicksburg sits at the intersection of I-20 and the famed U.S. Highway 61, known as the Blues Highway. According to all accounts, Vicksburg is the most haunted town in the Mississippi Delta, with seven locations holding years of anecdotal and paranormal-investigator evidence. From a former Civil War battlefield and hospital to stately homes, Mississippi’s most haunted house and one of the state’s most haunted hotels, visitors have plenty of opportunities for eerie shivers. Four historic Bed and Breakfasts even welcome guests to an overnight fright.
Why so many haunts? Vicksburg has a long and bloody history of conflict, between Native American and European settlers to brother against brother in the war between North and South. At Vicksburg National Military Park, where thousands of soldiers perished, paranormal investigations and ordinary visitors have reported hearing sounds, smells and sights of battle, including cannon fire, horses, orders issued and screams of the wounded over empty fields. Haunted Vicksburg Ghost Walk includes a 12-block, leisurely stroll through Vicksburg’s oldest, most haunted neighborhood. The Trail of Tears, antebellum duels, yellow fever epidemics and a 47-day siege have left quite a legacy of restless spirits. Old Court House Museum at the corner of Monroe and Grove Streets. Tours are March-December. Social distancing required. Booking is online only. www. HauntedVicksburg.com/newghostwalk.htm McRaven Tour Home is Mississippi’s “Most Haunted House” and is considered to be the third most haunted house in the entire United States. Years of ghostly and paranormal activity have been documented by professional paranormal researchers and explored on A&E, The Travel October, 2021 ~ WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM | -43-
Channel, 48 Hours and more. From the hideout of a notorious highwayman on the Natchez Trace to a prominent businessman who was murdered by Union troops, discover why spirits have lingered in the gardens and home that held a Confederate campsite and field hospital. Yearround historic and ghost tours, private paranormal discovery tours, no charge for children 5 and under. McRaven Tour Home, 1445 Harrison Street, Vicksburg, www.McRavenTourHome.com.
cling, fishing and paddling the river are favorite outdoor pastimes. The cuisine is as diverse as the Mississippi culture. Both the Mississippi Tamale Trail and the Mississippi Seafood Trail are represented here, as are revered establishments featuring local produce, original recipes and a reputation for Southern hospitality. www.VisitVicksburg.com For information on the nine of the region’s counties and the congressionally designated Mississippi Delta Heritage Area, events and more, go to https:// www.travelmediapressroom.com/mississippi/mississippi-delta
The elegance, cuisine and comfort of four Inns and B&Bs make them popular with visitors who scoff at—or search out—eerie adventure. Duff Green Mansion, the McNutt House, Anchuca HistorFor more Vicksburg story ideas, go to ic Mansion and Annabelle Bed and Break- https://www.travelmediapressroom.com/ fast all have haunted history. Details can mississippi/vicksburg-mississippi/ be found at https://www.visitvicksburg. com/mississippi-haunted-hotels). If You Go: Overlooking the banks of the Mississippi River, Vicksburg is quintessentially Southern. Live music adds to the fun at rooftop bars overlooking the river and outstanding local restaurants throughout the downtown shopping and entertainment district. Historic trail bicy-
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Things to Do:
Terror Isle Adventures TEXAS CITY - “Avast Ye! Terror Isle Haunted Attraction is the best pirate haunted attraction on the high sea, guaranteed to make the hairs on your sea legs stand. Bring your best crew and try your luck at capturing the Pirate King’s treasure, but beware! Pirates, zombies, hell hounds, and creatures from the deep await to make your nightmares come true.” The legend continues. More than 200 years ago, two rival pirate captains went to war for control over a vast criminal empire. Little did they know that a massive storm would come ashore that same night, completely destroying the settlement and washing all traces of their conflict into the sea. For two centuries they lay hidden on the sea floor: lost and forgotten. Now these cursed souls have risen from their watery graves. Seeking revenge on anyone who dares intrude upon… TERROR ISLE! Terror Isle is a fully-immersive Escape Room Adventure Experience and Haunted AttractionTheir tortured souls still wandering, still searching. Haunting all who dare venture into their strange domain. Do you have what it takes to find the treasure and break the curse? They beckon. Answer the call. Walk the path of the doomed pirate raid that fateful night! Encounter spectral pirates, zombies, hell hounds, and creatures from the deep as you try to survive the night! -46- | WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM ~ October, 2021
Please visit our Escape Room Adventures and join our correspondence list (coming soon!) to know when we shall raise our flags once more. Avast ye! Come test your sea legs at Terror Isle, the best pirate haunted attraction on the high seas! We are selling a limited tickets per night. Book your time, no long lines, everyone is a VIP! Walk the path of the doomed pirate raid that fateful night! Visit the Escape Room Adventures and join our correspondence list (coming soon!) to know when we shall raise our flags once more. General Admission tickets are 25 dollars. Group discount tickets are 20 dollars (must purchase 10 or more. Free photo booth with a purchase of a ticket. For more information or to reserve tickets for your alloted time, visit http:// www.terrorisle.com/
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Places to Go:
Jurassic Gardens
VOLO — No day-off-school adventure could compare with a journey through Jurassic Gardens. And this Columbus Day, your child’s opportunity to step into this immersive thrill arrives free of charge. You read that right. Children 12 and younger are invited to enjoy Volo Museum’s all-new indoor dinosaur park for free on Oct. 11, with up to five youngsters admitted for each paying adult. Hours at the Volo Museum and Jurassic Gardens are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Featuring tail-waving ceratosauruses, breathtaking T-Rexes and a theater-quality sound system that brings it all to life, Jurassic Gardens boasts an unparalleled wow factor. “We have built something truly special here,” said Brian Grams, director of the museum at 27582 Volo Village Road, Volo. “With Columbus Day being a day off school, we wanted to show it off and encourage even more families to come and experience it.” Jurassic Gardens opened in mid-May after Volo Museum crews spent roughly a year transforming a former mercantile mall into a gloaming, frond- and animatronic dinosaur-filled spectacle. Against a chatter-and-screech backdrop of watchful velociraptors and pterodactyls, budding paleontologists may enjoy the skeleton dig area, one of the available hands-on activities. A sluice mine for fossil or gem panning, a gift shop and an arcade also are available, as is a dino-themed, outdoor playground.
