Local haunts and spooky spectacles

Area Halloween happenings

Elizabeth Gist

On All Hallow’s Eve, better known as Halloween around these parts, Oct. 31, the City of Rushville, in conjunction with the Parks and Recreation Department, the Rush County Fraternal Order of Police and WIFE 94.3 FM will be hosting a Happy Halloween Spectacular at the Rush County Fairgrounds’ Livestock Pavilion.

Sign-up for the sixth annual event begins at 5:30 p.m. and the costume contest and judging will begin promptly at 6 p.m. The event is free for all ages, and all children will receive a treat bag.

Costumes will be judged in six different age groups: 0 to 4, 5 to 8, 9 to 13 and adult. In each age group volunteers will give out six prizes.

Categories are scariest/ugliest, cutest/prettiest and most unusual.

A total of 36 prizes will be awarded, six prizes in each age group.

“We are still in need of donations of money and or candy,” event organizer Carla Sharpe said. “We are also in need of a few more volunteers. I can use all the help I can get. I need a few more judges, people to help decorate, people to help with bag treats, and crowd patrol.”

Sharpe said that this is the perfect way to kick off an evening of fun.

“Young and old alike will want to participate in this fun event,” Sharpe said. “Each and every participant will receive a treat bag full of goodies and a glow-in-the-dark necklace compliments of the Parks and Recreation Department.”

As mentioned, the event will be held at the livestock pavilion at the Rush County Fairgrounds, something that worked out well last year.

“Last year, this place worked out great. We don’t have to worry about inclement weather. If it rains, let it rain, we’re safe. It won’t be raining on our parade. Our goal is to start judging promptly at 6 p.m. to get everyone judged, prizes handed out, pictures of winners taken and treat bags handed out, and then get all the little goblins on their way to go trick-or-treating,” Sharpe said.

A costume contest does not require patrons to spend a ton of money.

“I would just like to add that this does not have to be an expensive event,” Sharpe said. “This is free of charge to all who attend. Pull something out of your closet and dress up or be creative and throw something together. In the five years I've been doing this I've seen so many wild, crazy, cute, neat and off-the-wall outfits. I wouldn't want to be a judge. Especially for the little kids, they are just too cute. Don't get me wrong, going to Wal-Mart and buying your outfit is cute too, and saves time. It's fun for all ages!”

Questions may be directed to Sharpe at City Hall, 932-3735.

Other area haunts include:

n Boondocks Farm: Located at 8001 S. Grant City Road near Knightstown, this large farm features an eight acre corn maze with a tribute to the Superbowl champions, the Indianapolis Colts; 12 varieties of pumpkins; a pumpkin launcher; haunted woods trails (Friday and Saturday only); hay rides and live bands and entertainment. For prices and hours of operation call (765) 345-2020, or for more information visit www.boondocksfarms.com.

n A community student scarecrow dance for grades K through sixth will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Knights of Columbus in Rushville. Sponsored by St. Mary School PTA. Individual admission $3, family $5.

n The annual Metamora corn maze is open from 1 to 5 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday in October. The corn maze pays tribute to Brookville’s bicentennial celebration to be held next summer. Local artist Jim Suhre designed the maze, which features a replica of the Franklin County Courthouse clock tower that sits at the center of the maze. The Maize Company then translated his design into a planting layout. In the spring, the corn was planted in both directions to prevent visibility from one row to the other. Once it began to grow, two area teenagers, Willy Wilz and Adam Kaiser, each volunteered more than 90 hours of their summer cutting the corn to the specifications of the computerized layout.

The maze is eight times the size of an NFL football field and will have fun seekers from all over the tri-state area wandering over two miles within 10 acres of corn. Visitors can take the train from downtown Metamora or take advantage of parking off of U.S. 52. Entrance to the corn maze is one mile east of Metamora (or five miles west of Brookville). Admission is $5 and all proceeds go to the Whitewater Canal Trail, whose grand opening will be held on Saturday morning before the maze opens. The new 2.6 mile-long trail is the first ADA approved trail in Franklin County, and is designed for both hiking and biking. Visit the Web sites www.metamoracornmaze.com and www.whitewatercanaltrail.com for more information.

n The 61st annual Irvington Halloween Festival is a one-of-a-kind event celebrating one local community’s haunted history. Irvington, located 10 minutes from downtown Indianapolis, hosts the Halloween festival every year to bring awareness to the community, to bring commerce to local business and sponsors, and to provide fun for the children of Indiana. The five day event runs from Oct. 22 to 27, features 30 activities, 25 performances and draws 8,000 to 10,000 people.

Activities include vintage horror movies, storytelling in Irving Circle Park (complete with hot apple cider and a campfire), Melchior Marionettes, a clay potter, pie-eating contest, a henna artist, children’s games, costume contest, live music, crafts, Animalia animal education, vintage bike show, Aberacadabera Magic, ghost calling contest, hula hoop contest, pumpkin seed spitting contest, Harry Potter contest, pumpkin rolling contest and a bounce tent among numerous other things.

The event also features ghost tours at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday night. The two-hour tours through the streets of Irvington, deemed one of Indy’s most haunted areas, features a dozen sites of infamy and haunting, including the D.C. Stephenson Mansion, Masonic Lodge No. 666, and the home of Dr. H.H. Holmes, America’s first serial killer.



Rushville Republican staff writer Elizabeth Gist can be contacted at (765) 932-2222 or via e-mail at elizabeth.gist@cnhimedia.com. To add a comment visit our Website at www.rushvillerepublican.com.

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