Local October Activities And Trick-Or-Treat Times

(EDITOR’S NOTE: This list will continue to be added to as events and community trick-or-treat times are submitted. To submit your fall/Halloween event, email alyssa@staceypageonline.com)

Trick-or-Treat Times

Friday, Oct. 31

• Akron – 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Argos – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Bourbon – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with park party following at 7:30 p.m. in city park.
• Bremen – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. (if there is a home sectional game on Oct. 31, this will be moved to 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30)
• Etna Green – 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Mentone – 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. with a costume contest at Mentone Elementary School starting at 8 p.m.
• Milford – 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• North Webster – 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Plymouth – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Pierceton – To be announced.
• Silver Lake – 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• South Whitley  – 6 p.m to 8 p.m.
• Syracuse – 6 p.m to 8 p.m.
• Warsaw – 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
• Winona Lake – 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Those who wish to accept trick-or-treaters should turn on their porch lights as children and parents are expected to come to the front door of only those houses with lights on. In the same respect, those who do not wish to participate should turn their porch lights off during the times designated for their town.

Other Ghostly Events for October:

Warsaw

• Soul Taker’s Acres is open from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays in October and 8 p.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturdays in October. The park will also be open from 8 p.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 1. Admission is $10 per person with a limited number of fast pass tickets being sold each evening for $15 that allow guests to skip to the front of the line. For those looking for a reprieve from the horrors of the haunted attraction, a kids’ carnival will be offered with a family friendly hayride on Saturday, Oct. 4. T-shirts, sweaters and memorabilia will be sold for those looking to take a token of their fear home with them. A fire where families can roast s’mores will also be available to enjoy. (See related)
• The Fall Family Fun event will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, in Lucerne Park. The event, which is free, will offer guests the opportunity to enjoy a crisp fall evening of family activities. Activities include hayrides, storytelling, crafts, snacks and a campfire by the lake. A perfect opportunity to make family memories before the season ends.
• Rudy’s Dog Park is hosting its fourth annual Dogtoberfest live auction and raffle fundraiser on Friday, Oct. 10, with social hour from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and the auction from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Downtown Eatery & Spirits at 205 W. Center St. in Warsaw.  Dozens of items have been donated for the auction. Donated items include a hot air balloon ride, area golf packages, dinner at the new One Ten Craft Meatery for 2015 and at other area restaurants and much more. Other donors include JB Furniture, the Vein Institute, the Mehdi Spa, Patona Bay and more. This is a fun event to relax and support the dog park and find Christmas gifts. (See related)
• First Christian Church will host a Family Fall Festival from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at 115 Park Ridge Drive, Warsaw. The night will offer a family costume contest, food and games. Costumes should not be scary, bloody or revealing.
• The 2014 Warsaw Downtown Spooktacular date has been set for Friday, Oct. 24. Registration for the costume contest will be from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. on the courthouse lawn with trick-or-treating at businesses downtown from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. To close out the evening, costume judging will begin at 7 p.m. on the courthouse lawn. (see related)
• The Children’s Biblical Festival will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, at Walnut Creek United Methodist Church located at 2033 S. 150 W., Warsaw. The church invites you and your family to come into the light on a dark night. Children fifth grade and younger will be offered to play carnival style games to earn Bible bucks and spend them at the prize table later in the night. Enjoy a fun and family friendly night together. Games will run from about 6 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. The prize table opens when the game time is over. The event is fun, safe and free.

Syracuse

• Syracuse Fall Harvest Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, and will be hosted in conjunction with the final date of the Artisans & Farmers Market. The Fall Harvest Festival will offer several fall themed activities for the entire family to enjoy. In addition to the wonderful items from the market vendors, the following attractions are scheduled: hay rides, petting zoo, pig races, games, food vendors, heartland country cloggers from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., guitar banjo band 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and more. The event will be hosted at the Syracuse Lakeside Park, 1013 North Long Drive, Syracuse. Admission is free.
• OAKtoberfest will be held from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Oakwood Resort, located at 703 E. Lake View Road, Syracuse. From 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. family fun children activities, a petting zoo, pony rides, ethnic food and lakeside vendors will be offered. At 4 p.m., Lee Anne Stewart’s Fusion Dance Team will perform. Following at 5 p.m. is the wiener dog races and the costume contest. From 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Jay Fox Bavarian Showtime Band and German food specialties will be offered. Come prost at OAKtoberfest. Admission is free. (See related)
• The Haunted Thrill at Crosson Mill will be held from 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 to Saturday, Oct. 25, and from Friday, Oct. 31 to Saturday, Nov. 1. With help from Wawasee High School Choir, the Syracuse Parks Department will host the third annual Haunted Thrill at Crosson Mill. The haunted park will be at Memorial Park at Crosson Mill located directly off of SR 13. The Haunted Thrill will feature several authentic scares that will make Crosson Mill the most haunted park in the area. Children under the age of 6 must be accompanied by an adult. However, this event is not recommended for anyone under the age of 12.

