Halloween events: Frightful or family-friendly

Richmond’s got a ton going on for people of all ages (and tolerances for horror).

October 23, 2014; 6:00 AM • by RVANews staff

Adults only

Creepy Hollow Scream Park

Nothing says Halloween like getting the bejeezus scared out of you! Come see over 50 live actors, animatronics, illusions, and more make your trip into the woods one to remember.

• October 23rd – 26th; October 29th – November 1st
• Stone Horse Creek Road • Glen Allen
• $15 – $26

Richmond Zombie Walk

The unrelenting undead return to Carytown to celebrate the event’s 10th year. Watch the walking dead plod through Carytown in the name of fun and charity. (Here’s some trivia: did you know that the first walk was supposed to take place in Short Pump?)

• Saturday, October 25th • 2:00 PM
• Carytown
• FREE

American Séance

Come experience a dramatization of a Victorian séance that explores how people coped with death after the Civil War. Join the Nelson family and other guests as they try to reach the spirits of the departed, including the Nelson son killed in action during the Civil War.

• Tuesday, October 28th – Friday, October 31st • 8:00 PM
• American Civil War Center • 500 Tredegar Street
• $8.00 Adults; $5 (students and members)

Troll 2 Screening & Costume Contest

Halloween hilarity ensues when the hysterical hellions at the Coalition Theater bring you the improvised cult classic Troll 2, the best worst movie in cinema history. It’s as funny as it is unrehearsed!

• Thursday, October 30th • 8:00 – 10:00 PM
• Coalition Theater • 8 W. Broad Street
• FREE

Shadows of Shockoe Tour

Come along as your ghostly tour guide takes you through some of the most nightmarish parts of Richmond’s past like the Civil War hospitals, Church Hill tunnel collapse, and many more.

• Thursday – Saturday through November 1st • 7:30 & 9:30 PM shows
• Edgar Allen Poe Museum • 1914 E. Main Street
• $13

Blood Lake Haunted Trail

Such a serene, peaceful name like Blood Lake calls to mind bucolic, tranquil images, doesn’t it? BUT it’s actually a place where TONS of scary stuff happens. Grimm Reapers, the Sandman, and zombies await those who are brave enough to visit.

• Fridays and Saturday through November 1st
• 16500 Midlothian Turnpike • Midlothian
• $7 – $19

Eerie Nights Ghost Tour

This thing is so scary, by virtue of buying a ticket, you agree the organizers cannot be held responsible if you die of fright.

Now that’s a ghost tour worth checking out.

• Fridays and Saturday through November 1st
• 100 N. 17th Street
• $10 – $13

Frightmares at Regency Square Mall

Richmond’s newest haunted attraction is no slouch when it comes to inducing fear and anxiety. Think you can brave the live actors, animatronics, strobe lights, and loud noises?

• Thursdays – Sundays through November 1st • 6:30 – 10:00 PM
• 1420 N. Parham Road
• $13

Haunted Evenings at Ashland Berry Farm

Who says the family farm is a safe place? Head out to Ashland and partake in one of four spooky spectacles, including the new 3D “Sinister Sideshow.”

• Fridays – Sundays until November 1st • 6:30 – 10:00 PM
• 12607 Old Ridge Road • Beaverdam
• $20 – $30

Slash Coffin Factory

This theatrical experience inspired by early 20th century spiritualism and parlor tricks will expose you to the spirit of Dr. Selbit, magician, carnival showman, and one-time proprietor of the Slash Coffin Factory. Very scary.

• Oct. 24 – November 1 • Show times: 9:00, 10:00, 11:00 PM
• Behind the Curtain • 118-B Thompson Street • Ashland
• $20

Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens

Thinking about skipping town to escape the fright? Don’t head to Williamsburg, where there’s an ongoing Halloween celebration replete with six haunted houses, terror-stricken woods, and five Terror-tories.

• Fridays – Sundays through October 31st
• Bush Gardens • Williamsburg
• Admission prices vary

Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion

Four new attractions await you: Maze of Madness, Skeleton Crew, Eternal Jamnation, and Fright Night. Be forewarned: you may not leave alive.

• Throughout October
• Kings Dominion • 16000 Theme Park Way • Doswell
• Admission prices vary

Poe Goes to the Movies: An Evening with Victoria Price

Vincent Price’s daughter, Victoria, will be in town to screen Tales of Terror starring her famous father. She’ll also join a panel to judge the Edgar Allan Poe costume. This should be super fun.

• Friday, October 31st • 6:00 – 10:00 PM
• Poe Museum • 1914 E. Main Street
• $20

SLASHER! The Improvised Horror Show

The Coalition Theater’s master improvers will deliver death-defying comedy while paying homage to cult horror flicks. Doesn’t sound interesting enough? Each ticket comes with a complimentary poncho(!).

