Halloween Travelin’ Arkansas: Events Taking Place for Halloween
September 4, 2008
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
The popular and award winning “Murder and Mayhem Trolley” departs the Fort Smith Museum of History each Thursday, Friday and Saturday in October. The trolley tour will run Thursdays, beginning October 2, at 7:00pm and 8:00pm and Fridays and Saturdays at 7:00, 8:00 and 9:00pm through October 31.
Fort Smith, Arkansas, the home of the “Hanging Judge,” Isaac C. Parker was once known as “Hell on the Border.” This rough and rowdy border town was the jumping off place into Indian Territory for outlaws, bandits and renegades.
As the trolley winds its way through the Belle Grove Historic District, riders thrill to gruesome historic facts and eerie local legends. Skeletons are rattled in the closets of the Victorian residents of the Belle Grove Historic District. Real haunted houses are pointed out and their dark secrets revealed. Murder stories are related along with the story of a bloody love triangle. During its checkered past, prostitution was legal in Fort Smith. The first bordello to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places serves as the Fort Smith Visitor’s Center.
Blythe spirits and a variety of characters from the past will keep you entertained for the entire one hour ride including stories from the National Historic Site, Miss Laura’s Visitor’s Center, and the Clayton House, all located within downtown and the Belle Grove Historic District.
The narrative is as colorful as Fort Smith’s History. It is not recommended for children under fourteen. Trolley tickets are $12.00 per person. Reservations are recommended. Call the museum at 479-783-7841 for information and reservations. All proceeds benefit the Fort Smith Museum of History.
********************
Pumpkin Hollow in St. Francis has a frightful season planned this year. Beginning Oct. 3, visitors will be terrified by Bubba’s Butcher Barn and Horror in the Hollow walking trail. For the youngsters or the faint of heart, there’s the Friendly Fairytale Forest. For more information on Pumpkin Hollow’s special Halloween events, phone 870-598-3568 or log on to www.PumpkinHollow.com.
********************
One of the most elaborate and scary places to be is EMOBA’s annual Haunted Cathedral. From Oct. 17 to Nov. 1, EMOBA, The Museum of Black Arkansans, will do its best to scare the daylights out of anyone who dares visit. The historic First Baptist Church with its gothic architecture provides the perfect setting for this holiday fun, which serves as a fundraiser for the facility. EMOBA is both a museum and a performing arts center. The Haunted Cathedral will have both live and animatronic ghouls and goblins on hand. Hours are 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 7:30 p.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday. The cathedral is located at 12th and Louisiana in downtown Little Rock. Call 501-661-9903 for more information or check the museum’s Web site: www.emoba.org/
********************
There will be lots of miniature ghosts, witches, fairy princesses and the like running around Oct. 24-31 during the 17th Annual Boo at the Zoo. Set for the Little Rock Zoo, hours are 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This safe, fun-filled Halloween festival features rides, games and treat stations throughout the grounds. There will be a nightly “creatures of the night” program and costume contest plus a very scary Haunted House. For the small fry, there will be the Little Pumpkin’s Play Patch and a fun house. Admission is $ 4 in advance, $5 at the gate. Contact the Zoo, which is located at #1 Jonesboro Drive, at 501-661-7203 for more information.
********************
The 2nd annual Pioneer Haunted Park will be held in Maynard on Oct. 24 at the town’s Pioneer Park. Enjoy an evening of old-fashioned fun for the young and the young-at-heart. For more information, phone 870-647-2701.
********************
Lake Frierson State Park in Jonesboro will host Halloween Hayrides on Oct. 25. Meet the ghouls and goblins of Lake Frierson that only come out during Halloween. Trick-or-treating and campfire stories will also be part of the evening. For more information, phone 870-932-2615 or log on to www.ArkansasStateParks.com.
********************
The 13th annual Howl-O-Ween Party on Oct. 25 at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs can be a hair-raising experience with the sounds of more than 100 big cats all around. This is the only time the public can view the cats in the dark. The refuge offers a “Trail of Terror” through its “haunted” field. There will also be games, food and storytelling. The refuge is located seven miles south of Eureka springs on Scenic Ark. 23. For more information, phone 479-253-5841 or visit www.turpentinecreek.org.
