TOP HAUNTED ATTRACTIONS FOR SPOOKY FUN THIS HALLOWEEN

The 2026 haunt season is officially here, and the nation's top attractions are pushing the absolute limits of terror with movie-quality special effects, mind-bending mazes, and heart-stopping live stunts. From a massive, blood-chilling Texas meatpacking plant to an atmospheric, monster-filled estate hidden deep in New York's Hudson Valley, here is a round up the absolute best, award-winning haunted houses in the United States:

Cutting Edge Haunted House (Fort Worth, Texas)

The Backstory: Located in a century-old abandoned meatpacking plant in an area historically known as "Hell's Half Acre".

The Experience: Cutting Edge Haunted House forces guests into a two-story "human processing area". Realistic mannequins are hoisted up to the upper level via old Western meatpacking conveyor equipment, where they travel through a full butchering simulation.

Standout Feature: The multi-themed walkthrough is massive, earning it a Guinness World Record for size. The intensity of the attraction is built up by the killer performances of Cutting Edge Corps, an award-winning independent drumline whose members dress as zombies and undertakers to blast live, terrifying cadences directly at the crowds.

2026 Tickets & Info: General admission starts at $29.99 to $59.99 depending on the date. Parking is $20, cash only.

Netherworld Haunted House (Stone Mountain, Georgia)

The Backstory: Founded in 1997 by Hollywood film and television special effects makeup artist Billy Messina and former TV producer Ben Armstrong.

The Experience: Celebrating its 30th milestone season, Netherworld Haunted House utilizes a 70,000-square-foot warehouse to bring high-end animatronics, custom props, and 100 to 125 live scare actors to life each night. This year themes are "Curse of The Collector" (combining three decades of lore with the return of legendary characters) and "Beyond Oblivion" (their largest second-attraction walk through to date, focusing on nightmarish laboratory themes).

Standout Feature: Total commitment to original storylines. Unlike attractions that pay to license film characters like Freddy or Jason, Netherworld creates its own terrifying "icons," such as the tree-human hybrid Harvestman and the soul-gathering Collector.

2026 Tickets & Info: Prices start at $25 for a single haunted experience and $35 to access both main attractions.

Beast Haunted Attraction (Kansas City, Missouri)

The Backstory: Established in 1991 by Full Moon Productions, this historic West Bottoms haunt pioneered the "open path" design concept. The Beast Haunted House drops guests directly into an multi-story labyrinth where there is no set path. The layout is designed to completely disorient you, forcing your group to make real-time directional choices to escape history's darkest settings.

The Experience: The terrifying vignettes include hyper-detailed setups depicting Voodoo curses, the Salem witch trials, and a fog-heavy London street stalked by Jack the Ripper.

Standout Feature: To dodge the early autumn heatwaves that put intense physical stress on actors and patrons, operators have packed their 2026 calendar into 13 highly concentrated nights of terror completely contained in October.

2026 Tickets & Info: $40 for standard general admission and $55 for a fast pass for quicker entry into the attraction.

Nightmare on 13th (Salt Lake City, Utah)

The Backstory: Boasting over 35 years of operation, this indoor powerhouse transforms an industrial space into a cinematic gauntlet.

The Experience: Nightmare on 13th Haunted House splits its footprint into multiple major exhibits under one roof: Nightmare Haunted House and the Institute of Terror. It relies heavily on jaw-dropping, Hollywood-style set staging and complex mechanical jump scares.

Standout Feature: They have expanded by adding a brand-new third attraction called The 13th Manor, a fully seated, immersive live scare show that relies on practical special effects to shock the audience.

2026 Tickets & Info: Open on selective dates from September 18 through November 13, 2026. Prices range from $30 to $75 dollars. Use the promo code NOWPLAYING or UTAHHH at online checkout to get $6.00 discount off your nighttime ticket.

Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Attractions (Ulster Park, New York)

The Backstory: Spanning a massive historic property in New York's atmospheric Hudson Valley, this park has been a premier northeast destination for 34 seasons.

The Experience: Headless Horseman Hayrides and Haunted Attractions is a sprawling multi-attraction package. A single general admission ticket grants entry into 13 distinct attractions, including a flagship themed hayride, a 2-acre corn maze, multiple walking trails, and several standalone haunted houses.

Standout Feature: The atmosphere of the historic estate is unmatched. After completing the main scares, guests can unwind at The Horseman's Tavern for beer and wine or check out specialized shops like Spells.

