With Halloween around the corner, members of the University community may find themselves wondering what they can do to celebrate the holiday.

Whether it is trick-or-treating, haunted houses or corn mazes, western Kentucky is host to numerous Halloween attractions that offer a little something for everyone.

Haunted Houses

For anyone seeking fright, fear, panic, terror or trepidation, nationally recognized “Screampark” Talon Falls operates out of neighboring Graves County. Talon Falls hosts 13 attractions, including the Talon Falls Haunted House, the Dead End Psych Ward Haunted House and the Blood Creek Haunted Hayride.

Talon Falls was recognized alongside four other attractions around the nation by americahaunts.com as one of 2022’s “Can’t Miss” haunted attractions.

“This haunt leaves no stone unturned. …Leveraging its immersive might, this mega-attraction uses mazes inside and out through psych wards to toxic wastelands, crypts and lairs inhabited by unimaginable ghouls,” according to the America Haunts website.

Talon Falls is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 6:30-11 p.m. and Sundays from 6:30-9 p.m. Talon Falls will also be opening its doors on Halloween from 6:30-9 p.m.

Graves County is also home to a second haunted attraction, “The Industrial Slaughterhouse.”

The Industrial Slaughterhouse attraction is hosted in an actual abandoned slaughterhouse and features clowns, deranged psychopaths and blood-thirsty butchers, according to the haunt’s website.

Aside from the actors in the haunted house, The Industrial Slaughterhouse also claims on its website that the slaughterhouse building may actually be haunted.

“Over the years, there have been unexplained occurrences experienced by both the actors and staff,” according to the The Industrial Slaughterhouse website. “Paranormal teams have investigated the building several times and have gotten some positive results.”

In addition to the traditional haunted house experience, The Industrial Slaughterhouse hosts blackout nights every Sunday in which guests must navigate the halls of the attraction with a single glow stick.

The Industrial Slaughterhouse is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 7-11 p.m. and Sundays from 7-10 p.m. The Industrial Slaughterhouse will also be open on Halloween night from 7-10 p.m.

Pumpkins

For crafters, creators or shoppers, Murray is home to many different pumpkin patches.

The Penny Pumpkin Patch has been operating in Calloway County for over 20 years. Penny Pumpkin Patch is owned by Rob Gingles and is operated by himself and his family.

Along with pumpkins, Penny Pumpkin Patch also offers a petting zoo and a corn maze. Penny Pumpkin Patch is located on 3138 Poor Farm Rd.

Another local pumpkin patch, Wright Farms, is open daily throughout the month of October and offers a wide selection of pumpkins and gourds.

Wright Farms is also the pumpkin supplier of Murray State’s annual “Fall on the Farm” event. Wright farms is located on 2241 Jones Sparkman Rd.

Other Calloway County pumpkin patches include Jay’s Pumpkin Patch located on 1141 Tucker Rd., Grayson’s Pumpkin Patch located on 207 Hicks Cemetery Rd. and Papa’s Produce Barn located on 2915 New Providence Rd.

Corn Maze

For the faint-hearted, those with high blood pressure or those with children who are still looking for adventure without braving the twisty, dark passages of a haunted house, Kentucky’s largest corn maze is located in Mayfield.

A-Maize-ing Farms is hosting its annual corn maze with this year’s theme being “Mayfield Strong.” A-Maize-ing Farms, like many other businesses in Mayfield, was affected by the Dec. 10, 2021 tornado.

A-Maize-ing Farms offers a wide variety of attractions in addition to the corn maze. Some of these attractions include a hayride, a corn cannon, inflatables and a petting zoo. The farm also has pumpkins and mums.

The corn maze is actually three corn mazes in one, according to the A-Maize-ing Farms website. Guests can choose between entering the children’s, intermediate or expert mazes.

Admission into A-Maize-ing Farms costs $15 for all visitors 2 and up and includes access to all of the farm’s attractions, excluding the fall decor and the corn maze. A-Maize-ing Farms will be open Wednesday through Sunday until Oct. 31.

Trick-or-Treating 

For those who prefer to keep their Halloween traditional, there are several opportunities for trick-or-treaters and for those looking to supply candy alike. The city of Murray will be hosting

trick-or-treating on Oct. 31 from 5-8 p.m.

In addition to city trick-or treating, there are many other options for candy seekers. Murray Calloway County Parks also will be hosting its annual “Trail of Treats” at Murray’s Central Park. Trail of Treats will be hosted on Oct. 31 from 4-6 p.m.

There also will be Trunk or Treat events hosted by The Keg and Yates Event Center on Oct. 30 and the Meraki Beauty School on Oct. 28.

The Keg and Yates Event Center will be hosting their Trunk or Treat event for the first time, and it will be located at the Yates Event Center from 4-7 p.m. at 2760 State Route 121 North. The Trunk or Treat event hosted by the Meraki Beauty School will be held from 5-8:30 p.m. at 1307 Johnson Blvd.

Land Between the Lakes

Finally, for anyone looking to beat the crowds and experience nature, Land Between the Lakes (LBL) is hosting a variety of events inspired by Halloween.

One such event, “For Goodness Snakes,” gives visitors an opportunity to meet LBL’s native snakes and to learn proper safety practices around snakes. This event will be hosted on Oct. 23 and 26.

The park is also offering an event named “Mis-snaken Identity” related to the common misidentifications of the park’s native snakes.

Another event, “Red Wolf Treat Time,” introduces guests to one of the most endangered animals in the United States. The event also discusses conservation measures taken by scientists as they attempt to restore the red wolf population.

In addition to LBL-sponsored Halloween events, the park also offers numerous hiking trails where guests can experience fall foliage.

For a full calendar of LBL Halloween events, visit landbetweenthelakes.com/events.