VITAL Source 2008 Halloween Guide!

A Theater of Lost Souls
October 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24-26, 29-31; November 1
500 E County Y, Oshkosh

A Theater of Lost Souls has been completely redesigned in 2008 to give you one of the most frightful Halloween experiences in the area, complete with monsters, a black light theater, and “Your Last Ride” – a too-freaky-to-be-believed funeral simulator. Only for the bravest and most sound of sanity. 920-731-8555 or atheateroflostsouls.com

Bear Den Haunted Woods
October 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25, November 1
6831 Big Bend Rd., Waterford

Arrive at the Bear Dean Haunted Woods via hearse, then see if you have the mettle to survive a hike through a “feasting graveyard of the walking dead.” The whole attraction takes place in the woods, and it’s been consistently rated one of the scariest in the region. Not to be missed! 262-895-6430 or beardenzoo.com

Burial Chamber Haunted House
October 3-4, 10-12, 16-19, 23-26, 29-31; November 1
500 N. Lake Street, Neenah

The Burial Chamber Haunted House is actually four attractions in one, including two indoor haunted houses, one outdoor haunted house and FOUR burial simulators. Creepy. This Hollywood-style haunted complex was voted #1 by Haunted Wisconsin last year. burialchamber.com

Deadly Intentions Haunted Yard
October 30, 31; November 1
1621 N 26th St., Sheboygan

Here’s something different: this home haunt in Sheboygan is legendary, and its intimacy is what gives it its frightful potency. Leave the kids at home for this free haunt – there’s lots of blood and gore. But how can you pass up a personal scare in someone’s yard? You shouldn’t. 920-254-4354

Dominion of Terror
October 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24-26, 29-31; November 1
2024 North 15th Street, Sheboygan

The Dominion of Terror is over 30 years in the making. No room is ever the same and the horrifying characters you’ll encounter are brandnew. Dominion of Terror lives up to its name as one of the most mind-bending and gruesome festivals of insanity in the area. 920-918-2270 or dominionofterror.com

Fall River Chamber of Horrors
October 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31; November 1
W1404 Heppe Road, Fall River

The Fall River Chamber of Commerce presents the Chamber of Horrors, a snaking series of long halls, dark corners and sentinel scarecrows. Afterward catch a scary movie on the lawn or take a hayride through the corn field – a great way to unwind after a great scare. 920-484-6099

Fright Hike
October 31; November 1
Lapham Peak State Park, W329 N849 Highway C, Delafield

How does that story go about dark woods in the middle of the night? There are probably dozens of urban legends that begin – and end – with a hike through the wilderness, and you can live out the terror with a one-mile Fright Hike through the terrifying trails of Lapham Peak State Park. Spooky! 262-364-7773 or frighthike.com

Gilly’s Haunted House
October 3, 4, 10, 11, 17-19, 23-26, 30, 31
1559 W. Forest Home Ave., Milwaukee

A dilapidated big tent is the setting for Gilly’s – the only spooky circus in the city. Scared of clowns? Sword swallowers? Bearded ladies? This is the place for you. 414-384-7955 orgillyshauntedhouse.com

The Great Pumpkin Fest
October 17 & 18
1Union High School, 3433 South Colony Avenue, Union Grove

Bring your hoop and stick for this old-timey fall party, where you’ll find vintage children’s games, pumpkin decorating and baking, a costume parade and the Comedy Magic of Lou Lepore. It’s charming, family friendly and sure to tickle the nostalgia in everyone. 262-878-2434

Halloween Glen
October 17 & 18
1130 N. 60th St., Milwaukee

This “natural alternative” to the season’s scary thrills gives families the chance to learn about nature. Come for skits, learning stations and a romp through the trails of Hawthorn Glen. 414-647-605 or milwaukeerecreation.net

Halloween Trick-or-Treat Spooktacular
October 24-25
Milwaukee County Zoo

Why knock on your neighbor’s door for tricks and/or treats when you can solicit the giraffes, polar bears and peacocks? Bring the kids for a fun take on the holiday. Just remember not to feed the animals. 414-771-3040 or milwaukeezoo.org/events

House on Haunted Hill
October 17, 18, 24, 25, 31
W5399 Cty Hwy G, Rio

What’s in the house on Haunted Hill? Could a mad scientist live there amongst rotting body parts and doomed experiments? Does he have some sort of Tunnel of Terror constructed for nefarious purposes? Might the woods surrounding the house also, perhaps, be haunted? Is there a graveyard? You bet. After you scream your head off, enjoy homemade snacks and caramel apples. 608-513-1320

The Haunted Barn
October 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31; November 1
755 Hwy 51, Stoughton

