Halloween: How to, Where to, What to do

Photo by Bruna Pacheco

Quick! Halloween is approaching! Are you going to dress up? Do you still need a costume? Are you in the mood to be scared? Would you rather go to a haunted house or stay in and watch scary movies? Do you want to carve a pumpkin? Need a pumpkin patch for a photo shoot? There’s so much that can be done to kick-off the Halloween season. Here’s your guide to getting your fall fix before the 31st.

HAUNTED HOUSES

The thrill-seeking type tends to venture toward Haunted Houses. Luckily, this area has many haunted houses in store for those who would like to get scared.

1. The Edge of Hell - 1300 W 12th St, Kansas City, MO

Founded in 1975, The Edge of Hell is Kansas City’s oldest haunted house. This converted five-story warehouse changes year to year but takes half an hour to get through and ends the same way: sliding from the fifth floor down to the first. Single attraction tickets are $27 and can be purchased online or in person. They are open Thursday through Sunday, with the earliest opening time being 7:30 p.m.

From campus, it takes 53 minutes to get to the Edge of Hell

2. Macabre Cinema - 1222 W 12th St, Kansas City, MO

Kansas City’s 1930s haunted movie theatre-themed haunted house has a tour that lasts between 45 minutes to an hour. The tour takes you through four floors and a dungeon of classic and contemporary horror scenes. Single attraction tickets are $27 and can be purchased online or in person. They are open Thursday through Sunday, with the earliest opening time being 7:30 p.m.

From campus, it takes 53 minutes to get to Macabre Cinema

3. The Beast - 1401 W 13th St, Kansas City, MO

The Beast leads you through a four-story open-concept haunted house that could take anywhere between 40 minutes to an hour. There are two ways out of the Beast: a straight down four-story slide or jump out of a second story window (the jump is not always available due to weather conditions). Single attraction tickets are $27 and can be purchased online or in person. They are open Thursday through Sunday, with the earliest opening time being 7:30 p.m.

From campus, it takes 53 minutes to get to the Beast

4. Toynbee’s House of Haunts - 35753 W. 146th Street in Gardner

Tickets are available for $20 through their website. Toynbee’s opens Friday, October 19 at 7:30-11 p.m. They offer six nights for their season: October 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28. Their bonus night is October 31, featuring Halloween at the Haunt, which they will be open from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m.

From campus, it takes 36 minutes to get to Toynbee’s House of Haunts.

5. The Haunt at Worlds of Fun - 4545 Worlds of Fun Ave, Kansas City, MO

The Halloween Haunt at Worlds of Fun transforms the park after 6 p.m. into a haunted house-esque event with over 400 monsters waiting to scare the visitors. The Haunt is open Friday and Saturday nights in October. Re-entry to the park is not allowed after 8 p.m., even with a hand stamp. Students, with a valid student ID, can get tickets to the Haunt at the park for $24.99, saving $20 off the normal price of a ticket. Friday hours are 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday hours are 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. The park is only open on Fridays and Saturdays during Halloween Haunt.

From campus, it takes 1 hour and 9 minutes to get to Worlds of Fun.

COSTUMES

There are many options for Halloween costumes: You could go as your favorite character from “Riverdale,” or you could decide to dress up as the “sexy” bunny. Whether you’re going solo in costume, matching with your best friend or getting together a group, there are plenty of places to purchase costumes.

1. Walmart - 2101 S Princeton St, Ottawa or 3300 Iowa St, Lawrence.

Walmart is limited on costumes for adults, but they have a few options to choose from. Walmart is on the cheaper side for costumes, versus going to a store that specializes in Halloween costumes. Walmart also offers candy, crafts and decorations.

From campus, it takes 7 minutes to get to the Walmart in town and 25 minutes to get to the Walmart in Lawrence.

2. Target - 3201 Iowa St, Lawrence

Similar to Walmart, Target is limited on what costumes they offer for adults. However, they are still on the cheaper side for costumes. Like Walmart, they also offer candy, crafts and decorations.

From campus, it takes 26 minutes to get to Target.

3. Spirit Halloween Lawrence - 2329 Iowa St, Lawrence

Spirit Halloween offers costumes for all ages and sizes, from infants to plus-size. They offer accessories, masks, decorations and much more. Prices vary based on the authenticity, popularity/trendiness, quantity, etc. of the costumes.

From campus, it takes 29 minutes to get to Spirit Halloween.

4. Party America - 1441 W 23rd St, Lawrence

Party America offers many different party favors, but during the months of September and October, they offer a wide variety of Halloween costumes for all ages and sizes. Prices vary based on the costume

From campus, it takes 30 minutes to get to Party America.