2026 Tickets & Info: Admission starts at $74 plus an additional $41 for a fast pass to bypass the general admission lines.

Eloise Asylum (Westland, Michigan)

The Backstory: Housed within the infamous, real abandoned Eloise Psychiatric Hospital Complex near Detroit. Originally founded in 1839 as a poor house, it expanded into the largest psychiatric facility in the United States, spanning 902 acres and 78 buildings at its peak. Today, its tragic history makes it widely regarded as one of the most authentically haunted locations in the nation.

The Experience: The seasonal attraction utilizes 54,000 square feet across two massive floors of high-tech horror. Guests undergo a grueling 45-minute walkthrough nightmare. The first floor completely submerses you in a dark, twisted psychiatric horror storyline, while the second floor leans heavily into premium production design, interactive scares, and a secret laboratory setting.

Standout Feature: Millions of dollars have been poured into giving Eloise elite visual effects. The property features advanced projection mapping and cutting-edge Cold Spark Pyrotechnic Simulators that create completely safe, odorless, low-smoke electrical blasts right alongside the actors.

2026 Special Event: For the first time, Eloise is hosting a special Rockin' Haunt Night Concert on Friday, October 30, 2026. One ticket unlocks access to the full haunt plus live performances from Marz Radio and Mob Opera.

2026 Tickets & Info: Tickets start at $34.99.

HALLOWEEN COMIC BOOKS

Lurking on comic book shop shelves leading up to Halloween will be what promise to be some terror-ific holiday themed issues. If you are geeked about the Halloween season then keep your eyes out for these issues meant to provide some holiday spirit to this fun time of year:

ARCHIE'S HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

Halloween is here again and Archie and all his friends in Riverdale are ready to have a spooky good time! From trick or treating to bobbing for apples and costumes galore, you're in for some frighteningly fun adventures! Archie Comics $9.99

RICK AND MORTY: RICK OR TREAT HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

Rick is hard at work in the garage, but Morty just won't stop yapping, so he opens up a portal and brings in a weird, gothy-looking girl named Lil Wigsley. Rick explains that Lil Wigsley will tell Morty stories if he’ll shut up and listen—but these aren’t just any old stories. They’re horrifically banal, but it soon becomes clear that Rick and Sister Lil Wigsley’s intent to distract Morty is more terrifying than the tepid tales they’ve been spinning! Oni Press $9.99

HYDE STREET #1

A new epic era in character-centered horror begins as GHOST MACHINE launches HYDE STREET, its newest ongoing series from creators GEOFF JOHNS and IVAN REIS (Blackest Night, Green Lantern, Aquaman)! In every city and town, off every country road and metropolis avenue, if you make a wrong turn…you might find yourself on Hyde Street. But be careful who you talk to and what you do because the consequences make death itself seem like the easy way out. Introducing MR. X-RAY! PRANKY, THE WORLD’S MOST DANGEROUS SCOUT! MISS GOODBODY! AND MANY MORE…out to delight, fright, and say good night. What is their secret and that of Hyde Street? Only they know. For now. Image Comics $3.99

DC HOROR PRESENTS: CREATURE COMMANDOS #1

A VAMPIRE, A WEREWOLF, A GORGON, AND AN UNDEAD SOLDIER WALK INTO A GROCERY STORE...AND ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE! This is the Creature Unit, a team of misfits assembled by a mad...ly talented scientist for a dangerous military mission. In this brand-new era of Creature Commandos penned by Count Crowley creator David Dastmalchian (The Suicide Squad and Late Night with the Devil), the claws are out, fangs are bared, and blood is spilled--lots of it! DC Comics $4.99

ARCHIE HALLOWEEN SPECTACULAR 

A Halloween party at Lodge Manor turns into a real battle of good vs. evil thanks to Amber Nightstone! Archie Comics $3.99

BATMAN: FULL MOON

An ancient and supernatural force stalks the streets of Gotham City — a Lycan so powerful it'll defy Batman's most trusted resources: his brilliant mind and extensive gadgetry. But are Batman's physical strength and resilience alone enough to put the creature down for good? Or will this fight strip him down to his very bones? Even powerful magical allies like Zatanna caution that Bruce might not walk away from this one unscathed... Eisner-nominated writer Rodney Barnes (KILLADELPHIA) and breakout artist Stevan Subic (THE RIDDLER: YEAR ONE) tear into a horrific tale of pain and redemption as Batman meets his match: the werewolf of Gotham City! Each issue of this series will boast striking glow-in-the-dark main covers! DC Comics $5.99

MONSTER HIGH: HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

In the words of some famous old manster, "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." Well, no offense to that boo, but... I disagree. I mean, each Hallow's Eve normies wrap themselves in toilet paper and bedsheets and call themselves monsters? As if their flannel rags could touch our Clawdeen Wolf booriginal designs... Ghouls, there is nothing scarier than a bad costume. 