Silver Lake

• The Silver Lake Lions Club Halloween Park will be held at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 30, at the Silver Lake Conservation Building. Cash prizes will be given for children and adults. For children, awards will range from first place, a $20 prize, to eighth place, a $4 prize. Adults will have the opportunity to take home a first place prize of $20 or a second place prize of $15. A $5 prize will be given for the oldest and youngest in costume as well. Refreshments will be served.

South Whitley

• From 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, an outdoor movie will be featured at Hagan Park. The movie, which is free, will be “Night of the Living Dead,” and is free to enjoy. The park will also offer games, refreshments and other events.  

Mentone

• Goshert Farms Corn Maze will welcome visitors from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31. The farm, located at 7132 S. 1300 W., Mentone, is Kosciusko’s one and only corn maze. The maze will challenge visitors with unique twists and turns. A kiddie straw maze, corn pit, petting zoo, pumpkins, gourds, mums, Indiana corn, and corn stalks will all be part of the attraction. The corn maze at Goshert Farms is an agri-tourism destination southwest of Mentone that offers a light-hearted, playful experience for all ages. Admission is $6 with children under 3 offered free admission. Group rates are available. Parking is free.

Milford

• On Oct. 31, Milford Public Library will host the annual Lights Out at the Library Program. This year’s theme is “Reading is Monsterous Fun.” Get in your costume, come to the library and see some of our favorite monster stories come to life. Lights Out is fun for all ages and kids in costumes leave the library with a treat. See the best parts of some of your favorite stories come to life, like I Loathe You, by David Slonim and There’s a Nightmare in my Closet, by Mercer Mayer. The library is seeking donations of regular-sized candy bars to hand out to children at the end of the program. If you would like to donate, drop off your donation at the adult circulation desk. While out Trick-or-Treating, be sure to plan on stopping at the library.

New Paris

• Haunt for Hope will be held Fridays and Saturdays in October. Concessions will open at 6 p.m. with the Haunted Woods opening at 7 p.m. and closing at 11:30 p.m. Cost is $5 for those 8 or older, $2 for those 5-7 and free for those under 5. The Haunted Woods is located at 17250 CR 146 in New Paris. All proceeds go to Relay for Life in Elkhart County.

North Webster

• North Webster’s newest hotel, The Zombie Hotel, is creaking open for haunts at 6 p.m., Friday, Oct. 17. Constructed and staffed by the local Lions Club and Boy Scout zombies this eerie hotel can be found on the Mermaid Festival Grounds just 2 blocks west of the downtown stoplight on Washington and Blaine streets. Unlike many hotels, parking is free on site and one will probably be escorted by a zombie to pay for your key to enter the hotel. Once you have your key you will join others inside the zombie parlor where all victims receive final hotel instructions. Not all victims will complete their stay. The Zombie Hotel is open for business from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 17 and Oct. 18; Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24 and Oct. 25; and Halloween, Friday, Oct. 31. A key costs are $6 for those 6 years of age and older, family four pack $20. (See related)

Pierceton

• The Lions Club of Pierceton will host a Halloween costume contest with games from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24. The event is free to the public and will be at the Pierceton Elementary Gym.
• Murder At Eastside Speakeasy, an interactive murder mystery dinner, will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Old Train Depot located at 115 E. Market St., Pierceton. A favorite mob hangout in the mid-1920’s, the Eastside Speakeasy, is known for delicious Italian cuisine, delightful music and discretion at the bar. One fateful night, in late October, murder changes the history of the Eastside forever. Now the lead homicide detective needs your help to solve his latest case, test your sleuthing skills as you enjoy dinner and a show. Era-themed costumes are encouraged and prizes will be awarded for top sleuth, best costume and more. Tickets are $40 in advance and $45 at the door with a three-course Italian dinner and interactive theater experience offered. For tickets, visit k21 Health Services Pavilion, call Beaman Home’s Admin Office or call the Old Train Depot. Proceeds will benefit the campaign for the new Beaman Home Emergency Shelter.
• The Pierceton Market will host a trick-or-treat event from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31. Come trick-or-treat at the Pierceton market where local vendors bring their produce, crafts and art to be sold every Friday in Brower Park on SR 13 in Pierceton.

Silver Lake

• The annual Celebration Harvest will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, old fire station located at 104 N. Jefferson St. A hay maze will be offered for kids as well as pictures, treat bags, hot chocolate, coffee and cookies. The event is free. 

Leesburg

• The eighth annual fall festival hosted by Leesburg Grace Brethren Church will take place from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17. As always, the event will include a chili contest that will cost $5 to enter and $1 to eat. In addition, live music, hay rides, pumpkin carving, a bounce house, kids’ games and a dog cart will be offered. New to the event this year is a Gaga Ball pit and obstacle course. (See related)

This list will continue to be added to as events and community trick-or-treat times are submitted. To submit your fall/Halloween event, email alyssa@staceypageonline.com