5. Party City - 14673 W 119th St, Olathe

Party City offers many different party favors, including graduation, birthdays, weddings and a wide selection of holiday-based paraphernalia. Year round, they offer costumes that can be used for Halloween.

From campus, it takes 38 minutes to get to Party City. 

6. Thrift stores

In October, many thrift stores receive old Halloween costume donations. For those who aren’t able to purchase expensive costumes but would still like to dress up, check out thrift stores that are local, either here in Ottawa, Lawrence or anywhere in Kansas City.

HORROR MOVIES

Horror movies are a large part of getting into the spirit of Halloween, but sometimes, just Halloween themed movies can allow someone to get their horror fix. Through different streaming apps, Halloween specials are offered.

1. Netflix

While Netflix isn’t offering a category that specializes in Halloween movies, they do offer horror movies and Halloween themed movies. All you have to do is search for Halloween and see what movies come up. If you’d rather have a scary movie, they offer a horror movie category. Applies only if you have a Netflix subscription.

2. Hulu’s Huluween

With a Hulu subscription, you have access to the category of “Huluween.” Under Huluween, there are 10 sub-categories to get your fright on. From Scary as Hell, featuring “The Blair Witch Project,” to For the Family, featuring “The Nightmare before Christmas.”

3. Disney Now

Under the free app Disney Now, Disney offers a selection of their original movies, including all four “Halloweentown” movies and the two “Twitches” movies. Streaming is free once you set up an account.

4. Freeform’s 31 Nights of Halloween

With a connection to a TV provider, the annual nights of Halloween can be accessed through Freeform’s app, website or channel.

PUMPKIN PATCHES

If you’re in need of a pumpkin patch, whether it be to pick up some pumpkins for carving, to get some festive photos or whatever you would like to do, here are a few pumpkin patches within an hour of campus.

1. Schaake’s Pumpkin Patch - 1791 N 1500 Rd, Lawrence

Schaake’s offers a 30 acre pumpkin patch, complete with gourds and Indian corn. Their pumpkins are $0.50 a pound if you pick them from the field, and they also offer small pie pumpkins for a lower price. They have a hay maze, hay rides into the field, farm animals for viewing, a playground, photo opportunities and a concession stand. They accept credit cards and cash. They are open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. September 22 through October 30 and there is no admission fee.

From campus, it takes 33 minutes to reach Schaake’s.

2. Marietta Farm - 34065 Commerce Dr, De Soto

The De Soto location is the newest in the line of Marietta Farm locations. This location includes a pumpkin patch, playgrounds, corn pits, farm animals, zombie paintball and much more. They accept credit cards and cash and are open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., September 29 through October 31. Admission is $5 a person, Monday through Friday and $7 on Saturday and Sunday. Children two and under are free.

From campus, it takes 39 minutes to reach Marietta Farm.

3. Kerby Farm Pumpkin Patch - 15943 158th St, Bonner Springs

Kerby Farm offers a pumpkin patch, playgrounds, a corn maze, hay rides into the field, farm animals for viewing, photo opportunities and a gift shop. Pumpkins are sold by the pound They accept credit cards and cash. They are open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. They are open Sundays from noon to 6 p.m., September 29 through October 28.

From campus, it takes 52 minutes to get to Kerby Farm.

4. Gary’s Berries, Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch - 5991 17th St, Grantville

Gary’s offers a pumpkin patch, a corn maze, a train, a corn pit and much more during their annual Fall Festival. Day passes can be purchased online for $12.95 a person or at the gate for $15.95. Season passes are $49.95 a person. Kids two and under are free. These prices do not include drinks, food or activities. Credit cards and cash are accepted. They are open every weekend from September 21 through October 28, Fridays 5 p.m. until 10 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sundays noon through 6 p.m.

From campus, it takes 55 minutes to get to Gary’s.

5. Pleasant Ridge Pumpkin Patch - 2710 Vermont Rd, Rantoul

Pleasant Ridge offers a wide variety of activities on their property, from a pumpkin patch to bounce houses to hayrides, and admission is just $5 a person. Children four and under are free. They are open weekends September 29 through October 28, Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.

From campus, it takes 17 minutes to get to Pleasant Ridge.

6. Pome on the Range - 2050 Idaho Rd, Williamsburg

Pome on the Range offers pick-your-own apples and pick-your-own pumpkins. They have an orchard full of 25 acres of apple trees and 12 acres of peach trees. They offer fresh apple cider and wine to those who are of age. They are open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., except for Sundays, where it is noon to 5 p.m.

From campus, it takes 14 minutes to get to Pome on the Range.

And there you have it. Leaves are falling, weather is changing, and Halloween is approaching. Are you prepared?