This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon: October 7, 2008 - Halloween can get a little predictable: pumpkins on stoops, cottony cobwebs in doors, cheap costumes at your local big-box store.
Maybe a few too many nips from your little ones' stash, or the tiring sight of young women making innocent costumes "bad" by adding fishnets and eyeliner, adds to the gloom. But parents shouldn’t despair.
Halloween can be fun and different. And there's much to do all month, from haunted hay rides to spooky stories told where ghosts just might linger.
We'll start with the kid-friendly run-down, and follow up Thursday with what's out there for big kids.
The trick will be choosing from it all.
A-maze-ing
With winter creeping near, now's the time to get out, enjoy a hayride, pick pumpkins, then get lost in the many corn mazes in the area. For a list of hayrides, go to St. Louis County Park's Website at www.stlouisco.com/parks/ag/ag2008fall.pdf .
Great Godfrey Corn Maze, Godfrey, Ill.
By day, it's maze full of corn, like you'd expect, but at night, the Great Godfrey Corn Maze brings out the spooks. From Oct. 10 through Oct. 26, you can get your scares there and run right into the ghosts of safari adventurers whose adventures didn't end well. Make sure to bring a flashlight.
Remember, at night, it is scary, says Kimberly Caughran, director of parks and recreation with the Village of Godfrey Parks and Recreation Department. She recommends the haunted maze for kids 4th grade and up. Haunting begins at dark and spooks on until 10 p.m. most days. For adults, the maze costs $6, for kids 6 to 11, $4, and for kids 5 and under, the maze is free. For more, go to www.greatgodfreymaze.com/#hallo . (Aerial view courtesy of the Great Godfrey Corn Maze.)
Telling Stories
Forget "Saw" and "Saw II" and "Saw III" and yes, even "Saw IV" this Halloween. Truly great scary stories are the ones told some place spooky with just your imagination for effects.
Ghost Stories at Katy Depot, St. Charles
On Friday, Oct. 10 and Saturday, Oct. 11, gather in St. Charles at Frontier Park for Ghost Stories at the Katy Depot. Times vary and there's no cost for listening. Saturday's stories are for kids 10 and up.
Bob Kramer's Marionettes Halloween Spooktacular at Museum of Transportation
On Friday, Oct. 10 and Saturday, Oct. 11, see a funny puppet show at the Museum of Transportation.
Tickets cost $8 for adults and $6 for kids 5 to 12. For more, go towww.stlouisco.com/parks/ag/ag2008fall.pdf
Spooky Stories At the General Daniel Bissell House
Inside this 19th century mansion, you'll hear ghost stories at three places in the house and on the grounds at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17. Cost is $5 a person. For more, go to www.stlouisco.com/parks/ag/ag2008fall.pdf
Spooky Stories at Fort Belle Fontaine
Another creepy setting awaits along the Missouri River. You'll follow the old trail to stops where stories await. The event, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, costs $8 a person. For more, go to www.stlouisco.com/parks/ag/ag2008fall.pdf
Halloween: Ghosts of the Past, Historic Daniel Boone Home and Boonesfield Village, Defiance
A little closer to Halloween, head to Defiance and the Historic Daniel Boone Home and Boonesfield Village. You won't find the ghost of the pioneer there, but from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 25, you will find Halloween: Ghosts of the Past. Visitors will tour the grounds, making stops along the way to hear about the history of Halloween and ghost stories from the grounds themselves and different ethnic traditions, including slaves.
"We'll have some stories about some real experiences that are just a little hard to explain," says Grady Manus, chief of interpretation.
Cost is $7.50 for adults and $5 for kids. For more information, go to www.lindenwood.edu/boone/special_events.asp
So Fun, It's Scary
While there are plenty of ways to get thrills all month, lots of options exist for families who don't want children to be troubled by nightmares later.
Boo at the Zoo, St. Louis Zoo
When dark falls on the St. Louis Zoo, the fun comes out with St. John's Mercy Children's Hospital Boo at the Zoo Nights. Beginning Oct. 17 through Oct. 30 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., explore the Zoo at night and in costume. There's a Pirate's Cove, things that crawl in Creepy Cavern and Spider Alley, a Headless Horseman Graveyard, a maze and a phantom floating about. Every hour at the stage catch "Halloween Hank and his Tall Tales."
Night hikes are offered for $5, and the carousel has been transformed into a "scare-ou-cel."
Admission is $4 for members and $5 for nonmembers. Kids under 2 are free, and get $1 off for kids 2 to 12 in costume. Parking in the South Lot is free.