********************
The 7th annual Water Valley Volunteer Fire Department Haunted House will be held on Oct. 25 at the Water Valley Volunteer Fire Department, located 12 miles west of Pocahontas. Enjoy hayrides to and from the scary haunted house, games, face painting and food. There’s even a special haunted house for younger kids. For more information, phone 870-869-2986.
********************
October 25 is the date for Washington After Dark at Williams Tavern Restaurant in Washington. After enjoying fine dining at the restaurant, guests will light their candle lanterns and accompany an interpretive guide as he takes them through selected sites in town that have some “unexplained” happenings in their history. For more information, phone 870-983-2684.
********************
Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park’s Haunted Battlefield Tour will be Oct. 25 in Prairie Grove. Tour groups will be guided from the amphitheatre to the front of the historic Borden House along part of the park's walking trail and into the valley where the heaviest fighting occurred during the Battle of Prairie Grove. Chances are good that there will be a few scary surprises along the way. Tours depart every 20 to 30 minutes beginning at 7 p.m. with the last tour at 10 p.m. Parking is available at the east Borden House entrance. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children ages three to 12.Passes will be required for specific tour departure times and are available the day of event. For more information, phone 479-846-2990.
********************
Benton changes its name for one day as it becomes “Spook City” on Oct. 27. This huge Halloween carnival will cover four blocks in historic downtown Benton. There will be games, face painting, a costume show and live entertainment. An amusement area plus a bunch of candy and goodies for all the family will be a part of the happening as well. Admission is free and hours are 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Lisa Baldwin is the local contact for more information at 501-551-1100.
********************
One of the most haunted buildings in the southeast, Little Rock’s Old Arsenal, provides the perfect setting to spend All Hallow’s Eve as a Murder at MacArthur Park takes place. On Oct. 31, the evening begins with you settling in for some real ghost stories that pertain to this historic landmark and suddenly a murder takes place – right before your eyes. Now, there is a killer in the group. It’s up to you and your team to put the pieces together and discover the killer is before he or she strikes again. The $44 per person price includes a three-course, sit-down dinner, a tour of the arsenal while searching for clues, the show and taxes and gratuities. A grand prize is awarded to the team that solves the crime. Hours are 6:15 p.m. to 9 p.m. Take a look at the Little Rock Tours Web site -- www.littlerocktours.com – for more information. You can also e-mail [email protected] or call 501-868-7287.
********************
Various Little Rock museums will host Halloween happenings on Oct. 31 as the annual Big Boo!-seum Bash is held. Participating museums include the Old State House, the Museum of Discovery, the Clinton Presidential Center, Curran Hall information center, the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, the Arkansas Arts Center, the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, Historic Arkansas Museum and the EMOBA Museum of Black Arkansans. This safe alternative to trick-or-treating offers free treats and plenty of scary activities. Central Arkansas Transit (CAT) buses will provide free transportation between venues from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Hours for the bash are 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wear your favorite costume, bring your candy bucket and come have a good time. Additional information can be obtained from the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau at 501-376-4781 or by calling any of the facilities taking part.
********************
Crowley’s Ridge State Park in Paragould will host Ghosts, Legends and the Unexplained on Oct. 31. Find out what’s lurking in the woods as you hear ghost stories and scary local legends. Prizes will be awarded for the best costume. The evening will end with a haunted hayride. For more information, contact Crowley’s Ridge State Park at 870-573-6751 or log on to www.ArkansasStateParks.com.
********************
Halloween at Petit Jean is set for Oct. 31 at Petit Jean State Park near Morrilton. Is Petit Jean Mountain haunted by the ghost of a crazy pirate? Discover more about this tragic but enduring legend while celebrating the “spooky season” on the mountain. Activities for kids will be provided, and costumes are welcome. For more information, phone 501-727-5441 or visit www.petitjeanstatepark.com.
********************
Arkansas Post Museum State Park in Gillett will host its annual Fright Night on Oct. 31. The event features carnival games, face painting, ghost stories, a fortune teller and two haunted houses. For more information, contact Arkansas Post Museum State Park at 870-548-2634 or visit www.ArkansasStateParks.com.