Grams said visitors to date have been amazed by the life-like exhibits and the quality of the surrounding atmosphere. “I like to go over there and just watch kids taking it all in sometimes,” he said. “Adults too, for that matter. We really hope the public takes us up on our Columbus Day offer.” Regular admission cost for those 5 and older to visit Jurassic Gardens is $15.95, with those 4 and younger admitted free. Combo tickets — permitting entry to both Jurassic Gardens and Volo Museum as well as a second consecutive day’s entry free — are regularly $31.95 for adults and $24.95 for children ages 5 to 12. On Columbus Day, combo tickets for children ages 5 to 12 will be available for just $9. The Volo Museum is following state COVID guidelines; masking may be required when indoors. For other details, visit volocars.com, find Volo Auto Museum or Jurassic Gardens on Facebook, or call 815-385-3644.
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Harvest Days & Nights INDIANAPOLIS - Harvest at Newfields is back with a month-long celebration! This nightly ticketed event features thousands of glowing pumpkins along a hidden path at Newfields. The spooky (not scary) outdoor walking experience guides guests around twists and turns of the enchanted forest, an eerie ghost train, and a grand-finale at Mischief Manor on the Lilly Allee. Ghosts and friends alike can enjoy festive fall beverages and light snacks as they wander amongst glowing jacko-lanterns.
On the weekends, guests are invited to explore the magnificently decked-out garden with thousands of Indiana-grown pumpkins blanketing the campus. Enjoy an array of horticulture displays in the crisp fall air. October at Newfields will be filled with Instagram-worthy moments, art-making activities for the littlest guests, world travels via a beer passport, visits from local vendors and much more! At Harvest Days, guests are invited to explore the magnificently decked out garden with thousands of Indiana-grown pumpkins blanketing the campus. Enjoy a cornucopia of dynamic horticulture displays in the crisp fall air. Weekends will bring special activations from many of Newfields’ most beloved partners such as Sun King Brewing Co., Half Liter, and Smoking Goose. October at Newfields will be filled with plenty of Instagram-worthy moments, art making activities for our littlest guests, world travels via beer tastings, visits from local vendors and much more! Advance tickets are required for Harvest Days and Harvest Nights. Ticket prices are $25 for night and $18 for days. Daytime hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. while nighttime hours are 7:30 - 10:30 p.m. with the final entry at 11 p.m. Newfields is a privately funded nonprofit organization with the mission to enrich lives through exceptional experiences with art and nature. The health and safety of our guests, staff, members and volunteers remains a top priority at Newfields. For tickets and more information, visit https://discovernewfields.org/harvest -50- | WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM ~ October, 2021
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School Halls Full of Haunts
Are you looking for a scary good time this October? If so, you and your friends are cordially invited to the Historic Hall School House for a “hauntingly” good time! Located on Hurt Road near Monrovia in Morgan County, Hall’s Haunted Halls is designed to be horrifically gruesome and terrifying. Most who are brave enough to visit will find extremely scary. The evil that’s lurking within this Spooky Old School House will have your heart pounding and your eyes frantically searching for a way out!!!
The doors will “creep” open at 7 p.m. and “slam shut” at 11 p.m. every Friday and Saturday in October. But wimps and children under the age of 10 are not permitted- unless they are accompanied by an adult over the age of 18. Also, this attraction is not recommended for those with certain heart conditions. You are welcome but you should enter at your own risk! At Hall’s Haunted Halls the organizers want everyone to enjoy their time. However, there are some specific guide lines. PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND THE RULES FOR THE HAUNTED HOUSE PRIOR TO PURCHASING TICKETS OR ENTERING. These rules can be found online at hallcivic.org.
This Haunted House is 100% Volunteer Operated. Proceeds go to the preservation of the Hall School House and to other charitable and community causes. Snacks and refreshments provided by the Boy Scouts are available for a reasonable price. The Grim Reaper invites you to come to his School Of Horror, if you have the courage this October! Join: Pennywise IT, Michael Meyers, Scream, Freddy Krueger, Saw, Leatherface and a cast of many more. You will want to visit our new scenes. Oh! and do plan to visit the Maze on your way out; Chances are, you will be lost in there Forever!!! Remember, the next scream you hear may be your own! Tickets are $15 CASH ONLY at the door and $12 online. Children 9 and under, tickets are $7 at the door only For tickets and more information, visit http://hallcivic.org/?page_id=83
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Go, See, Do:
The Top Haunted Spot Who ya gonna call? You just might want to call in some ghost busters after experiencing some of Iowa’s reportedly haunted locations! Take our tour and you’ll find former schoolhouses, cemetaries, jailhouses, creepy old houses and maybe even a ghost-
Independence State Mental Health Institute
Villisca Ax Murder House
VILLISCA - Site of the largest unsolved crime in Iowa. Visitors have reported everything from a door opening and closing on its own, feeling chills and being pinched to hearing children laughing and playing with toys in empty rooms. Experience these sensations and more where eight people, including six children, were murdered in their sleep over 100 years ago by an unknown killer. The house has been restored to its 1912 status. Want to spend the night? You can. But will you make it through the night? Maybe. Overnight stays are available year-round by appointment. Daytime tours are are from 1 - 3:30 p.m. and close at 4 p.m.. from April through October. A weather-beaten sign warns rather than welcomes. This is the “Murder House”.
INDEPENDENCE - As the second asylum built in Iowa, the Independence hospital was constructed in 1873 to relieve the overcrowding at the Mount Pleasant State Hospital. While most of the building is still in use, an old wing was turned into a “Days of Yore” museum that features a disturbing look back through time at how society treated people suffering from mental illness. You can tour the older wings and the hospital’s graveyard by appointment. Visitors have reported hearing whispers, feeling cold drafts, having the feeling that they are being watched and even hearing disembodied screams.
