Halloween fun for the whole family this weekend and next

Entertainment
By Lauren Beach
Oct 22, 2009
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Did you know that the origins of Halloween date back nearly 2,000 years? The spooky holiday is celebrated all over the world, with each country adding its own twists along the way. Halloween and the celebration of fall are both fun reasons to gather your family and friends together for an exciting celebration.

Although it may look a little different from when the Celts celebrated it, the traditions of Halloween are still basically the same. Bonfires, parades, costumes and treats are just some of the ways that Halloween has traditionally been celebrated.

Here is a sampling of some of the Halloween-inspired events happening between now and Oct. 31 that are perfect for the whole family.

Hallow's Eve

Celebrate Halloween as it was in the hey-dey of the Patterson Homestead. Dayton History and the Patterson Homestead's Hallow's Eve give children the opportunity to see what kids wore and did on Halloween in the 1890s. Believed to be haunted, the Patterson Homestead provides the perfect setting for scary stories and fortune telling. There will also be craft making and games. The usually closed third floor will also be open for visitors and may even provide the perfect location for ghost hunting. Call ahead, as space is limited.

  • WHERE: Patterson Homestead, 1815 Brown St., Dayton
  • WHEN: Friday, Oct. 23 and Saturday, Oct. 24, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  • COST: $5 for Dayton History members and $6 for non-members.
  • MORE INFO: Visit http://www.daytonhistory.org or call (937) 222-9724 for reservations

Howl-O-Ween

Dress up in your best Halloween get-up for a chance to win the costume contest at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery's Howl-O-Ween bash. There will be games, snacks and creepy-crawly live animals. You can also wander through the cosmos during the Halloween-themed planetarium shows. Buy tickets at the museum's admission desk or at http://www.boonshoftmuseum.org.

  • WHERE: Boonshoft Museum of Discovery, 2600 DeWeese Parkway, Dayton
  • WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 24, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
  • COST: Family Four Pack, $25 in advance, $30 at the door; Individual tickets, $7 in advance, $9 at the door.
  • MORE INFO: Call (937) 275-7431 or visit http://www.boonshoftmuseum.org.

Haunted Woods

Take a guided stroll through the haunted woods and stop at five stations to learn about the wild creatures of the night. There will be snacks, crafts, games and face painting.

  • WHERE: Brukner Nature Center, 5995 Horseshoe Bend Road, Troy
  • WHEN: Fridays, Oct. 23 and 30 and Saturdays, Oct. 24 and 31, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  • COST: $3 for members, $5 for non-members
  • MORE INFO: Call (937) 698- 6493 or visit http://www.bruknernaturecenter.com

Howl-O-Fest

Kings Island's kid-friendly daytime Halloween event features a costume parade, trick-or-treating, a petting zoo, pumpkin patch and more. Purchase of a ticket includes access to the park.

  • WHERE: Kings Island, 6300 Kings Island Drive, Mason
  • WHEN: Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1, noon to 5:30 p.m.
  • COST: Online — $27.99 for adults, $21.99 for children and seniors; at the gate — $48.99 adults, $31.99 children and seniors
  • MORE INFO: Visit http://www.visitkingsisland.com or call (513) 754-5700.

Cowvin's Corny Maze

Wander through 150,000 square feet of cornfield at Young's Jersey Dairy. Hopefully you won't get lost! Children 11 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Special group discounts are available.

  • WHERE: Young's Jersey Dairy, 6880 Springfield-Xenia Road, Yellow Springs
  • WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 24 and Sunday, Oct. 25, noon to 6 p.m.
  • COST: Children 5 and older, $5; children 4 and younger, free
  • MORE INFO: Visit http://www.youngsdairy.com or call (937) 325-0629.

Haunted Wagon Ride

Explore the land where monsters and goblins live and prepare to be spooked at this kid-friendly haunted wagon ride.

  • WHERE: Young's Jersey Dairy, 6880 Springield-Xenia Road, Yellow Springs
  • WHEN: Fridays, Saturdays Oct. 23-24, 30-31, 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.
  • COST: Children 5 and older, $8; children 4 and younger, $2
  • MORE INFO: Visit http://www.youngsdairy.com or call (937) 325-0629

FULTON FARMS: Hayride, pumpkin patch

Take a hayride out the the Fulton Farms pumpkin patch. Take home the largest pumpkin you can carry! Special activities include kid-sized corn mazes, slides, animals and more.

  • WHERE: Fulton Farms, 2393 Ohio 202, Troy
  • WHEN: Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • COST: $7
  • MORE INFO: Call (937) 339-8246 or visit http://www.fultonfarms.com

Hidden Valley Fruit Farm: Hayride, Pumpkin Patch

Take a hayride through the farm and see beautiful fall scenery, pick pumpkins and visit with the farm animals. Check out Halloween Fun Festival from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 31.