********************
Are you brave enough to take off into the woods on Halloween? Then head to Pinnacle Mountain State Park and take part in the Halloween Hike. Discover creatures of the night and learn all about them as you creep around the forest with a park interpreter. The hike begins at 7 p.m. and goes until 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 31. Participants should meet at the Arkansas Arboretum Trailhead. The park is located at 11901 Pinnacle Valley Road in Little Rock. Admission is free. Contact Pinnacle at 501-868-5806 or [email protected] for more details.
********************
Don your best Halloween costume and head to the 12th annual Sherwood Halloween Carnival scheduled for Sherwood Forest on Oct. 31. Local churches, businesses and individuals will provide carnival games and a haunted egg hunt affords children the opportunity to win prizes. Competitors in the costume contest will vie for prizes and ribbons that will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners. A Monster Mash dance with D.J. rounds out the evening. Admission is free. Call 501-835-8909 or e-mail [email protected] for more information.
********************
The City of Hardy will host its 2nd annual Halloween Trail of Terror on Oct. 31. Be on the lookout for the troll under the bridge and the local monsters that make an appearance only at Halloween. For more information, call 870-856-3811.
********************
The Mousetrap, an Agatha Christie murder mystery directed by Tim Hesse, will open Oct. 31 and run through Nov. 2 at the Ouachita Little Theatre in Mena. For more details, phone 479-243-0186 or check out ouachitalittletheatre.org.
********************
Village Creek State Park in Wynne will host a Halloween Party on Oct. 31. The evening will feature Halloween cartoons, crafts and lots of candy. There will also be a costume contest for those who dressed up for the fun. For more information, contact Village Creek State Park at 870-238-9406 or visit www.ArkansasStateParks.com.
####
Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-682-7606
E-mail: [email protected]
May be used without permission. Credit line is appreciated:
"Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism"
Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism
The popular and award winning “Murder and Mayhem Trolley” departs the Fort Smith Museum of History each Thursday, Friday and Saturday in October. The trolley tour will run Thursdays, beginning October 2, at 7:00pm and 8:00pm and Fridays and Saturdays at 7:00, 8:00 and 9:00pm through October 31.
Fort Smith, Arkansas, the home of the “Hanging Judge,” Isaac C. Parker was once known as “Hell on the Border.” This rough and rowdy border town was the jumping off place into Indian Territory for outlaws, bandits and renegades.
As the trolley winds its way through the Belle Grove Historic District, riders thrill to gruesome historic facts and eerie local legends. Skeletons are rattled in the closets of the Victorian residents of the Belle Grove Historic District. Real haunted houses are pointed out and their dark secrets revealed. Murder stories are related along with the story of a bloody love triangle. During its checkered past, prostitution was legal in Fort Smith. The first bordello to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places serves as the Fort Smith Visitor’s Center.
Blythe spirits and a variety of characters from the past will keep you entertained for the entire one hour ride including stories from the National Historic Site, Miss Laura’s Visitor’s Center, and the Clayton House, all located within downtown and the Belle Grove Historic District.
The narrative is as colorful as Fort Smith’s History. It is not recommended for children under fourteen. Trolley tickets are $12.00 per person. Reservations are recommended. Call the museum at 479-783-7841 for information and reservations. All proceeds benefit the Fort Smith Museum of History.
********************
Pumpkin Hollow in St. Francis has a frightful season planned this year. Beginning Oct. 3, visitors will be terrified by Bubba’s Butcher Barn and Horror in the Hollow walking trail. For the youngsters or the faint of heart, there’s the Friendly Fairytale Forest. For more information on Pumpkin Hollow’s special Halloween events, phone 870-598-3568 or log on to www.PumpkinHollow.com.
