It's finally Spooky Season!
Fun? Candy? And costumes? What's not to love about Halloween? Get the most out of the spookiest month with these fun parades, hayrides, and other Halloween events happening across #ILSouth. Check out what's near you from our list below:
Join the crew at Eckert’s Millstadt Family Fun Farm for haunted hayrides throughout the month of October leading up to Halloween! While you're there, find your perfect carving pumpkin in their pumpkin patch. Or, head out into the apple orchard with the kids. Eckert's Family Fun Farm also offers bonfire rings for rent, a petting farm, a themed corn maze, and carnival rides. Visit Millstadt to kick off your Spooky Holiday Season on your Downstate Illinois adventure in Millstadt.
Jumpin' Pumpkin Jamboree | Saturdays and Sundays in October
Visit Eckert's Farm in Belleville for their annual Pumpkin Jamboree, a family-friendly event that celebrates all the Fall season has to offer. You'll find wagon rides, live entertainment, festival foods, children’s activities and much more at Pumpkin Jamboree this year. Make sure you stop by the petting farm for pony rides and goat feedings in between riding carnival rides and eating Eckert's-made funnel cakes and caramel apples. You can even take a wagon ride to the orchard to pick up your perfect pumpkin! The Pumpkin Jamboree happens each weekend in October at all Eckert's venues, including the Millstadt Family Fun Farm and the Grafton and Versailles farms.
Witches Ghoul's Night Out is just the Halloween Ladies Night you've been waiting for! Downtown Columbia welcomes ladies from all over to celebrate Halloween with the best shopping and dining deals of the year from 5pm-9pm. Then, it's your chance to win prizes at the after party's costume contest at Reifschneider's Grill and Grape! Participating businesses are identified by an orange "Witches STOP Here" sign. Visit the event's Facebook page to learn about purchasing VIW ("Very Important Witch") passes for you and your ghastly ghoulfriends!
Let Alfresco Productions inject your Spooky Season with some comedic relief at their holiday performance of Young Frankenstein, a musical based on the 1974 comedy film. Purchase your tickets online in advance, or at Alfresco Fines Arts Center in Granite City, IL before the show.
What would Halloween be without a good scare? Waterloo Sportsman's Club invites you to their 30th Annual Haunted Trail, designed to scare you silly! But, you can still bring the whole family. While the adults are enjoying the Haunted Trail, kids can have their own fun on the Pumpkin Express while snacking on concessions and playing games.
Celebrate Fall with your family, friends, and community in Waterloo at the 10th Annual PumpkinFest! Join over 100 vendors from 9am-4pm in Downtown Waterloo for shopping, activities, food, live music and even more fun.
Stop by Kinmundy Log Cabin Village for spooky fun on their Haunted Trail, which includes s'mores, hot dogs and hot chocolate in front of a bonfire while you wait!
Join the St. Clair Historical Society as they dive deeper into Belleville's haunted past with the third spine-tingling edition of their Haunted Belleville Walking Tour! This year's walk includes more in-depth site tours and additional chances to enter haunted historic sites. Of course, that all means more FUN! You don't want to miss this event. Unless, of course, you're scared of things that go "bump" in the night... The walking tour begins at the Victorian Home Museum in Downtown Belleville. Bring your walking shoes, ticket, and a keen eye for spotting the supernatural!
Enjoy a hayride to the haunted Little Prairie Nature Trail at Carlyle Lake's 2019 Haunted Trail — if you dare! The hayride begins at the Carlyle McDonald's parking lot and takes place from 6:30pm-10pm. All proceeds from the event go toward the 2020 Fireworks Spectacular.
Celebrate Halloween with candy and costumes at Olney's TrustBank Halloween Parade on October 25th. Set up your lawn blankets and picnic chairs in Downtown Olney and enjoy the show!
Looking to free up some calories for Halloween candy? Run in the MTC Spooktacular Race/Walk 5K this Halloween season! The Spooktacular Race lets you take your Halloween costume out for a test-run. And, if you register before October 15, you're guaranteed a race t-shirt. Visit their website for more information on the race route and registration.
Join Centralia in its nearly century-old Fall festival tradition — the 93rd Annual Halloween Parade, Fall Festival & Craft Fair. The event features a Craft Fair and Flea Market at the Centralia Recreation Complex, free children’s games and activities, chili cook-off, car show, local entertainment and, of course, delicious food. And, make sure to arrive early, so your little ones can walk in the Children's Costume Parade. Centralia's Halloween Parade is sure to put you in the Spooky Season Spirit!
Trick or treat this year at Historic Main Street businesses in Columbia, IL at the Halloween Hi-Jinks. Activities, fun and a costume contest at City Hall await you on your Halloween adventure in Downstate Illinois!
Ghouls night out in Lebanon, IL! Join for a wickedly good time at the areas largest free Witches Night Out event. Grab your ghoul friends for an evening packed with shopping, dining, drinking, and cackling along Lebanon's beautiful Brick Street Business District. There will be contests, music, vendors, and even more surprises this year!
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