You may already know about ZooBoo at the Indianapolis Zoo, Harvest Nights at Newfields, the Headless Horseman at Conner Prairie, the Indianapolis Colts Drive-Thru Halloween Celebration, and the Children’s Museum Guild’s Haunted House—but if you’re looking to add some new events to your Halloween celebration calendar, here are five fun, family-friendly activities to put on your radar.
PAINTING WITH A TWIST’S FAMILY GLOW PAINT EVENT
PAINTINGWITHATWIST.COM
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17TH, 1:30 – 3 PM
For some outside-of-the-box holiday fun, consider reserving a space for your kids that are aged five and older to a black light painting party at Painting With a Twist on North Michigan Road and 86th Street. For $25 per child—one parent may accompany kids without purchasing a separate seat—your little artist will be able to create their own “bat at midnight” canvas with glow-in-the-dark paint.
LITTLE HAUNT ON THE PRAIRIE AT GHOUL CREEK PARK
HAMILTONCOUNTY.IN.GOV
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 21ST, 5 – 8:30 PM
Carmel’s Cool Creek Park will be transformed into a Halloween fantasyland that’s ideal for preschool-aged children and above. For $5 per person, your family can enjoy trick-or-treating, a hayride, craft stations, a spooky nature trail, holiday games, live owls with a wildlife educator, a “Monster Mash” dance area, and roasting marshmallows at a campfire ring. You can also bring a non-perishable or canned food item to donate to Amanda Strong Food for the Needy.
CITY OF GREENWOOD’S MONSTER MASH
GREENWOOD.IN.GOV
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22ND, 6:00 – 8:30 PM
This free event at Craig Park across from the Greenwood Community Center is the perfect opportunity for your kiddos to don their costumes, hit the trick-or-treat trail, and enjoy a hayride. There is also an optional $5 per person VIP entry that allows early admittance at 4:30, as well as a hot dog dinner.
FISHERS BOO BASH 2021
PLAYFISHERS.COM
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30TH, 10 AM – 1 PM
Put on your Halloween costumes and head to the “Boo Bash” at the Nickel Plate District Amphitheater in Fishers. This free event will feature more than 50 local vendors offering safe trick-or-treating, as well as Teal Pumpkin Project booths providing non-food items for children with food allergies and special needs, a display of carved jack-o-lanterns, live music and dance performances, food for purchase, and games.
PUMPKIN TOWN EXPRESS AT ALLISONVILLE HOME AND GARDEN BY SULLIVAN
SULLIVANHARDWARE.COM
LIMITED RESERVATIONS AVAILABLE THROUGH OCTOBER 31ST
You may have heard of the Christmas Sullivan Express experience at Sullivan Hardware & Garden, but for the first time, this beloved local company is offering a Halloween train ride to “PumpkinTown” at their Allisonville location in Fishers. For $50 per train car (which typically holds up to four adults and two children), you’ll receive an on-site train ride, along with trick-or-treating, coloring, dancing, a magician, and lots of fabulous photo opportunities. Tickets are selling out quickly, so if you’re interested, you may want to book online sooner rather than later.
Stephanie Groves is an Indianapolis-based freelance writer who still dresses up for Halloween.
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