********************
One of the most elaborate and scary places to be is EMOBA’s annual Haunted Cathedral. From Oct. 17 to Nov. 1, EMOBA, The Museum of Black Arkansans, will do its best to scare the daylights out of anyone who dares visit. The historic First Baptist Church with its gothic architecture provides the perfect setting for this holiday fun, which serves as a fundraiser for the facility. EMOBA is both a museum and a performing arts center. The Haunted Cathedral will have both live and animatronic ghouls and goblins on hand. Hours are 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 7:30 p.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday. The cathedral is located at 12th and Louisiana in downtown Little Rock. Call 501-661-9903 for more information or check the museum’s Web site: www.emoba.org/
********************
There will be lots of miniature ghosts, witches, fairy princesses and the like running around Oct. 24-31 during the 17th Annual Boo at the Zoo. Set for the Little Rock Zoo, hours are 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. This safe, fun-filled Halloween festival features rides, games and treat stations throughout the grounds. There will be a nightly “creatures of the night” program and costume contest plus a very scary Haunted House. For the small fry, there will be the Little Pumpkin’s Play Patch and a fun house. Admission is $ 4 in advance, $5 at the gate. Contact the Zoo, which is located at #1 Jonesboro Drive, at 501-661-7203 for more information.
********************
The 2nd annual Pioneer Haunted Park will be held in Maynard on Oct. 24 at the town’s Pioneer Park. Enjoy an evening of old-fashioned fun for the young and the young-at-heart. For more information, phone 870-647-2701.
********************
Lake Frierson State Park in Jonesboro will host Halloween Hayrides on Oct. 25. Meet the ghouls and goblins of Lake Frierson that only come out during Halloween. Trick-or-treating and campfire stories will also be part of the evening. For more information, phone 870-932-2615 or log on to www.ArkansasStateParks.com.
********************
The 13th annual Howl-O-Ween Party on Oct. 25 at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge in Eureka Springs can be a hair-raising experience with the sounds of more than 100 big cats all around. This is the only time the public can view the cats in the dark. The refuge offers a “Trail of Terror” through its “haunted” field. There will also be games, food and storytelling. The refuge is located seven miles south of Eureka springs on Scenic Ark. 23. For more information, phone 479-253-5841 or visit www.turpentinecreek.org.
********************
The 7th annual Water Valley Volunteer Fire Department Haunted House will be held on Oct. 25 at the Water Valley Volunteer Fire Department, located 12 miles west of Pocahontas. Enjoy hayrides to and from the scary haunted house, games, face painting and food. There’s even a special haunted house for younger kids. For more information, phone 870-869-2986.
********************
October 25 is the date for Washington After Dark at Williams Tavern Restaurant in Washington. After enjoying fine dining at the restaurant, guests will light their candle lanterns and accompany an interpretive guide as he takes them through selected sites in town that have some “unexplained” happenings in their history. For more information, phone 870-983-2684.
********************
Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park’s Haunted Battlefield Tour will be Oct. 25 in Prairie Grove. Tour groups will be guided from the amphitheatre to the front of the historic Borden House along part of the park's walking trail and into the valley where the heaviest fighting occurred during the Battle of Prairie Grove. Chances are good that there will be a few scary surprises along the way. Tours depart every 20 to 30 minutes beginning at 7 p.m. with the last tour at 10 p.m. Parking is available at the east Borden House entrance. Admission is $2 for adults and $1 for children ages three to 12.Passes will be required for specific tour departure times and are available the day of event. For more information, phone 479-846-2990.
********************
Benton changes its name for one day as it becomes “Spook City” on Oct. 27. This huge Halloween carnival will cover four blocks in historic downtown Benton. There will be games, face painting, a costume show and live entertainment. An amusement area plus a bunch of candy and goodies for all the family will be a part of the happening as well. Admission is free and hours are 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Lisa Baldwin is the local contact for more information at 501-551-1100.
********************
One of the most haunted buildings in the southeast, Little Rock’s Old Arsenal, provides the perfect setting to spend All Hallow’s Eve as a Murder at MacArthur Park takes place. On Oct. 31, the evening begins with you settling in for some real ghost stories that pertain to this historic landmark and suddenly a murder takes place – right before your eyes. Now, there is a killer in the group. It’s up to you and your team to put the pieces together and discover the killer is before he or she strikes again. The $44 per person price includes a three-course, sit-down dinner, a tour of the arsenal while searching for clues, the show and taxes and gratuities. A grand prize is awarded to the team that solves the crime. Hours are 6:15 p.m. to 9 p.m. Take a look at the Little Rock Tours Web site -- www.littlerocktours.com – for more information. You can also e-mail [email protected] or call 501-868-7287.