 Luckily, Headmaster Frankenstein and Draculaura are throwing a carnival for the real monsters guaranteed to genuinely send chills down their spines. Monster High is packed with booths: whack-a-molar, pin the wing on the dragon, spiderweb candy, and even a maze of frightmares. Halloween may be a boring normie howliday, but you never know what, or who, might be lurking around the coroner. Happy Halloween, ghouls! IDW Publishing $5.99

CRYPT OF SHADOWS

CRACKING OPEN THE CRYPT! As All Hallows' Eve approaches, the heroes of the Marvel Universe find themselves once again facing the terrors that lie in the dark! From creatures that lurk in the deep to sinister sorcery, don't miss out as your favorite heroes get put through the wringer and are forced to face down the malevolent forces of the Marvel Universe! Pick up this terrifying tome at your own peril, True Believers! Marvel $4.99

FASTER THAN LIGHT 3D

The world’s first 3D Treasury-sized edition features two brand-new horrifying stories of the FTL crew! Glorious 10 x 13 pages in full color 3D and a special "Wink" B cover! (Two different images on the same cover, one per glasses color!) Image Comics $14.99

DC HORROR PRESENTS ...

Bones crunching, worms munching, blood spattering...these are a few of our favorite things! From some of the most dark and cunning minds in horror comes DC Horror Presents... a new collection of gruesome tales set in the DCU. With stories penned by some of our favorite names in horror, this anthology will have die-hard horror fans quaking with fear! DC Comics $3.99

THE HORIZON EXPERIMENT: THE SACRED DAMNED 

Celebrated TV writer SABIR PIRZADA (MS. MARVEL, MOON KNIGHT, DANDELION) and Eisner-winning creator MICHAEL WALSH (THE SILVER COIN) present INAYAH JIBRIL, a “Muslim John Constantine” — a new type of exorcist re-examining modern horror for fans of THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH and KILLADELPHIA. Image Comics $3.99

HEADLESS HORSEMAN: HALLOWEEN ANNUAL 

Like the urban legends and folklore frights of yore, the Headless Horseman is coming back to haunt you once more! Ignore the creaking footsteps, don't mind the whistling wind, pull your eyes away from the shifting shadows, and tiptoe through these spine-tingling stories. The Headless Horseman returns... and this year, he's coming for you! Dark Horse Comics $7.99

THE FEEDING

In this extra-length horror one-shot, Nolan Ward has done everything to forget his disturbing past. Drinking. Drugs. Day-trading. Sex. And still, that past has caught up with him in the form of a twisted painting called The Feeding… which eats people. And it’s hungry. Can Nolan stop this demon, or will he be devoured like so many others before him? Image Comics $4.99

THE POWERPUFF GIRLS: HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

With spooky season kicking off in the city of Townsville, Buttercup has set her sights on winning the Townsville Gazette's contest for the best Halloween horror comic - and what better place to find inspiration than a big, old, possibly haunted hotel? But even though it also has a cool hedge maze, there's one problem with spending Halloween at the Townsville Hotel - there's nowhere to trick-or-treat! And Bubbles and Blossom are determined to show off their costumes and get some candy - if only they can convince Buttercup that all work and no play will make her a dull Powerpuff Girl! Of course, Townsville being Townsville, there's also no shortage of nefarious malefactors prowling around, just waiting for the chance to catch the girls off guard. Will their Halloween bickering keep the Petite Powerhouses from thwarting their villains? Dynamite $5.99

HOUR OF THE WOLF

When Owen Blackwood is called across time to a seemingly normal home to destroy a haunted painting, it didn't feel like anything out of the ordinary to this agent of Wolvenheart. Upon arrival, however, Owen finds himself trapped in the very painting he was called to destroy. With only a one hour window of time in which to operate, will Owen be able to save the family from certain death and destroy the painting? Or will he get lost in time and become a cross-dimensional walking ghost? Madcave Studios $4.99

MARVEL CRISIS PROTOCOL MONSTERS UNLEASHED

Marvel: Crisis Protocol is a tabletop game that lets players battle as and against characters from the comic book publisher's iconic roster of heroes and rogues. Build a dream team of miniature game piece figures to win a bout on a game board by combining bold tactics and cunning strategy to overwhelm your competition. Now in addition the Marvel comic book heroes like Captain America and villains like Ultron, this Halloween season the game is adding monsters into the fray.