Farrar Schoolhouse
FARRAR -Built in 1921 on donated farmland, the once
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abandoned schoolhouse sits isolated with only a few buildings around, including a 150-year-old cemetery across the street. After closing its doors in 2001 and sitting abandoned for five years, a local couple purchased the building and quickly realized that it was not completely empty. Voices, slamming doors, shadow people and orbs commonly appear. A small boy was spotted standing motionless on the stairwell. An unseen figure helped steady one of the owners who lost their balance on the stairs. You can experience all of this for yourself by scheduling a daylight tour with the owners, while the bravest visitors can spend the night.
Franklin Hotel
STRAWBERRY POINT - Dating back to the 1900s, this fully restored Victorian Hotel will take visitors back in time with its vintage lobby, dining room and staircase. However, throughout its history it has attracted some visitors that refuse to leave. Many claim the hotel is home to two ghosts. One is a woman named Lily who wears a lavender gown and can be heard singing or moaning. She frequents what
ts to Visit in Iowa used to be her room, moving furniture to her preference and walking to and from the lobby. The other is a former merchant known as Leo, who operated the hotel’s laundry for 30 years and can be heard ringing the hotel’s old bell message system.
the
Mars Hill Church and Cemetery
Banwell (Terror) Bridge
FORT DODGE - There are many tales behind this rural bridge, but the most popular is rather gruesome. It is said that a woman brought her children to the bridge to watch the trains pass below. Instead, she threw each child over the bridge railings, watching as they were struck and killed before jumping in front of the train herself. Locals warn against stopping your car on the bridge without locking the doors and windows as the woman’s spirit may try to throw you off. Visitors who are brave enough to exit their vehicles report seeing strange orbs, hearing voices in the woods or a woman moaning beneath the bridge and finding strange handprints on their car windows. Today, it’s a modest one-lane bridge over Union Pacific Railroad tracks. And it’s seen a lot of violent deaths, according to the locals.
OTTUMWA _This log cabin church is the only one of its kind still in use in the United States. It’s also the largest log building in Iowa. The church and cemetery’s history draw many visitors every year. The building was once an active stop on the Underground Railroad and the cemetery marks the final resting place of at least one veteran from every single American war. Today, it is known as one of the creepiest spots in Iowa and is where occasional ritual masses are held in the middle of the night with pentagrams and candles being left behind as evidence. The location also has its share of spirits who are believed to be slaves who never made it to freedom.
only three-story revolving jail ever built, the Squirrel Cage Jail already has an interesting history. Built in 1885 and used until 1969, today it is a museum and tourist attraction featuring many unexplainable occurrences. Visitors touring the jail often report seeing or hearing several ghosts, including that of the jail’s first resident and a young girl dressed entirely in gray. From opening and closing doors and strange lights to disembodied voices and apparitions, this historical building will be sure to give you the creeps.
Matthias Ham House
DUBUQUE - Known as a “textbook haunting,” this home-turned-museum offers plenty of history and scares for visitors. The home’s former owner, Mathias Ham, came to Dubuque in 1833 to take advantage of the steamboat business. Several family members died here, including Ham, his first wife and their daughter May. Also, an intruder was shot and killed by their daughter, Sarah. Since, several mysterious activities have been reported.
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Places to Go:
Svensk Hyllningsfest
Occurring in October of odd numbered years, the residents of Lindsborg, Little Sweden U.S.A., host a community-wide festival and don traditional Swedish folk costumes to celebrate the Swedish pioneers who settled the Smoky Valley in 1868 – 1869. This year the dates are Oct. 8-9. The festival features art and crafts, special foods, ethnic music, and other special entertainment while Swedish folk dancers and musicians add to the flavor of the festival. The Grand Parade will be Oct. 9th at 10 a.m. Newcomers have as much fun “becoming Swedish” as do the long time residents. This community closeness may be the highest tribute we can pay to the immigrants who also exemplified this kind of unity - a fitting legacy for future residents of the Smoky Valley. Folk dancing and folk music lend a unique character and spirit to Svensk Hyllningsfest. The Dancers - from eager young grade school students who have been practicing for months, to the Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers (high school age students) and the Lindsborg Folkdanslag (their adult counterparts) are charming and enthusiastic performers. -56- | WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM ~ October, 2021
The festival also features live demonstrations of cooking, arts, crafts, and folk costumes among others. The parade, featuring area marching bands, floats, antique cars, and other parade entries, is a key attraction. See here for the full schedule. One of the best loved events at each Hyllningsfest is the authentic Swedish Smörgåsbord. The reason is simple – the food. Savor the Smörgåsbord, a Scandinavian feast. Most of the food is prepared from recipes handed down from the early Swedish settlers of the Smoky Valley area. Some of the food is purchased from vendors of Swedish imports while other food is prepared and donated by people of the community. Expect delicious entrees and dies, salads, desserts and drinks. Table settings are at 5 and 7 p.m. with only 200 places sold at each setting. Tickets are now on sale at $29.99 each meal on either day. Other Swedis foods will be available from the food vendors along the food court. So you shouldn’t go away hungry. For more information or to get tickets, visit online at https://www.svenskhyllningsfest.org/
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Places to Go: Minnesota’s spookiest season is back. Whether you’re looking for frightful fun or not-so-scary tricks and treats, you are sure to find just the right attraction in Minnessota to celebrate Halloween this year.