For more, go to stlzoo.org/events/calendarofevents/booatthezoonights.htm
Fright Fest, Six Flags St. Louis
Weekends through Halloween, Six Flags pulls out the scary for Fright Fest. Kid-friendly activities take place by day, with rides, Pumpkin Idol and storytelling. Kids 12 and under can dress in costumes. The park does get scary at night, but if you can handle it, check out the haunted hayrides and the Mansion of Terror, which do cost extra. There's also a monster party, a battle of the bands, and the Wheel of Fright, where you can spin and see what kind of tasty bug you'll get to eat. Tickets at the park cost $40 for adults, and $30 for kids under 48 inches. (Note: If you want help United Way and plan to go to "Fright Fest on Oct. 31 and Nov. 1, click here https://www.stl.unitedway.org/unitedwayweek.aspx and download a coupon: Adults also get the kid ticket price of $29.99, and $3 goes to the United Way.
Otherwise, go to www.sixflags.com/stLouis for more.
Not-So-Haunted House, The Magic House
The Not-So-Haunted House at the Magic House offers kid-friendly thrills indoors. And that can really be great for little one when it's too cold to trick or treat outside, says Kim Geminn, director of marketing. The Not-So-Haunted House is a not-so-scary way for kids to experience the fun of Halloween without the terror of Halloween.
The Magic House is decorated, Geminn says, and filled with storybook characters. "They're not scary. They're just more festive." From Oct. 24 through the 26 and also on Halloween, kids can trick or treat through the house and get characters’ autographs. For bigger kids, there are the mazes of the Haunted Trail. Admission is $7.50.
Go to magichouse.org/events.htm for more. (Photo courtesy of the Magic House.)
Historic Haunting at Thornhill
By candlelight, listen to scary stories in the home of Gov. Frederick Bates on Friday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25 from 6 to 10 p.m. There will also be animal shows, tours of the mansion and family cemetery and a talk about old burial practices. Cost is $8 a person. Kids 4 and under are free with a paid adult.
For more, go to www.stlouisco.com/parks/ag/ag2008fall.pdf
Haunted Horse Drawn Hayrides, St. Charles
If walk-through spooks aren't your thing, why not ride through?
On Oct. 19 and 26, St. Charles offers haunted horse drawn hayrides every hour from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The cost is $15 and reservations are required. Go to www.historicstcharles.com/event/Item.aspx?ID=121
Haunted Hayrides, Eckert's Orchards, Millstadt Farm, Millstadt, Ill.
In Illinois, Eckert's Orchards Millstadt Farm also offers haunted hayrides throughout October on Friday and Saturday nights. The farm also has a Jack-o-Lobber, which launches pumpkins a half-mile.
For more, go to www.eckerts.com/calendar.htm .
Also at Millstadt Farm, there's a Costume Carnival Oct. 25 and 26. Kids who arrive in costume will get free admission to the entertainment farm and at 2 p.m. each day, there's a costume parade.
Trickin' And Treatin'
And finally, the real reason for the season: dressing up and getting candy for it. Of course, neighborhoods everywhere will light up the jack-o-lanterns and be filled with little monsters at dusk, but other options exist.
Monsters and Marshmallows, St. Charles
The 3rd annual Monsters and Marshmallows festival takes place Oct. 24 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at First State Capitol. The fall festival features more storytelling, s'mores, a bonfire and costume parade.
For more, go to www.historicstcharles.com/ev ent/Item.aspx?ID=12
Halloween Pumpkin Party, Museum of Transportation
On Tuesday, Oct. 28, and Wednesday, Oct. 29, get those kids in their costumes and head to the Museum of Transportation for snacks and activities. Cost is $6. Go to transportmuseumassociation.org/ for more.
Trick or Treat on Main, St. Charles
Before the sun goes down and the ghosts come out, St. Charles' main street will fill with costumed kids. From 3 to 5 p.m. on Halloween, kids can trick or treat at businesses along Main Street. Go to www.historicstcharles.com/event/Item.aspx?ID=155 for more.
Central West End costume parade
The day’s the same -- Oct. 25 -- for three parties, but make certain you check your times: the Children's Halloween Parade steps off from McPherson and Euclid at 11 a.m.; the Dog Costume Parade trots away from McPherson and Euclid at 1 p.m. and the adults come out an party starting at 8 p.m. at Maryland and Euclid.
Coming up: Halloween for grownups includes parties and decorating .
Kristen Hare is a freelance journalist. To reach her, contact Beacon features and commentary editor Donna Korando.
Let us know of kid-friendly public activities that we've missed. Kristen Hare Beacon staff