Halloween fun isn’t to be relegated to just one night
OK, technically speaking, Halloween takes place one day a year, Oct. 31. But really, spooky fun shouldn’t be relegated to just one night of candy grubbing. There are plenty of opportunities to, well, get in the spirit of Halloween throughout the month of October.
“It’s definitely a season,” said Elisabeth Deal, executive director of the Olney Boys & Girls Club, which puts on its Field of Screams fundraiser. “So far, we’ve been very busy.”
There are a number of haunted houses and trails within a short drive of D.C., but Field of Screams is four haunted activities on one site — house, trail, hay ride and corn maze — complete with monsters and the undead on 40 acres of land just north of the Beltway. Field of Screams is open Thursday through Sunday through the end of the month, and prices vary.
“We always try to mix it up,” said Deal. “We try to do a lot with special affects.”
Not all corn mazes are haunted, with plenty of fun available for the whole family, no matter the age, not too far from the District. The Corn Maze in The Plains, Va., is in its 10th year in operation. Each season offers a different five-acre maze, so last year’s visitors can expect something new this year. The Night Maze adds another dimension to the corn maze experience, and there’s also a country food store and a Barnyard of Fun. Adult admission is $9. The daytime maze is open Friday through Sunday through Nov. 8, and the Night Maze is open each Friday and Sunday until the end of October.
“That’s what’s so cool — it’s for kids of all ages,” said Kate Knott, who owns the Corn Maze in The Plains along with husband Hub. “We make it fun and interactive.”
Ghost tours take place in this historic region throughout the year. One of the most popular is the Ghost & Graveyard Tour, by Alexandria Colonial Tours. Throughout the month of October, enjoy nightly tours of Old Town Alexandria starting at 7:30 p.m., with an additional tour at 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Alexandria Colonial Tours also offers its special Halloween Tour, which includes a haunted room at the end of a traditional Ghost and Graveyard Tour, Oct. 23-24 and Oct. 30-31. The regular tour costs $10, the special Halloween tours $13.
“You may actually feel a weird sensation,” said tour guide Robert Davalos, who has worked for the company for nine months. “It’s not us doing it. You may get a firsthand ghost experience.”
For folks looking for more than the usual thrill, Six Flags America has it’s annual Fright Fest. On Saturday and Sunday through the end of the month, and Friday Oct. 30, the ghouls, goblins and walking dead take over the theme park starting at 6 p.m., adding a spooky addition to the usual gamut of rides. Six Flags is offering a special this year — for the regular ticket price of $49.99, you can get a season pass for the rest of 2009 and all of 2010.
This year, there are specific Fright Fest scare zones, so folks know which areas are appropriate for their family.
“It has elements for every age and every scare tolerance,” said Julia Filz, communication director of Six Flags America. “It’s appropriate for everybody.”
With haunted houses, ghost tours and corn mazes, there’s plenty of Halloween fun — before Halloween.