Up for preorder now with a scheduled November 1, 2024 release is a Monsters Unleashed character pack. Dracula, Werewolf by Night, N’Kantu the Living Mummy, and Frankenstein’s Monster, bring supernatural characters to your Marvel: Crisis Protocol tabletop battles. Marvel: Crisis Protocol - Monsters Unleashed includes a miniature game piece figure for each character (4 miniatures), 1 One-Shot Card, 4 Character Stat Cards, 4 Team Tactic Cards and 1 Punch Board. Please note the miniatures are supplied unassembled and unpainted.

Cursed with eternal life as one of the night-dwelling undead, Dracula claims the title of Lord of the Vampires through cunning, strategy, and acts of unrelenting evil.

Assembled from corpses and jolted to life, Frankenstein’s Monster is many things—intelligent, sensitive, immortal—but mostly, he’s a patchwork man seeking his place in the world.

During the day, Jack Russell appears as a man, but when the sun sets and the moon rises, he becomes Werewolf by Night!

Known as the Living Mummy, N’Kantu is an adventurer, wanderer, and agent of the Egyptian god of death and rebirth, Anubis.

Create a dynamic setting for Dracula, Frankenstein's Monster, N'Kantu and Werewolf by Night to battle in during Marvel: Crisis Protocol bouts with the Tomb of Dracula terrain pack. This terrain pack features a cutaway of Dracula's iconic gothic castle reminiscent of classic horror movies. It includes additional one-shot cards for new modes of play.

You need to purchase a Marvel: Crisis Protocol core box to play the game which is available at amazon.com. Additional characters and terrain expansion packs like Monsters Unleashed and Tomb of Dracula can be purchased to enhance your Marvel: Crisis Protocol gaming experiences. 

Who would you have battle these monsters? Blade, Doctor Strange, Moon Knight? There are so many marvelous scenarios you can play out with Marvel: Crisis Protocol. 

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GHOSTBUSTERS AT HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS

Do you enjoy scary attractions like haunted houses at Halloween time? We have some spooktacular places to visit here in Metro Detroit like Eloise Asylum, Hush Haunted Attraction, and the Erebus Haunted Warehouse; but I've come across rave reviews about HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS at Universal Studios Orlando theme park that may make a Fall vacation to check them out worthwhile...especially because this year they are incorporating GHOSTBUSTERS into the event.

On select nights from August 30 - November 3, Universal Studios Orlando closes early and reopens for a special ticketed event called HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS where a few rides are open (Revenge of the Mummy, Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts, and Transformers) but the primary attraction is participating in event only scary attractions. During HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS ten haunted houses are opened to explore with five scare zones situated between them filled with scare actors on the prowl you need to navigate through to make your way around the amusement park. Plus, there is Halloween-themed live entertainment as well as themed food and drinks available to enjoy around the park as well.

The haunted houses utilize movie studio caliber costumes, props and special effects to provide a Hollywood blockbuster quality experience that exceeds what most local Halloween attractions are able to provide. In 2024, two of the amusement park's haunted houses are going to have movie themes too: Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire and A Quit Place. 

An ancient artifact has released a chilling new entity, Garraka in the Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire haunted house. He’ll stop you cold. Only the Ghostbusters can keep you from getting iced. 

In the A Quit Place haunted house, make a sound and you won't last long. Monstrous creatures will hunt you down as the world of the first two films comes to terrifying life.

My teenagers are at an age that they don't want to go on family trips with mom and dad anymore ... even to places like Disneyland or Universal Orlando because they don't want to be treated like kids. But these haunted houses are targets to an audience of teens, young adults, and those of use who categorize ourselves as kids-at-heart (aka over 40). In fact, there is a warning on the promotions for HALLOWEEN HORROR NIGHTS that the event is not recommended for children under 13. A night of scary attractions and amusement park rides may just be the family outing we've been looking for. Plus, Ghostbusters has piqued my interest!

Would you take a Florida vacation just for some Halloween themed fun? I'm really thinking about it!

For more information about this event, head over to halloweenhorrornights.com

P.S. Halloween Horror Nights also take place at Universal's theme parks in California, Singapore and Japan.

