TCD’s 2011 Halloween Guide

Not sure of your plans this Halloween? Looking for options? Whether you’re looking for the best party to let your hair down, a haunted house to horrify you, or something for the kids (pumpkin patches anyone?), this guide has you covered.

Haunted Corn Maze Adventure. Photo by brookeduckart  (CC Lic.)

Haunted Houses

Fear junkies needn’t look further: check out some of these amazing haunts in the Milwaukee area.

Haunted High is not located in Milwaukee, but the short drive to Oconomowoc to visit this veritable palace of terror is well worth the trip. Doors open at 7 p.m. every Friday and Saturday, with additional shows on Oct. 20 and 27, and Sunday Oct. 23 for a “Lights On” tour for the kids.

Mars Haunted House bills itself as Wisconsin’s only “truly haunted house” which, after looking at pictures (it’s a commercial building from the 1800s), seems entirely possible. Open Fridays and Saturdays, 7 – 11:30 p.m, with family night on Sundays from 7 – 10 p.m.

Image from Hauntfest website.

Elements of Fear is run by the parents and students of Our Lady Queen of Peace School, capitalizing on the idea that Catholic school is scary to pretty much everybody. Monday to Thursday 6 – 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday 6:30 – 11 p.m., Sunday 6:30 – 10:30 p.m.

Hauntfest, held at State Fair Park, has been scaring the pants off Milwaukee for eight years. Billed as Wisconsin’s largest and only heated haunt, Hauntfest is a must for any haunted house aficionado.

Some other great haunts outside of the Milwaukee area:

Bear Den Zoo, Burial Chamber, Dominion of Terror, Fright Hike, Splatter Haus and Wisconsin Feargrounds.
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Photo by “Purploony” (Cc Lic.)

Family-Friendly Fun

Boo at the Zoo (Oct. 21 – 22, 6 – 9 p.m.) or the Halloween Trick or Treat Spooktacular (Oct. 28, 6 – 9 p.m., Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.), both happening at the Milwaukee County Zoo. Boo at the Zoo promises different Halloween events like a pumpkin patch, crafts and educational talks about the animals while the Trick or Treat Spooktacular is all about the candy.

The Betty Brinn Children’s Museum’s Not So Scary Halloween lets kids trick or treat throughout the entire museum and learn something new at every treat stop. Oct. 27 – 29 from noon to 4 p.m.

Image from the Sensual Daydreams photo galleries.

Halloween fun for adults

If you need an excuse to get dolled up in your best lingerie (really though, who needs an excuse?), the Rocky Horror Halloween Weekend at the Oriental is the best place to show it off. Oct. 28 – 29 at midnight, but get there early.

Radio Milwaukee Halloween with hip-hop artist Brother Ali headlining, 88nine brings back Milwaukee’s biggest Halloween bash to Turner Hall. Doors open at 7 p.m., Oct. 31.

Discovery World has an old-school radio theater program, Secret Labs, that is billed as “astonishingly true.” Live music, cash bar and a live radio performance make this Halloween experience a one-of-a-kind treat. Secret Labs Radio Theatre returns and the alien invasion classic War of the Worlds rings in Halloween at Discovery World. Oct. 28, 7 p.m.

The Mad Planet’s Costume Party will be sweaty, dirty and totally fun. Some will be in costumes although unaware it’s Halloween. Friday, Oct. 28, 9 p.m.

Go behind the scenes at the Riverside Theatre with Haunted History Tours. At this one night only (Oct. 28) event, you can hear first hand tales of the paranormal with Caper Company ghost walks. Tours start at 7 p.m.

Halloween Hoe Down at Public House: Put on your cowboy boots and enjoy a bluegrass band at Riverwest Public House (815 East Locust Street) this Halloween.  You won’t regret the wild west vibe in late October as you sip on your glass of whiskey. Friday, Oct. 28, 9 p.m. $3 with cowboy costume, $5 without.

Halloween Art Show at Art Bar (722 East Burleigh Street): Enjoy the dark art gallery of Matt Lombard this Halloween, it’s on exhibition now at Art Bar through Nov. 1.

Off the beaten path

The beautiful Villa Terrace’s Midnight in the Garden party features a scavenger hunt, fortune tellers and costume contests.

Old World Wisconsin is hosting a Halloween Dinner Theater – Dracula. Treat yourself to their seasonal harvest buffet, then a lamp lit walk to view the show.

Whatever Happened to Baby Jane? Showing at the Off the Wall Theatre Oct. 27 – 30 and Nov. 2 – 6 (with midnight shows Oct. 29 and Nov. 5). A stage version of the hilarious cult film starring Bette Davis and Joan Crawford, Off The Wall presents its own take on the show, with actor Jeremy Welter as Bette Davis and Mark Hagen as Joan Crawford…except at every other performance where Mark Hagen plays Bette Davis and Jeremy Welter plays Joan Crawford, guaranteed laughs for those who attend.

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Pumpkin Patches

Perfect for a day trip to the country, these patches have pick-your-own apple and pumpkin hours as well as seasonal treats:

Apple Holler, The Elegant Farmer, Basse’s Taste of Country, The Family Farm, Swan’s Pumpkin Farm, Homestead Animal Farm and Barthel Fruit Farm.

TCD’s editors will be updating this guide through the end of the month. If there’s something you know of that isn’t in the guide, let us know in the comments below. Happy Halloween!