• Saturday, November 1st • 8:00 PM
• Coalition Theater • 8 W. Broad Street
• $10

For the family

Scott’s Addition Pumpkin Festival

This year’s event will have an expanded kids section AND is pet-friendly. Plus you can expect several beer and food vendors.

• Saturday, October 25th • 12:00 – 6:00 PM
• Scott’s Addition
• FREE (VIP tickets $30)

Spooky Party

Come meet Princess Sofia I and then stay for a costume parade, spooky story time, and a Jack-O-Lantern scavenger hunt drawing.

• Saturday, October 25th • 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
• CMoR Short Pump • 2200 Old Brick Road • Glen Allen
• FREE with museum admission

Scarytown

Stores sporting a pumpkin sign will be participating in daytime trick-or-treating, Dogma will host a pet costume contest, and kids can make crafts BBGB. Catch the annual Richmond Zombie Walk at 2:00 PM.

• Saturday, October 25th • 12:00 – 5:00 PM
• Carytown
• FREE

Poe’s Pumpkin Patch

Head over to the Poe Museum for an afternoon of Poe-themed fun and games.

• Thursday, October 26th • 2:00 – 5:00 PM
• Poe Museum • 1914 E. Main Street
• FREE

Goblins and Gourds

The Children’s Garden at Lewis Ginter will have pumpkin painting, seasonal food tasting, hoop dancing, a performance by the Richmond Indigenous Gourd Orchestra, and more.

• Sunday, October 26th • 1:00 – 4:00 PM
• Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens • 1800 Lakeside Avenue
• FREE with admission (????)

Trick or Treat Street

Bring kids 10 and under to a safe, fun, and festive Halloween atmosphere with food, magicians, games, pumpkin decorating, moon bounces, and more.

• Sunday, October 26th • 12:30 – 4:30 PM
• Westhampton Green at the University of Richmond
• FREE

Eerie Canal Boat Tours

Board a canal boat for a 30-minute ride and listen to haunting tales as you drift through some of the city’s spookiest sites and sounds. Little ghouls and ghosts get a special candy treat.

• Saturday, November 1st • 6:00 – 9:00 PM
• Canal Turning Basin at 14th and Dock streets
• FREE

Planet Spooky

A daytime Halloween celebration at Kings Dominion featuring a petting zoo, foam pit, pumpkin painting, and more.

• Saturdays and Sundays through November 1st • 12:00 – 5:00 PM
• Kings Dominion • 16000 Theme Park Way • Doswell
• Admission prices vary

Spooktacular Sensations

Perfect for kids ages 3-5, take an adventure with the five senses as you journey through an amazing world of hearing, seeing, tasting, touching, and smelling through hands-on activities.

• Friday, October 31st • 10:00 – 11:30 AM
• Hunton Community Center
• FREE

Monster Mash

Dorey Recreation Center in Henrico will turn into a mad science lab featuring Frankenstein and Igor for a of night hair-raising fun. Stick around for the Haunted Trail and hear spooky stories over warm cider.

• Friday, October 31st • 6:00 – 9:00 PM
• Dorey Recreation Center
• FREE

Fancy Me Mad

Hear tales from Edgar Allan Poe and then take a self-guided walking tour of St. John’s Church graveyard.

• Saturday, October 25th • 6:00 – 7:30 PM
• St. John’s Church • 2401 E. Broad Street
• $5

Halloween Hoopla

Bring the kids in their Halloween best for a night of trick-or-treating in the Spooky Village, games, prizes, and pumpkin painting.

• Friday, October 31st • 4:00 – 8:00 PM
• CMoR Central • 2626 W. Broad Street
• Advance: $4 (adults) FREE (kids)

Trick or Treat with the Dinosaurs

Kings Dominion’s six-acre Dinosaur Park roars alive with trick-or-treating that’ll fill a T-Rex-sized goodie bag.

• Saturday and Sundays through November 1st • 2:00 – 5:00 PM
• Kings Dominion • 16000 Theme Park Way • Doswell
• $5 (plus park admission)

Halloween on Hanover

A local staple, come see as Hanover Avenue residents do Halloween right with elaborate displays and trick-or-treating. Tip: young children start tick-or-treating between 3:00 – 4:00 PM.

• October 31st • 3:00 – 10:00 PM
• 1900 – 2300 blocks of Hanover Avenue
• FREE

El Dia de los Muertos

The Cultural Arts Center of Glen Allen joins forces with the Latin Ballet of Virginia for festive celebration of life. Bring the family and dress up in your Halloween costume for some music, arts and crafts, dancing, sweets and treats, vendors, and exhibits.

• Saturday, November 1st • 12:00 – 4:00 PM
• Cultural Arts Center of Glen Allen • 2880 Mountain Road
• FREE

Photo by Cathy Smith

October 23, 2014 6:00 AM 0