NANCY SPECTOR MONSTER DETECTIVE

When you find yourself with a ghoulish mystery you can’t solve, who do you call? Nancy Spector, monster detective! This fearless young detective will solve the case with the help of her sassy, talking dog Jinx. In their debut graphic novel being released September 10, 2024, NANCY SPECTOR, MONSTER DETECTIVE #1: The Case of the Missing Spot, author Stephen W. Martin and artist Linh Pham craft a fantasy world brimming with intriguing mystery, adorable creatures, and hilarious antics. With a targeted audience of kids aged 9 to 12, NANCY SPECTOR, MONSTER DETECTIVE is the perfect entry point to horror and mystery for young readers, with monsters drawn with in an adorable kawaii style, balancing fun and frightening.

The Invisible Man has a problem. His dog, Spot, is missing. Complicating matters, Spot is also invisible. So the Invisible Man turns to Nancy Spector for help. Nancy eagerly takes the case, and she and her grumpy best friend, a (visible) dog named Jinx, dive into the investigation. As they follow Spot's trail, they find themselves: 

• Riding dragons 
• Searching the monster diner—because all dogs like hot dogs 
• Fleeing from vicious chipmunk unicorns 
• Shopping in a store that is a gelatinous candy cube named Bob 
•  And paying a visit to Nancy’s vampire friend Eugene’s hamster’s funeral 

Every time they think Spot is right around the corner, things get more and more confusing, but Nancy knows that to a great detective, there is no such thing as a bad clue. And Nancy knows she's a great detective. Now she just needs to crack the case. . .

Stephen W. Martin is an Emmy-nominated writer on the Netflix animated series Trash Truck and is the author of many picture books, including Fluffy McWhiskers Cuteness Explosion. As a Canadian living in California, he misses poutine and the noble beavers. Find him online at stephen-w-martin.com. 

Linh Pham is an award-winning illustrator and visual development artist. She currently works as a lead designer at Vivid Greetings, where her custom digital greeting cards have garnered over 1 million views worldwide. In television and film, Linh has worked in animation, rigging, lighting, character design, and visual development bringing all sorts of wonderous monsters to life. She lives in Vancouver, Canada with her husband, daughter, two black dogs, and one white cat.

NANCY SPECTOR, MONSTER DETECTIVE will be out just in time to provide some spooktacular Halloween season reading fun. CLICK HERE to preorder the graphic novel from Hatchette Book Group.

A HAUNTING IN VENICE

Wrapped up my Halloween festivities this evening by viewing A HAUNTING IN VENICE now that it is available to view on home video. The film became available for subscribers to stream on Hulu, just in time to cap off its iconic Huluween celebration, and is also now available to buy on digital from all major digital retailers, including Prime Video, Apple TV, and Fandango/Vudu, with exclusive behind-the-scenes bonus content. The movie is being released November 28 on Blu-ray and DVD.

A Haunting in Venice is set in eerie, post-World War II Venice on All Hallows’ Eve and is a terrifying mystery featuring the return of the celebrated sleuth, Hercule Poirot. Now retired and living in self-imposed exile in the world’s most glamorous city, Poirot reluctantly attends a séance at a decaying, haunted palazzo. When one of the guests is murdered, the detective is thrust into a sinister world of shadows and secrets.

Based upon Agatha Cristie's novel Hallowe'en Party, the film adaption of the murder mystery is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America [MPAA] for strong language, disturbing images and thematic elements. Bonus content included with the home video release of A Haunting in Venice include 11 deleted scenes and a featurette on the making of the movie. 

I've been a fan of 20th Century Studios prior film adaptions of Agatha Cristie's novels Murder on the Orient Express (2017) and Death on the Nile (2022). They've featured memorizing cinematography and excellent scripting providing an immersive and compelling movie watching experience. A Haunting in Venice follows suit! 

Are you geeked about A Haunting in Venice being available to add to your home entertainment video library? I am! It made for an excellent movie to watch on Halloween! I'm hoping 20th Century Studios will make an adaption of Agatha Christie's Ten Little Indians now. 

ONLINE AI OUIJA BOARD

Are you ready to enter the world of the mysterious and mystifying with OUIJA?! Just in time for Halloween festivities, Hasbro launched a limited-time, online-only, AI-enhanced version of the iconic OUIJA Board that bridges the gap between today’s technology and ancient mystique! 

