Halloween in Boyle County comes with options. Want history with your hauntings? Weird stuff and taxidermy? A downtown witch convention? Giant skeletons? Or just a good old-fashioned scare? Pick your poison.
Ghost Walks
If ghost walks are on your spooky-season to-do list, look to Perryville.
A Historic Merchants Row Ghost Walk is coming up Saturday, Oct. 3, offering an evening of stories, local legends and tales from Perryville’s past — much of it connected to the Battle of Perryville, which left many fatalities in its wake.
Then take your paranormal curiosity to the battlefield itself. Ghost walks are planned for Oct. 17 and 24. The guided programs mix history, folklore and things that may or may not go bump in the night.
Availability is limited for both, so don’t wait until the ghosts start calling.
Well, That’s (Obscurious)
The Obscurious Market isn’t strictly a Halloween thing, but the Oct. 3 edition at The Showroom is leaning into the season with a Trick-or-Treat them
Expect a curated collection of vendors dealing in oddities, specimens, taxidermy, handmade goods, unique art, jewelry, metaphysical items and other objects that look like they’ve been sitting in someone’s attic for several decades.
Costumes are encouraged – and rewarded. There will be a costume contest with prizes for Best Overall, Most Original and Youth.
Come dressed to be seen or just come to wander. Either way, expect things to get a little stranger.
Witches Night
If you’re downtown Thursday, Oct. 15, you may wonder if you’ve wandered onto the set of Practical Magic.
The Downtown Merchants’ annual Witches Night runs from 5-8 p.m. with a costume contest, downtown ghost tours, performances at Weisiger Plaza and spooky pop-up vendors.
Retailers will have prizes and discounts for shoppers in costume, while downtown restaurants are expected to get into the spirit with food and drink specials.
Bring your broom. Leave your dignity at home.
Danville’s Skeleton Crew
There are Halloween decorations, and then there are the three 12-foot-tall skeletons at 222 N. Maple Ave – the Danville Skeletons!
Double, Bubble and Trouble are back for another season, starting out in their “I Love Halloween” T-shirts before cycling through costume changes throughout October. Their grand finale: witch costumes and a self-stirring cauldron for Trick-or-Treat.
Stop by for a photo (or a “skelfie”) if you’re willing to commit to the bit.
The display is free, but visitors are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item or make a cash donation to benefit local food banks. And this is a family-friendly location, so there are no jump scares, gore or horror-themed elements.
But there are dragons! Grendel and George will make their appearances later in the month, with additional dragons alongside them.
The skeletons are on display daily from 10 a.m.-9 p.m. through Nov. 1.
This House… Is Haunted!
If haunted houses were rated on the Scoville scale, the Hustonville Haunted House might land somewhere between Ghost Pepper and Carolina Reaper (see what we did there?).
With more than 30 years of experience, this is not your beginner-level haunted attraction. Among this year’s experiences: Children of the Field Corn Maze, The Pope’s Exorcism of Hell/Circus of Hell and Junction City Chainsaw Massacre.
The haunted house is already open Fridays and Saturdays from 7:30 p.m.-midnight.
If you’re brave enough, that is.
Tricks, But Mainly Treats
Sometimes you just want candy.
For good old-fashioned Halloween fun, local options range from door-to-door trick-or-treating to Trick or Treat Off the Street at Pioneer Playhouse and other candy-focused events that tend to materialize as Halloween gets closer.
Keep an eye on local event calendars and Facebook for dates and details.
Because ghosts are scary. Running out of candy is worse.