The folks behind the Haunted Barn have transformed an old tobacco shed into a freaky haunt-a-thon with demonized trails through woods and pastures, a visit to the Triple T cemetery and a shocking finale back at the barn. The Barn planners warn, “this time we went nuts.” 608-873-5280 or haunted-barn.com

Hauntfest
September 26-27; October 3, 4, 10-12, 16-19, 23-26, 29-31; November 1

Wisconsin State Fairgrounds, Milwaukee The Fear Factory is haunted by the soul of Killy Killmore, a deranged factory overseer who shredded his disobedient employees and was subsequently slaughtered in a worker mutiny. On the grounds of the State Fair, this is a big-kid haunted house full of gore and torture. Fun, right? 414-282-4386 or hauntfest.com

Homestead Animal Farm’s “America The Beautiful” Corn Maze
September 27-28; October 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26, 30, 31
W320 N9127 Hwy 83, Hartland

Corn mazes are required curriculum during the fall in Wisconsin, and this one is world-class. Come early to hang out with the donkeys, alpacas, baby chicks and turkeys, then lose yourself in rows of corn. Take a hayride and bring home a pumpkin for a souvenir. 262-966-3840 or homesteadanimalfarm.com

Horror in the Dark at Olin Park
October 17, 18, 23-25, 30; November 1
Olin Park, 1156 Olin-Turville Court, Madison

While you’re crying with fright, you can take heart when you remember (IF you can remember) that your terror is all for a good cause. The Madison Metro Jaycees are donating proceeds from Horror in the Dark to the Madison Area Community Land Trust. Try to keep that in mind. 608-438-0872 or myspace.com/horrorinthedarkatolinpark

Lister F/X Presents Monster Mayhem
September 26-28; October 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26, 31; November 1, 2
Paulo’s Pizza, 5121 W. Howard Ave., Milwaukee

Paulo’s Pizza has a not-so-delicious secret in the basement: mutilated human experiments, “zombie activity” and a hideous Frankensteinian monster. Your mission: destroy the installation before it destroys you. The good news: afterwards you can eat some pizza. 414-303-7891 or listerfx.com

Maize quest
September 20, 21, 26-28; October 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26, 31; November 1, 2

Borzynski’s Farm & Floral Market, 11600 Washington Avenue, Sturtevant This six-acre corn maze also feature a petting zoo, pick-your-own pumpkins and make-your-own caramel apples. What can’t you do-on-your-own at Borzynski’s? 262-886-2235 or borzynskis.com

Mars Haunted House
October 3-5,10-12,17-19, 23-26, 30-31; November 1
734 W. Historic Mitchell Street, Milwaukee

Mars is one of Wisconsin’s most historic haunted houses. Staged in a late 19th-Century building on the south side, the Mars Haunted House has rustled up frights for 15 years with no sign of stopping. Some say the Mars Haunted House is truly haunted and that attendees can expect otherworldly contact from the spirits that live in the house. See for yourself. 414-384-7491 or marshauntedhouse.com

Salem’s Plot Haunted House
October 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 24-26, 31
Happ’s Pumpkin Farm, 24121 Wilmot Rd., Salem

Salem’s Plot on the Happ’s family farm is built directly on top of the 19th-Century Liberty Cemetery, and once a year, the Happs open their doors to let the spirits seek their vengeance. Tread carefully through the maze and watch out for zombie stalkers. Truly terrifying. 262-862-6515 or myspace.com/salemsplothauntedhouse

Splatter Haus
October 3-5,10-12,17-19,24-26,31; November 1
1912 Columbus St., Two Rivers

Splatter Haus claims to be the scariest and loudest haunted house in the state, and at 32,000 square feet, they are definitely the largest. With state of the art special effects and more than 20,000 watts of sound, this intense haunted house is for adults only. “We will scare the living $#!* out of you!!!!!!” (sic) the press team promises. 920-457-8688 or splatterhaus.com

Swan’s Pumpkin Farm
September 27-30; October 1-31
5930 Highway H, Franksville

Swan’s Pumpkin Farm offers a whole city made from corn, with Halloween displays, a Spook House, a graveyard, hayrides and, yes, a labyrinth constructed from corn. Shop for gifts, seasonal produce and decorations. Plus a petting zoo! 262-835-4885 or thepumpkinfarm.com

Wisconsin Feargrounds
October 3, 4, 10, 11, 17-19, 23-26, 29-31; November 1
Waukesha County Expo Center,
1000 Northview Road, Waukesha

Three classic Wisconsin haunted houses have merged to make one death-defying Halloween experience as Morgan Manor, Morgana’s Torment and the brand-new Freaky’s Funhouse. Experience 30,000 square feet of terror. You might want to take it one at a time – and bring some Valium. 262-547-6808 or wisconsinfeargrounds.com