Available NOW through November 1 at 11:59 PM PT at ouija.com, the first-of-its-kind AI OUIJA Board from Hasbro is sure to test your bravery and connection to the spirit realm. You've got questions and the spirit world has answers – the AI OUIJA Board is your way to get them asap… no board required! 

What do you want to know? Ask your question solo, with a friend, or in a group setting perfect for any Halloween party vibe. Be patient and concentrate because the spirits can't be rushed! Try these sample prompts, or ask your own questions: 

 · How many spirits are in this room? 

 · Spirit, what’s the last thing you remember?

 · Are you a good spirit or a bad spirit? 

 · What are you doing for Halloween? 

 · May I speak with the spirit of William Shakespeare? / William Shakespeare, what’s your favorite play? / Abe Lincoln, do you still wear your top hat? 

Fans can access the AI OUIJA Board through http://www.ouija.com/ via mobile or desktop. For anyone looking to take their séance game to the next level, the classic OUIJA Board is available for purchase at most major retailers and on Amazon. 

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HALLOWGLOW NIGHTS AT TREERUNNER ADVENTURE PARK

TreeRunner Adventure Park in West Bloomfield is now hosting one of the most fun family-friendly Halloween events of the Trick or Treating season – HallowGlow Nights! Beyond its aerial obstacle course and ziplines, this year's HallowGlow Nights offer even more adventure for people of all ages. HallowGlow Nights at TreeRunner West Bloomfield are fun Halloween-themed experiences in the woods that combine its popular glow nights with a Halloween flair and new fun for people of all ages to experience, including Gem Mining and Mini Golf. Plus, all guests are encouraged to arrive and participate in costume, with a best costume contest on Saturdays. 

For those that choose not to climb, there is a non-climbing option for just $10 with Gem Mining, Mini Golf, and a bag of candy from park staff. HallowGlow nights sell out quickly and reservations are required. The HallowGlow event nights are a perfect combination of the parks’ famous glow zip lining glow nights and a walk through the woods. 

The Park has added new low-to-the-ground Ziplines and ropes for those that have a fear of heights. TreeRunner has entertained, charmed, and created lasting memories in the Detroit area during the Halloween season for a decade and this year’s event will be better than ever. To accommodate all climbing levels, there is a two-hour and a three-hour experience, and every guest will receive candy. 

The Park opens at 4 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, and 1 pm on Sundays, with the HallowGlow fun beginning after 6 pm all nights. The Park also offers separate HallowGlow tickets available for the junior park, which includes bounce houses for kids. HallowGlow will continue through October 29th. 

Friday and Saturday hours are 4 – 10 pm and Sundays 2 pm – 8 pm. For more information, pricing, and reservations, visit Treerunnerparks.com and click on the West Bloomfield location page.

PHANTOMS'S FEAST AT HOLLYGROVE

The Michigan Renaissance Festival may be over but there are still several seasonal activities taking place at its Hollygrove medieval fairgrounds through the end of the year. First off during weekends through the end of October in celebration of Halloween will be a Phantom's Feast held within the Michigan Renaissance Festival's Blackstone Castle. This event takes place on October 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 & 28 starting at 7pm. Buy tickets in advance at michrenfest.com. 

Join the Pumpkin King and his Court for a delectable five course meal starting with warming pumpkin soup and a main course of Beef Tenderloin. Enjoy song & dance, costume contests and wicked amusements for all to share. It’s the season of the witch, so beware!

Tickets for Phantom's Feast are $90 per person. Blackstone Castle is located on the Hollygrove fair grounds in Metro Detroit's Oakland County at 12600 Dixie Hwy Holly, MI 48442. Get into the Halloween spirit with this festive night out feasting with the Pumpkin King and his Court.

Following the Phantom's Feast, Hollygrove will come alive with holiday magic with the Michigan Renaissance Festival's annual HollyDazzle Christmas celebration that takes place in November and December. So, while the jousting may be done for the year there is still fun to be had during the remainder of 2023 at the Hollygrove fair grounds.

GLENLORE TRAILS HAUNTED FOREST

My family was invited to do a walk through of the Glenlore Trails Haunted Forest and it provided an entertaining night of Halloween fun. While it has a haunted house vibe to it, this is a family friendly experience that kids and adults can equally enjoy. Take a stroll under the moonlight in a setting filled with illuminated special effects, stunning light displays and interactive CARNEVIL games. 