The Haunted Ship
In the heart of Canal Park, set against the majestic Aerial Lift Bridge, is a Great Lakes vessel you can’t miss—and won’t want to. Find thrills in Duluth at the William A. Irvin Haunted Ship Tours. Each year, for the month of October the Irvin transforms itself into a haunted ship, where the ghosts come alive. Your worst nightmares will come to life and it will seem like they will never end. This self-guided tour in the historic ore ship will take you through dark, eerie hallways, where you encounter mysterious sightings and spooks at every turn. During the self-guided tour, you’ll see how the once historic ore ship has been flipped inside out to reveal its true identity. The haunting of the Irvin is not just a rumor; mysterious sightings have been recorded. Don’t be too sure the flickering lights and slamming doors are part of the act because the ghosts are known to appear at any time. Walking through the dark, you’ll get the feeling that you’re never alone -- because you won’t be. In this ship, no place is safe. This year, dates open are the weekends of Oct. 7-9, 14-16, 20-23, and 28-30. Hours are 6:30 - 10 p.m. each evening. Admisstion is $15 per person. For tickets or more information, visit online at https://duluthhauntedship.com/ -58- | WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM ~ October, 2021
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Things to Do:
Festival of Freaks You better watch out and be very, very scared because the Freaks Fair is back, bigger and scarier than ever! This attraction near Warrensburg will be open five terrifying nights this Halloween Season: Oct. 22, 23, 29, 30, and 31st! Hours are from 7:30 p.m. -11:30 p.m. each night with a special kick-off opening night show - The Mass Monster Dragfest. The only night you can view is the very first night, Oct. 22. So plan to come early. This year the Freaks Fair is going to make you scream through three different Scare Zones for the price of one $10 ticket! -THE DEADLIEST SHOW ON EARTHYou will venture through a sinister sideshow, hosted by Jolly Fiend and his carnival of misfit clowns and freaks of nature... -HERETIC HOUSEWhile we were looking over the land where Freaks Fair resides, we found what we thought was an old abandoned church. Turns out it’s not abandoned at all and something very wicked lives inside... -KILLBILLY COMPOUNDYou will have to find your way out of this slasher shack. A fog filled maze with gruesome characters lurking around every corner... We really hope you can make it out this year. We are “dying” to see you! -60- | WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM ~ October, 2021
While the brave at heart make their way through the Freak Fair Haunted House, A family-friendly Carnival will be held inside Twin Oaks Event Center. “It keeps the kids busy and they can have fun, too,” said Bethany Sowash, co-owner of the event center. “All ages are wel-
come.” While the carnival has free admission, there are fees for various booths in order to participate. For example, the popular “SmashCar” is back. “For a little bit of money, the kids can beat the heck out of that car,” said Bethany. “They love it!” New this year is an ax-throwing booth. ou just never know what you will find at this carnival, except loads of entertaining fun! A hayride will take you across the street to the Savage Haunted House, which features the Cemetery of Lost Souls. Instead of the usual maze, there will be a long, long winding track to follow. Price is also $10. New tricks and new attractions are in store, so don’t miss it. -Free Parking in front of Twin Oaks Event Center. -Indoor Restrooms / Sanitize Stations. -Freaks Fair is not handicap accessible at this time. -Freaks Fair is an Indoor & Outdoor haunted walk through with uneven terrain in some areas. -Please dress accordantly. Address: 126 SW 400th Rd, Warrensburg MO 64093 For more information visit www.freaksfair. com and https://www.thesavagehauntedhouse.com/
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-62- | WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM ~ October, 2021
Things To Do:
Solve the Mystery
They’re back! Join your fellow partners in crime in Cambridge, Ohio for Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Claustrophobic Conundrum.
the small mishaps and the rather larger question of a murder in the old sewer system that runs beneath the city? Could it be their old nemesis Professor James Moriarty?
Local playwright Anne Chlovechok has penned this, her seventh Come help us solve the mystery? original Sherlock Holmes mystery Sherlock Holmes and the Case of especially for Cambridge. the Claustrophobic Conundrum Friday, November 5 & Saturday, Famous Consulting Detective November 6, 202 Sherlock Holmes and his friend Join your fellow partners in and assistant, Dr. John Watson, crime on Friday evening for the have returned to Cambridge for first act. Start to formulate your another theories as Holmes and Watson set about solving the case. Murder Mystery Weekend Adventure! Join them and all their Act II takes place the following associates on Friday and Saturday, morning when you match your November 5 and 6 as they take theories to the local authorities on the Case of the Claustrophobic and London’s unofficial police Conundrum. detective. Continue your quest on Saturday afternoon as you search In town for the wedding of their for clues throughout our quaint old friend Sgt. Podlowski, the pair community. has no sooner checked into the Colonel Taylor Inn than things The mystery will be solved after start to go wrong. Who is behind Act III Saturday evening. Turn in
your clue sheet for an opportunity to win the grand prize of $250! So what are you waiting for? Order your Baker Street Package today! Once you place your order, please contact the Cambridge/Guernsey County Visitors & Convention Bureau to confirm date and room preference at info@ VisitGuernseyCounty.com or 800933-5480. Deadline for registration is October 22, 2021.
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-64- | WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM ~ October, 2021
Things To Do:
Be Very, Very Afraid!
What’s Eerie? Scary? Full of fear? The Lake Eerie Fearfest, of course. It’s always exciting and lots of fun, but very, very scary! Experience this award-winning, number one Haunted House in Ohio. Looking for the best haunted house in Ohio?! Lake EERIE Fearfest at Ghostly Manor Thrill Center is the one haunted house in Ohio you don’t want to miss this haunted house season! Ghostly Manor Thrill Center — a family-friendly destination in Perkins Township, about four miles south of Cedar Point, that provides 3D mini golf, a 4D motion theater, Skateworld, bounce houses, an escape room and a laser maze — also gets in on the season scares activities by hosting the fearfest on its grounds. They have done so each year since 2012. What to expect: FearFest is in addition to the Ghostly Manor’s regular, indoor haunted house, which is open year round. Day has turned into night and you find yourself locked in an asylum of horrors with several others. The only exit to freedom is by solving puzzles before insane doctors and nurses use you for experimentation and observation. There will be three haunted houses to explore outside, in addition to the indoor Ghostly Manor attractions. Find out why Haunted Attraction Magazine ranked us the #1 Haunted House in Ohio, Forbes Magazine lists us in its Top 10 Haunted Attractions in the country, and The Scare Factor rated us #3 Must See Haunts! Ghostly Manor is open noon to 5 p.m. (8 p.m. on Wednesday family nights and 11 p.m. weekends.)The fearfest is open weekends from 8-11 p.m. Tickets are now on sale for $25 per person. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://lakeeeriefearfest. com/ and https://www.ghostlymanor.com/ Need a place stay this weekend? Stay nearby at the Econo Lodge Inn & Suites in Sandusky, Ohio. We look forward to seeing you this Haunted House season! This is definately going to be a “season of screams.”
