By Maddie Baker
All Hallows Eve is a festive time for everyone. In Pontiac, Michigan, there is the Erebus Haunted Attraction and Glen Mills, Pennsylvania has the Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride- the top two frightening attractions in the US, but Las Vegas engineers several attractions for Halloween, as well. Between the pumpkin patches and Fremont Street, Las Vegas has plenty of spook-tacular attractions that could keep anyone busy this Halloween weekend.
Jack o’ lanterns are an essential part of Halloween, but for a proper jack o’ lantern there has to be a pumpkin. The desert doesn’t get a lot of rainfall, but it doesn’t prevent prime pumpkins from being grown. Just north of Las Vegas lies Gilcrease Orchard, the family ranch that has been preserved for the Las Vegas community for over 90 years. The fertile farmland produces pumpkins, apples, and leafy greens for sale. They sell cider and other tasty treats like candy apples. The cider is all natural, and the facility has been inspected and approved by the health department.
“Gilcrease Orchard was cute and, to be perfectly honest, really cool because it was away from the whole musky, dirty city thing. I would go again because it’s pretty close, and it’s really pretty,” Alli Harper, freshman, said.
A pumpkin patch resides on Coronado Circle Dr. and St Rose Pkwy. Stu Miller’s Pumpkin Lots have 14 other locations to visit. There are concession stands, a bouncy house, mechanical rides, the inflated slide, bungee jumping, a train, a petting zoo, and a wide variety of prime pumpkins for picking. Great Pacific Pumpkin, a local Ventura County farm, supplies all pumpkins and squashes.
“I went with my little brother, so it was really fun, but my favorite part was the bungee jumping. I have been going for four years now because it’s a really great thing to do with family or friends,” Chanel Nader, freshman, said.
The Strip doesn’t have any pumpkin patches, but it still celebrates the fright-tastic holiday. Fright Dome is open to anyone looking for a scare. As it is ranked one of the top five scariest attractions in the nation. Open Oct. 2 through Oct. 31 from 7 p.m. until midnight, Fright Dome offers six haunted houses alongside the traditional Adventuredome rides and attractions, four new scare zones, and live shows nightly. For its thirteenth year of frightful fun, Fright Dome has expanded its reach across Adventuredome with clowns, dolls, and monsters… Oh my!
“Fright Dome was a lot of fun. I thought it was much scarier than last year, and it was a crazy experience,” Josh Bombala, junior, said.
The Strip isn’t the only place getting festive. Fremont Street sets up an Oktober Fright Fest from Oct. 5 through Nov. 1, and it showcases three original free stage productions including “Frank & The Steins,” “Vampire Rising,” and “Halloween Hotties.” Viva Vision light shows will also include the two classic segments “Time Warp” and “Monster Mash.”
Speaking of getting in the spirit, Opportunity Village takes the time to turn the Magical Forest into a HalloVeen spooktacular. There is the Haunted Adventure by Santino and Rocco Panaro, Boris the Elf’s 3D Experience, Cheyenne’s Enchanted Carousel, Avalanche Slide, Rod’s Monstrous Mini Golf, and the Forest Ghost Train. Not to mention Halloween crafts, movies, “Scary-oke,” the Candy Cabin, and lots of tasty treats. HalloVeen in Opportunity Village is open from Oct. 23 to Nov. 1, and tickets are available for purchase on the Opportunity Village website.
On Halloween, Town Square will be transforming into Town SCARY. Participating stores and restaurants invite children of all ages to trick or treat from four to seven in the evening. Holiday- themed games are free and open to the public.
The District has a special trick or treating event on Halloween. Held by MIx 94.1, the trick or treat event goes from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday to collect the maximum amount of sweet treats.
Springs Preserve also sets up a Haunted Harvest from Oct. 16 through Oct.18, Oct. 23 through Oct. 25, Oct. 30 and Oct.31 during the hours of 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Haunted Harvest includes a haunted hay maze, ghost stories, trick or treat stations, crafts, carnival games, a petting zoo, family bingo, live entertainment, a train ride, and food vendors.
There’s more fun to be had in Las Vegas outside of the conventional trick or treating. There’s no shortages of venues to visit to celebrate the spooktacular tradition in Sin City.