Located in Commerce Township, Michigan, Glenlore Trails Haunted Forest is open Thursday - Sunday nights from 7:15 pm - 10:15 pm during the month of October leading up to Halloween. Admission is $15 for kids (4-12), $20 for Seniors (65+) and $25 for teens and adults (13-64). Some evenings have events aimed specifically for children and others are exclusively for adults (21+) so it is important to check the calendar of events at glenloretrails.com before planning an outing. Also, time slots sell out and are only available online so buy your tickets before heading over to Glenlore Trails Haunted Forest. Be aware that earlier time slots tend to be filled with families that have young children while later times bring out more mature crowds.

The trail through the Haunted Forest is 1 mile long and takes about an hour to walk through. This year has a CARNEVIL theme with fortune telling stands, carnival game booths, and creepy clowns along your path. For those with mobility issues, note that while the trail is fairly flat and well groomed with wood chips it is not a paved surface. Be prepared that you are walking through an actual woods at night!

We had a spooktacular time exploring the CARNEVIL within the Glenlore Trails Haunted Forest. Everyone had a different favorite part of the trail. My son thought the best part was the interactive feat of strength contest where he bested his sister (watch our YouTube video). She preferred the playable skeleton xylophone. My wife thought the creepy clowns haunting the trail were hilarious. The path of singing pumpkins were my favorite aspect of the Glenlore Trails Haunted Forest.

This CARNEVIL attraction absolutely earned a Geek Daddy nod of approval so I'm geeked to be able to share the experience by hosting a giveaway for a Family 4-Pack of tickets to the event. Simply complete the Rafflecopter entries below before the clock ticks midnight on Friday the 13th for the chance to win free admission for four to Glenlore Trails Haunted Forest. One entry will be randomly selected to receive this ticket pack. Must be a Metro Detroit resident over 18 years old to participate in this promotion. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Glenlore Trails Haunted Forest is located at 3860 Newton Road, Commerce Twp, MI 48382. For more information and to buy tickets, go to glenloretrails.com.  Glenlore Trails is supported by Bluewater Technologies Group, one of the most trusted event staging and AV integrators in the country, who supports sensory storytelling across digital and physical canvases. Get into the Halloween spirit by enjoying this immersive and illuminated outdoor night walk experience. You are sure to have a howling good time!

SPOOKTACULER HALLOWEEN COMIC BOOKS

The Halloween season is here and with it comes some terror-ific comic books. I'm always geeked to get into the Halloween spirit with some holiday themed good reads. Here are some spooktaculer stories that will be on comic book shop shelves this October:

STAR TREK: HOLO-WEEN

After enduring an anxiety-ridden passage through a solar storm, Captain Picard and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise take to celebrating Halloween to reset the mood. But while the Earth holiday involves sweet treats and other festivities, they soon learn that fear is in season when crew members begin to go missing one by one. Each week in October leading up to Halloween, a new issue of this limited series by acclaimed writer Chris Sequeira and Eisner-nominated artist Joe Eisma will be rocketing into comic shops. 

DC'S GHOULS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN

An assembly of spine-tingling stories for Halloween. Superman imprisoned by an unfriendly ghost! Man-Bat versus a werewolf! Mary Marvel and Dr. Psycho crashing a Halloween frat party! Plus: the Question faces horrific crimes of fashion; Robotman wrestles a ghostly glitch; Crush helps Lobo find the perfect costume; and Nightwing and Red Hood spend a frightful night in Blüdhaven, co-written by Christopher Sean, the voice of Nightwing from the Gotham Knights video game! The chills will last longer than your candy corn!

ARCHIE HALLOWEEN SPECTACULAR 

Trick and Treat return on Halloween night to harass Archie and Jughead with assorted monsters until Sabrina takes charge. All that plus more scary-fun stories!

CAPWOLF & THE HOWLING COMMANDOS

When Captain America is transformed into a werewolf on the front lines of World War II, he’ll need the help of the Howling Commandos to take down a band of Nazi cultists who intend to use supernatural forces to turn the tide of battle. But can Cap control the skeptical, jaded Commandos when he can barely control himself?

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

As Halloween approaches, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles must face their fears when a powerful and mysterious being challenges them to prove their mettle in a nightmarish test of bravery. Meanwhile, Shredder has an otherworldly encounter of his own when he summons an ancient spirit to gain a greater understanding of the powerful weapon he seeks to reforge... only to discover that some forces are beyond even his control. Don't miss this double-sized, spooky special of Saturday Morning Adventures!