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Things to Do:
See Whats New at The Haunted Hydro FREMONT - The Awakening has unfolded and a new journey into FEAR is upon us. Prepare yourself to Experience The Haunted Hydro.
Navigate the Monstrous Woods ... Creep across the Cursed Courtyard and into the Legendary Haunted Hydro... One way in... one way out... one Mega Haunt! Never in Hydro History has there been an Experience like this! And it doesn’t end ..IF...you make it out of the Hydro. Then you’ll take a stroll thru Panic Alley where you can enter one of our four $5 Escape Experiences and enter to win Awesome prizes if you succeed. Don’t miss out on our 32nd Season! It’s time to get your Scare on... come Experience The Hydro... The ALL-NEW “Panic Alley” has four different five-minute escape challenges for you to experience. If you meet the challenges, then you will receive a HYDRO FLASK STICKER and get to enter the grand prize drawing of $1,000.00 in FRIENDSHIP GIFT CARDS, Neil ZAZA - “One Dark Night” Oct. 29 Concert Tickets plus nightly CD Drawings, Sasquatch GQ Energy Drink Nightly drawings and MORE... (16 and over restriction to enter). The First one is the NEIL ZAZA CONCERT CAPER: The Concert is sold out! But this shady character has recruited you to help him avoid security and sneak in thru the maintenance building. Will you see the show or get BUSTED! QUANTUM ESCAPE: Crazy Bob is lost in time. It’s up to you and Young Crazy Bob to set things right! Can you help Crazy Bob in time or will he be lost to the ages? Potion Makers Prophecy: You have been chosen by the alchemists to become an apprentice IF you can make the proper potion before time runs out. BIG TOP TERROR - Build a scare: chaos is coming and you have 5 minutes to find and prepare his outfit before he arrives. -66- | WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM ~ October, 2021
Hydro Mega Tickets are $25 Online ($30 on site) which includes the Haunted Hydro and the Monstrous Woods The Panic Alley Escapes are $5 each. “Last year we ended up doing timed ticketing and having a virtual Q where folks wait in their cars until it is their turn and it worked out so well... we are doing it again this year,” said co-owner Beth Turner. To purchase tickets or more information, visit http://www.thehauntedhydro. com/index.html or call 419-4554364.
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Things to Do:
At Lake Lawn Resort
DELAVAN - Lake Lawn Resort, located on beautiful Delavan Lake, just minutes from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and only 90 minutes from downtown Chicago, welcomes Midwesterners to kick back and enjoy romantic weekends, girlfriend getaways, family-fun activities, and more, this fall and winter. “We have so much planned and have something for everyone to enjoy at the resort,” says Dave Sekeres, general manager, Lake Lawn Resort. “We are thrilled to bring back our annual Family Fall Festival and are planning Halloween and holiday getaways for families. There are a lot of exciting things in store at the resort, and we can’t wait for our guests and locals alike to experience it all.” A historic Midwest resort, Lake Lawn Resort is a full-service getaway destination set on two miles of Delavan Lake shoreline with 250 wooded acres. There are plenty of activities and fun to be had - and keep socially distant as needed - at the resort’s 271 guest rooms, restaurants, spa, golf course, and breathtaking lakefront. • Spooky Boat Tours are every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 1p.m. to 2:30p.m. (Oct. 15 to Nov. 4). Priced at $12.50 per child and $27.50 per adult, resort guests and locals are invited on the haunted Lake Lawn Queen for an hour and a half tour while hearing scary stories about Delavan Lake. A full bar will be offering snacks and beverages. • The Lake Lawn Queen continues to haunt the lake with a spooky adult Halloween Boat Bash (Oct 29 and 30 from 7p.m. to 9p.m.) Priced at $40 per person, the bash features a two-hour party with a DJ, cash bar, ghoulish snacks, costume contest, and more.
• Mr. Pickles’ magic show entertains during the Family Halloween Boat Party on the Lake Lawn Queen (Oct. 31 from 12p.m. to 2p.m.). This family-friendly floating Halloween magic show includes lunch and costs $30 for adults with cash bar, and $15 per child. • Overnight packages and a full weekend of fun is planned during Family Fall Festival over Columbus Day weekend (Oct. 8-10). Packages include overnight accommodations, unlimited mini golf, $50 resort credit, and of course, pumpkins. A variety of classic family yard games and activities including a Mr. Pickles’ magic show, wagon rides, pumpkin decorating, and scarecrow building is complimentary to all resort guests. Donut decorating and caramel apple decorating will also be available at the festival’s food and beverage stations. • Based on the movie “Psycho,” – dress, wig, knife, and all – the resort is thrilled to host two Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre performances (Nov. 19 and 20). Priced at $70 per person, the evening includes a multi-course dinner and an evening of solving a grisly murder. • With weekday rates starting at $129 per night, the Autumn Escape to the Lake package includes a one-night stay with a $75 dining credit along with 15% off spa services and golf. In addition, guests receive a bounce back coupon for 50% off their next stay. Visit lakelawnresort.com
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Go, Do, See -
Sweet Valley Ranch
Sweet Valley Ranch has brought four attractions to the community and surrounding areas. It is owned and operated by Fred and Anita Surgeon. Fall fun features a 10-acre Corn Maze that includes a pumpkin patch. Stick around for nightfall for the thrill of Backwoods Terror Ranch where the farm is transformed into a frightening adventure sure to elicit some screams! Backwoods Terror Ranch is one of the largest outdoor Haunted events and most terrifying attraction in the area. It will take guests over an hour to navigate six terrifying mazes including a ¼ acre cemetery. Admission includes: The 10acre corn maze, hay bale maze, hay ride, Tiny’s Game Court, multiple inflatables including a water slide weather permitting, kiddie train track ride, Sky Fighter, Rockin’ Tug Boat, and an animal meet and greet area. Tickets are available for two time slots: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. or 2 p.m.- 6 p.m. Guests can arrive
any time during the time slots. However, to get the full benefit, you are encouraged to arrive at least two hours prior to the end of the time slot. Go kart, train, and farm tours are available on a first come, first serve basis and are not included in the price of admission. These tours can only be purchased on site. Guests can also purchase souvenir photos, pumpkins, face paintings, carnival games, dinosaur rides, train rides, and corn cannon games. For your convenience, the gift shop and concession stand will be open. Sweet Valley Ranch has strong roots in agriculture, livestock, dog breeding and other aspects of farming. The Surgeons have relied on their roots in agriculture, vast business experience and love for animals to develop a farm that the entire community and surrounding areas can enjoy. Sweet Valley Ranch uniquely features exciting seasonal adventures for the whole family. Yearly seasonal events at the ranch
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include Dinosaur World in the sumer months. At the end of the year, guests can come and enjoy their Festival of Lights. “Our horrifying attractions bring visitors from near and far!” said the owners on their website. “Are you brave enough to survive? Be Prepared to Be Scared!” Backwoods Terror Ranch is located on 350 acres just off HWY 95 in Fayetteville, Each of the events features their many varieties of farm animals to create a truly oneof-a-kind experience that people of all ages can enjoy.www.sweetvalleyranchnc.com.