  • WHERE: 5474 N. Ohio 48, Lebanon
  • WHEN: Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 31, noon to 5 p.m.
  • COST: $5-10 per person
  • MORE INFO: Call (513) 932-1869 or go online to http://www.hiddenvalleyfruitfarm.com

Corn Maze and Punkin' Chunkin' Cannon

Explore 8 acres of corn maze at Tom's Maze and find 12 puzzle pieces at roadside mailboxes. Cross the Victory Bridge to the finish line. Watch as pumpkins are launched over a quarter mile in the Punkin' Chunkin' Cannon. Cash or check only.

  • WHERE: Tom's Maze, 4677 Germantown-Liberty Road, Germantown
  • WHEN: Fridays and Saturdays, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Sundays, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Monday through Thursday, group reservations available. Events run through Nov. 1
  • COST: $7; children 5 and younger free; groups of 20 or more receive $1 off per person
  • MORE INFO: Call (937) 866-2777 or visit http://www.tomsmaze.com

Hallzooween at Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden

Come see how animals celebrate Halloween! Watch as pigs, elephants and gorillas play with pumpkins. There will be trick-or-treating, and costumes are encouraged. Warm 98 will host the Monster Mash Bash on Sunday, Oct. 25.

  • WHERE: Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, 3400 Vine St., Cincinnati
  • WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 24 and Sunday, Oct. 25, noon to 5 p.m.
  • COST: Children 2-12, $9; adults, $13
  • MORE INFO: Call (513) 281-4700 or visit http://www.cincinnatizoo.org

Mall at Fairfield Commons

During this free Momtopia event, children can make crafts and strut their stuff on the costume runway. There will be face painting and balloon artists.

  • WHERE: Mall at Fairfield Commons, 2727 Fairfield Commons, Beavercreek
  • WHEN: Friday, Oct. 30, 10:30 a.m. to noon
  • COST: Free
  • MORE INFO: Call (937) 427-4300 or visit http://www.mallatfairfieldcommons.com

Halloween Extravaganza at The Greene

Dress up and enjoy hayrides, costumed characters, Halloween magic, face painting and an inflatable maze.

  • WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 31, noon to 4 p.m.
  • WHERE: Juniper Way at The Greene, 51 Plum St., Beavercreek
  • COST: Free
  • MORE INFO: Call (937) 490-4900 or visit http://www.thegreene.com

Bow Wow Ween / Pet Parade

Halloween isn't just about kids and candy. It's about animals, too. Dress your pet up and participate in the pet parade and costume contest for a chance to win a three-day/two-night stay at the Petsmart PetsHotel and a $50 gift card to The Greene. Proceeds from this event go to SICSA and the Humane Society of Greater Dayton.

  • WHERE: The Greene, 51 Plum St., Beavercreek
  • WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 24, 12:30 p.m.
  • COST: Preregistration, $15 per pet; $20 per pet on day of event
  • MORE INFO: Call (937) 490-4900

26th annual Halloween in the Park

Dress up in your most creative Halloween costume, paint your scariest pumpkin and learn about one of Halloween's most infamous creatures during the OWLoween presentation by Glen Helen Raptor Center. There will be tons of other Halloween activities including a bonfire, wagon rides, face painting and a maze.

Beggar's Night: Haunted Hayride and Bonfire

After the kids trick-or-treat, bring them to the after-party for a bonfire and hayride.

PhilharMonster

Join Neal Gittleman and the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra as they dress up in their scariest Halloween costumes and celebrate Halloween through music and story-telling. There will be a pre-concert costume contest at 2 p.m., an instrument petting zoo, and the headless horseman will make an appearance for pictures.

Grafton Hill Pumpkin Display

Located behind the Dayton Art Institute on Stoddard Avenue in Grafton Hill, the Grafton Hill pumpkin display features more than 400 carved and lit pumpkins.

  • WHEN: Friday, Oct. 30, and Saturday, Oct. 31, 7:30 p.m.
  • WHERE: Stoddard Avenue, Grafton Hill
  • COST: Free

JUMPY'S HARVEST PARTY

Decorate pumpkins, get your face painted, play putt-putt and jump.

  • WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 31, noon to 6 p.m.
  • WHERE: Jumpy's indoor inflatable playland, 1893 W. Main St., Troy
  • COST: $10
  • MORE INFO: http://www.jumpys.net, (937) 552-9008.

Aullwood's Enchanted Forest

Snack on popcorn and cider and meet some of the forest's most interesting creatures. Explore one or two trails. This event is toddler-friendly.

  • WHEN: Friday, Oct. 23 and Sunday, Oct. 24, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
  • WHERE: Aullwood Farm, 9101 Frederick Pike, Dayton
  • COST: One trail, $4.50 members, $5 nonmembers; two trails, $7.50, members, $8, non-members
  • MORE INFO: go online to http://aullwood.center.audubon.org
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About the Author

Lauren Beach