********************
Various Little Rock museums will host Halloween happenings on Oct. 31 as the annual Big Boo!-seum Bash is held. Participating museums include the Old State House, the Museum of Discovery, the Clinton Presidential Center, Curran Hall information center, the MacArthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, the Arkansas Arts Center, the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center, Historic Arkansas Museum and the EMOBA Museum of Black Arkansans. This safe alternative to trick-or-treating offers free treats and plenty of scary activities. Central Arkansas Transit (CAT) buses will provide free transportation between venues from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Hours for the bash are 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wear your favorite costume, bring your candy bucket and come have a good time. Additional information can be obtained from the Little Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau at 501-376-4781 or by calling any of the facilities taking part.
********************
Crowley’s Ridge State Park in Paragould will host Ghosts, Legends and the Unexplained on Oct. 31. Find out what’s lurking in the woods as you hear ghost stories and scary local legends. Prizes will be awarded for the best costume. The evening will end with a haunted hayride. For more information, contact Crowley’s Ridge State Park at 870-573-6751 or log on to www.ArkansasStateParks.com.
********************
Halloween at Petit Jean is set for Oct. 31 at Petit Jean State Park near Morrilton. Is Petit Jean Mountain haunted by the ghost of a crazy pirate? Discover more about this tragic but enduring legend while celebrating the “spooky season” on the mountain. Activities for kids will be provided, and costumes are welcome. For more information, phone 501-727-5441 or visit www.petitjeanstatepark.com.
********************
Arkansas Post Museum State Park in Gillett will host its annual Fright Night on Oct. 31. The event features carnival games, face painting, ghost stories, a fortune teller and two haunted houses. For more information, contact Arkansas Post Museum State Park at 870-548-2634 or visit www.ArkansasStateParks.com.
********************
Are you brave enough to take off into the woods on Halloween? Then head to Pinnacle Mountain State Park and take part in the Halloween Hike. Discover creatures of the night and learn all about them as you creep around the forest with a park interpreter. The hike begins at 7 p.m. and goes until 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 31. Participants should meet at the Arkansas Arboretum Trailhead. The park is located at 11901 Pinnacle Valley Road in Little Rock. Admission is free. Contact Pinnacle at 501-868-5806 or [email protected] for more details.
********************
Don your best Halloween costume and head to the 12th annual Sherwood Halloween Carnival scheduled for Sherwood Forest on Oct. 31. Local churches, businesses and individuals will provide carnival games and a haunted egg hunt affords children the opportunity to win prizes. Competitors in the costume contest will vie for prizes and ribbons that will be awarded to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners. A Monster Mash dance with D.J. rounds out the evening. Admission is free. Call 501-835-8909 or e-mail [email protected] for more information.
********************
The City of Hardy will host its 2nd annual Halloween Trail of Terror on Oct. 31. Be on the lookout for the troll under the bridge and the local monsters that make an appearance only at Halloween. For more information, call 870-856-3811.
********************
The Mousetrap, an Agatha Christie murder mystery directed by Tim Hesse, will open Oct. 31 and run through Nov. 2 at the Ouachita Little Theatre in Mena. For more details, phone 479-243-0186 or check out ouachitalittletheatre.org.
********************
Village Creek State Park in Wynne will host a Halloween Party on Oct. 31. The evening will feature Halloween cartoons, crafts and lots of candy. There will also be a costume contest for those who dressed up for the fun. For more information, contact Village Creek State Park at 870-238-9406 or visit www.ArkansasStateParks.com.
Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-682-7606
E-mail: [email protected]
May be used without permission. Credit line is appreciated:
"Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism"
Submitted by the Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism
One Capitol Mall, Little Rock, AR 72201, 501-682-7606
E-mail: [email protected]
May be used without permission. Credit line is appreciated:
"Arkansas Department of Parks & Tourism"