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Carolina Renaissance Festiva Huntersville, NC – Located just north of Charlotte, NC is a village where imagination, fantasy, and history burst to life. It is a place where adults can feel and act like children while children are treated as royalty. It is a magical realm where you will forget about your daily cares. It is the Carolina Renaissance Festival and Artisan Marketplace -operating 8 consecutive Saturdays and Sundays, October 2 through November 21, 2021.
Fairhaven Village
It is the 16th century and The Renaissance Festival’s story-book village is Fairhaven; a peaceful shire filled with charming cottages, castles, kitchens and pubs, all nestled amongst 245 acres of beautiful fall forest. It is within the village walls of Fairhaven where pleasure and celebration rule the day as villagers, artists, craftspeople, musicians, performance troupes, and food vendors have all gathered together to create a marketplace festival in celebration of the arrival of their visiting Queen. Immersive Theatre With trumpets blaring and cannon blasting, The Lord Mayor orders the gates of Fairhaven to swing open at 10:00 am and close at dusk. The day is filled with an abundance of attractions appropriate for all age groups, presented upon 16 stages, each packed with a unique mix of continuous music, dance, comedy shows, and circus entertainments. From barely balanced acrobats to one-of-a-
kind old-world musical instruments, the entertainment options are endless. The stage shows are always spontaneous, and you can take part in the action if you wish – or sit back and enjoy watching the audience volunteers who make a spectacle of themselves. You will never know what happens next, on stage or off. The entertainment also takes place right in front of you within the village streets as a costumed cast of medieval commoners, knights, and royalty celebrate a 16th century day of play. Part of the Renaissance Festival experience is meeting and interacting with the colorful characters roam-
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ing the village, creating an interactive street theater. Musical fairies and lively woodland sprites embody childlike innocence. Close up magicians amaze and amuse. Wonderful statuary comes to life. There is even a walking tree! You can take audience with the Queen or mingle with peasants who endlessly proclaim… “Hip Hip Huzzah!” - all part and parcel of the Festival day. The Renaissance Festival would not be complete without a depiction of one of the grandest events of the time period – the popular tournament Joust! Occurring three times daily, each joust is full of pomp, pageantry, action, comedy, and chivalry as noble
al a Great Weekend Getaway
knights strap on heavy suits of armor and mount two tons of snorting steeds. With plumes waving and chain mail clanking, they take up their lances and charge at one another in tilt. Shattering lances, clashing swords, and daring deeds of bravery all collide into a realistic recreation of a joust to the death! All for the Queen’s amusement! From gallant knights to the marvels of the vast ocean, the Lord Mayor outdoes himself once again in a bid for the Queen’s favor with a personal gift - the return of the Living Mermaids - Fairies of the Sea! These beautiful sirens frolic about in a 3,000-gallon aquarium! Children love watching the underwater flips, blown bubble hearts,
and splashing tails. Families can sit together atop the mermaid throne for a meet and greet photo experience. Inspired by the joust? Try your skill with a lance on the Slider Joust challenge game. You can storm the castle in a paintball battle or try to solve the riddle of climbing Jacob’s Ladder. Mix skillful pleasure and comic adventure by throwing tomatoes at the insulting fools locked in the stocks at Vegetable Justice. Test your skill at games like the Dragon Climbing Tower, the Archery Range, and the Maze. Fly high into the sky on the Pirate’s Assault Catapult. Take a ride on Christopher Columbus’ Voyage to the New World, the Piccolo Pony (a rocking horse bigger than an elephant), and Leonardo’s Flying Machine; a people powered amusement ride based on Di Vinci’s designs for human flight. A family favorite is Mother (and Father) Goose brought to life with their costumed ducks and geese, the Petting Farm, and Camel rides. Did you work up an appetite perusing all the shops and enjoying all the entertainment? You will be pleased to know that the food is as spectacular as all the attractions. Village kitchens cook up an endless feast of bread bowl stews, steak-on-a-stake, gourmet sausages, and the festival’s famous giant roasted turkey legs. Gluten free and vegetarian options are also available. For dessert, try the fresh crepes, the cakes and cookies from the Monks Bakery, candy delights from the Chocolate Shoppe, Italian ice, gelato, and a favorite of all renaissance wanderers: a bag of cinnamon-roasted almonds. Festival pubs offer a wide
variety of craft beer, wine, champagne, ale, honey mead, soft drinks, and Medieval Margaritas. Early holiday shoppers can peruse over 140 craft shops in an open-air village market which provides a diverse selection of handmade items such as pottery, jewelry, perfume, glass blown ornaments, ceramics, bath & body products, medieval costumes, hand carved candles, unique musical instruments, children’s toys, a full spectrum of clothing, and much more. Watch artisans make a masterpiece right before your eyes. Enjoy demonstrations of fine skills such as weaving, woodcarving, blacksmithing, glassblowing, pottery, and jewelry making – all using ancient skills and low technology. The Carolina Renaissance Festival is open to the public for eight weekends from Oct. 2 through Nov. 21. Regular tickets are $27 for adults, $17 for ages 5-12, and four and under are always free. Avoid box office lines by printing your own tickets or send them to your mobile device. There is no charge for parking. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://www. carolina.renfestinfo.com/
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Haunted Thoroughbred Country Just east of Augusta, Georgia, along I-20 between Atlanta and Charleston are the rolling hills of Thoroughbred Country, South Carolina. This four-county part of the Palmetto State is filled with world-renowned horse racing, training and tracks, Civil War sites, gardens and plantation homes, state parks, historic healing springs, folk art and antique shops in charming towns. Thoroughbred Country’s epicenter is Aiken, developed in the early 1900s as a “Winter Colony” for the rich and famous, who introduced the traditions of polo and thoroughbred racing. Soak in nature’s restorative power at Aiken State Park where visitors can bring canoes or kayaks and glide along the 1.7-mile glistening trail winding down the south fork of the Edisto River. Enjoy free admission to the Aiken Thoroughbred Racing Hall of Fame and Museum, as well as concerts, culture and dining. Year-round golf can be played on courses frequented by current, past and future greats. Dining ranges from chef-refined and down-home Southern specialties, family restaurants, international cuisine and the unique find of a Mennonite bakery.