OPERATION SUNSHINE

From the New York Times-bestselling hosts of the hit The Last Podcast on the Left and Black Hammer's David Rubin comes this all-new humorous, horror, and action-packed comic book series that's Near Dark meets Ocean's Eleven. A group of young, alienated vampires known as "bugs" plot to steal a magical object from ancient monstrous vampires to turn themselves back to human. Along the way they uncover a sprawling monster underground, a top-secret plot run by the elder creatures, elite militant vampire slayers, and madness beyond imagining blocking their path to humanity.

BORIS KARLOFF'S GOLD KEY MYSTERIES 

Witness the dawn of new era in horror! When a gothic mansion infested with arcane power appears from the mist, Boris Karloff is the world's last hope against dark forces led by a malevolent government agent bent on harnessing the house's power. Boris Karloff is back with a new ongoing horror anthology.

CRYPT OF SHADOWS

Once more, as All Hallows’ Eve draws nigh, the dust-covered slab that seals shut the crypt, blocking out the sun and casting it forever in shadow, has creaked open to let the darkness loose to prey on the Marvel Universe! Be they mercenary or mage, guided by law or by rage, our heroes will face their terror, and they’d best pray their spines are sturdy enough for the job…or the crypt they find may well be their own!

SPINE-TINGLING SPIDER-MAN

After a fight with Spider-Cide, Spider-Man gets taken on the most frightening ride of his life as he finds himself in the most terrifying haunted house possible. Who took Peter’s powers? Who took Peter’s friends and family? Who stands the best chance at taking Spider-Man down permanently?!

HEADLESS HORSEMAN HALLOWEEN ANNUAL

Boils, ghouls, vampires, monsters, and creatures of all kinds, welcome. Take a seat, go on, fill the aisles, relax your fangs, and sit with us for a while. Join us in a macabre and magical journey through all the haunts and spooks that keep you up at night for here we revel in the darkness and present to you a chilling, nay petrifying experience as the Headless Horseman presents a collection of five terrifying tales to warm up your cold soul.

GARGOYLES HALLOWEEN SPECIAL

It's young Gnash's first Halloween in Manhattan, and you're invited to come along as he heads out to find friends on the one night of the year when Gargoyles can roam the city unbothered! Unfortunately, he's about to run afoul of the masked Quarrymen, who are out to hunt down any Gargoyle foolish enough to brave the streets on All Hallow's Eve. That means Brooklyn, Katana, Lexington, Broadway, Angela, and even Goliath are in real danger! Will they survive this cruel trick, or become a treat for the marauding Quarrymen? Find out in this all-new 40-page special featuring a 28-page main story written by Gargoyles creator GREG WEISMAN!

FEAR THE FUNHOUSE PRESENTS ... TOYBOX OF TERROR

In Riverdale, even the toys are terrifying in this anthology one-shot set in the universe of last year's successful Fear the Funhouse comic. Three tales of dolls, robots, and puppets gone awry all thanks to the work of a shadowy toymaker and a young girl intent on revenge, in the vein of the widely successful M3GAN movie and Child's Play franchise.

JUSTICE LEAGUE V GODZILLA V KONG

The cataclysmic crossover event of the year is here as the DC Universe clashes with Legendary’s Monsterverse in Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong. Clark Kent is enjoying a night off with a very important dinner planned with his girlfriend, Lois Lane, when the entire city shudders under the weight of the monstrous Godzilla, who emerges from the bay! What started as a routine clash between the Justice League and the Legion of Doom takes a dangerous turn when the wall between worlds is breached…with Godzilla, Kong, and the Monsterverse emerging on DC’s Earth!

MARVEL ZOMBIES: BLACK, WHITE & BLOOD

The undead plague starts here…and you know it won’t stop until everyone’s in its clutches! This first of four action-packed, utterly original, gloriously gory anthology issues features Daredevil, Spider-Man, Moon Knight and many, many more Marvel heroes and villains beset by ever-growing zombie hordes! In a brutal, bloodstained world, can hope survive? Or will creeping, gnawing, shambling horror win out at last…?

UNIVERSAL MONSTERS DRACULA

THE DEPARTMENT OF TRUTH creators JAMES TYNION IV and MARTIN SIMMONDS reteam for an extra-length miniseries about the monster who started it all! When Dr. John Seward admits a strange new patient into his asylum, the madman tells stories of a demon who has taken residence next door. But as Dr. Seward attempts to apply logic to the impossible…his surrogate daughter Lucy begins to fall under the spell of the twisted Count Dracula!