Tailored Tours of Aiken–Haunted Aiken
Haunted secret passages in the Old Post Office, bones in the basement. In the former 1878 Aiken Hotel, phenomena include shadowy movements, whispers, crying and screaming from empty rooms, where toilets flush and doors open or close. Housekeeping carts found down the hall when left outside a room. These hauntings and more are included on a spooktacular nighttime walking tour offering chilling stories of spirits combined with Aiken’s history. Ghost hunting tools aid in the discovery. Tours are arranged and tailored individually. Family-friendly. Masks preferred. Limit 10 people. Year-round, including historic city tours. The Haunted Aiken tour is $15 per person. Learn more, here or call (803) 295-3870.
Haunted Lodging at Annie’s Inn
You don’t have to wait for Halloween to visit a haunted destination in Aiken. You can even stay overnight at one. Built more than 160 years ago before the Civil War, Annie’s Inn was confiscated by the Union soldiers. During a battle against the South, a cannonball took out the whole third floor, which was never rebuilt. Later, the 2nd floor was used as a hospital and many died there. It was opened in 1984 as Annie’s Inn Bed and Breakfast, now redecorated to its grand inviting antebellam style. Guests have reported the lingering spirit of a little girl on the second floor. If you’ve never spent the night in a haunted house, then this could be a great place to ease your way into it. For more on places to go, thing to do and people to see, visit TbredCountry.org. -74- | WEEKENDEREXTENDED.COM ~ October, 2021
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PHILADELPHIA - Located between Knoxville and Chattanooga, Loudon County is known as the less-congested Lakeway to the Smokies, full of fall color, beautiful scenery and a multitude of outdoor water and mountain activities. It’s the best of both worlds: close to the park while staying on the lakes and rivers in cabins far from the madding crowd. Nightfall Acres is a working family farm with harvest delights like pre-picked pumpkins and cornstalks for sale, but the biggest draw is after dark. Celebrating its “Lucky 13th” year in business, Dead Man’s Farm enjoys many “Best Haunted Attraction” accolades, including USA Today’s 2019 “10Best Reader’s Choice Awards. They’re back in the “10 Best” contest in 2021, with voting closing Monday, August 30. Each year the sprawling attraction adds new twists and themes to the frightening fun. Scream your way through the revampedevery-year Haunted House Tour, with its story line of atrocities acted out in vivid
detail. Face down evil clowns in a three-acre corn maze, be buried alive in a sensory coffin simulator, choose from four Face Your Fear Virtual Reality experiences and three horror-based escape rooms. Inside is not recommended for children under 12. Outdoor midway entertainment includes excitement for those more into freaky fun and less into fear, with performer photo opps. Open Thursday through Sunday every weekend in October. For more information, visit www.DeadMansFarm.com If You Go: In a state full of fall color and made for road trips, Loudon County, in east Tennessee, is golden. With the Smoky Mountains creating a backdrop for kayaking, boating and fishing on Tellico Lake or the Tennessee River, visitors can enjoy scenic drives, stunning sunsets and trademark misty mornings. Located between Knoxville and Chattanooga, Loudon County’s Highway 321 is the most scenic and least congested route to the Smokies from I-75 and I-40 East. Lenoir City
and Loudon each have unique boutiques, antiques and dining spots. Near Loudon is the oldest family winery in the state, Tennessee Valley Winery. Sweetwater Valley Farm in Philadelphia demonstrates cheese and milk-making, offers tastings and a farm store. www.VisitLoudonCounty. com
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A Spirit Tour With “Haint” Mis
ABINGDON - Founded in 1778, Abingdon is one of the oldest English-speaking settlements west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, two hours northeast of Asheville, North Carolina. Abingdon lies between the soaring peaks of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Great Appalachian Valley, offering breathtaking fall color. Many ghosts are entrenched within its perfectly-preserved Federal, Victorian and Colonial architecture. It’s a town to fall in love with, in spite of—or because of—its haunted history.
Haint Mistress Donnamarie Emmert has been sharing stories of Abingdon’s “haints” for 20-plus years. With a Masters in storytelling and a love of eerie history, she takes visitors down the brick sidewalks of the Historic district where colorful fall scenery and shivery stories abound. Historic courthouse legends include a mysterious murder weapon disappearing act and a ghost that physically reacts to change. The landmark 1930s Barter Theatre entertains thespian ghosts (don’t be the last one
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out of the building). The Tavern, established in 1779, serves up German specialties, seafood, steaks—and spirits, including murdered card players, dead soldiers and one lively Tavern Tart. While the luxury accommodations at the four-star Martha Washington Hotel and Day Spa inspire peaceful sleep, its long service as a private residence, women’s school and makeshift Civil War hospital carry haunted history. Hear tales of apparitions floating down stairs, haunting violin music and a bloodstained library floor.
stress
er Trail offers elevated mountain and valley views from one of the country’s best rails-to-trails. Hike the Appalachian Trail, see wild ponies at Grayson Highlands State Park and navigate natural geological mazes at The Channels Natural Area. www.VisitAbingdonVirginia.com. Journalists: For more stories for every season, as well as downloadable photos go to https:// www.travelmediapressroom.com/ virginia/abingdon-virginia/ Wytheville, Virginia: Helheim Haunted Attraction Head high into the Blue Ridge section of the Appalachians to Wytheville in Southwest Virginia, at the crossroads of I-77 and I-81, 2.5 hours from Charlotte, North Carolina. Wytheville (ca. 1790; pronounced WITH-vil) is an off-the-beaten track getaway with unique in-town attractions, breathtaking mountain scenery and activities from fly-fishing and watersports to horseback riding and wilderness adventure.
Abingdon Spirit Tours with the Haint Mistress, Downtown Abingdon, Virginia. Check the website for dates, times and meeting spots. Year-round Haints or History tours by appointment. Haunted tours, no younger than age 10. HaintMistress.com If You Go: Abingdon’s 20-block Historic District is filled with art galleries, distinctive shops and 34 independently-owned restaurants. For nearby and unique fall color viewing, the Virginia Creep-
Helheim Haunted Attraction promises to “put the evil in Wytheville,” with a scare-youto-death vibe. Two enthusiastic veterans took their 20-plus years of experience and created an over-the-top thrill-a-thon in an old 6,000-square-foot amusement park. The result is top ratings on sites like www.TheScareFactor. com. Actors are meticulous about makeup, costumes and special effects, which comes across in authenticity and thrills in this postapocalypse-meets-Viking-themed attraction. Helheim is the Norse word for hell, land of the dishonorable dead, but the owners won’t reveal the delicious chills in store. They do hint at playing upon the
psychological fears of a lack of control over surroundings and the loss of sight, direction and sound. Not intended for anyone under age 18. Fridays and Saturdays, September 24-October 30, 2021. Helheim Haunted Attraction, just off of I-81/I-77 at exit 77, 3081 Chapman Road, Wytheville, Virginia 24382, (276) 239-2666; www. HelheimHaunt.com If You Go: Wytheville’s classic downtown includes the old, the contemporary and the quirky, like the selfie-worthy “biggest pencil in Virginia” outside the old Wytheville Office Supply. Just three miles from downtown, Crystal Springs Recreation Area and Big Survey Wildlife Management Area offer more than 9,000 acres of preserved lands, 13 miles of hiking and mountain biking trails. A 57-mile trail, canoeing, tubing, kayaking and fishing are all favorites at the New River Trail State Park. Climb the 100-foot Big Walker Lookout at Big Walker Mountain for views of five states at an elevation of 3,405 feet. For more information, www.VisitWytheville.com.
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People to See:
T
All the Ghosts and Gob
HE RESORT AT GLADE SPRINGS ANNOUNCES ITS 12TH YEAR OF FRIGHT NIGHTS WITH BRAND NEW THEMES AND EVENTS DANIELS - The Resort at Glade Springs announces two new themes and new events for its 12th annual Fright Nights event happening Friday and Saturday nights throughout October. The first of the two new themes is titled “Camp Kilamee”, a 1980s style sleepaway camp that would fit perfectly into any horror classic from the era. The second of the two new themes is “Hexed”, a haunt taking place deep in the bayou where an ancient voodoo plague has been set upon the liv-
ing and the dead. Visitors will twist through the cursed mansion and its crypt as dark mysterious forces play with their imagination. In addition to the the new themes, the haunt will host a
Fall Festival on Sunday, October 10th from 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. With admission to this event, families can enjoy a walk through Fright Nights Lite (a lighter, daytime version of the haunted house) and a fall hayride. Inflatables, face painting, food, drinks and Fall vendors will be at the event. On Sunday, October 31st a special “Lights Out” event will take place at the haunt where patrons will be given a glow stick and will brave the haunt in total darkness. “Every year we look to improve upon what we’ve been building over the last 12 seasons and this year is no different.” says Ashley Long, Creative Director at The Resort at Glade Springs. “The Halloween season is something that many look forward to every year and we feel an obligation
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bins at Glade Springs Resort to give our community the fresh, exciting experience they’re seeking. That’s why we’ve created two new themes and will host two additional events with our Fall Festival and Light Out Night. These events give haunt goers a little something more to fill their Halloween season with fun.” This year will feature five total themes creating one spectacular attraction: The aforementioned “Camp Kilamee” and Hexed”, last year’s new addition “Ghost Town”, the spine-tingling, multi-sensory spectacle “Freakshow”, and the terrifying trip through an institution for the criminally insane titled “The Asylum”. Fright Nights WV will be limiting on-property persons capacity to enable adequate distancing at all times. Open every weekend in October, tickets are $28 per person. Fast Pass tickets are $40. All tickets must be purchased online prior to the event. More information about Fright Nights can be found at frightnightswv.com.
About The Resort at Glade Springs: The hotel and resort are set in the midst of a gorgeous 4,100-acre property in the lap of the Appalachian Mountains! Our premier, full-service West Virginia resort, specializes in golf, ski, and offers a mindboggling variety of other recreational activities, as well as 200 lodging rooms for guests in West Virginia. The resort
features a state-of-the-art conference center, a beautiful wedding venue and group lodging facilities for meetings and family reunions. On site are three championship 18-hole golf courses, an indoor leisure center, full-service spa and salon, boating, miles of hiking and biking trails and so much more. This premier full-service resort offers a unique combination of recreational activities and upscale accommodations, making it a perfect getaway for escaping everyday life.
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