SPRINGFIELD – Starting in October, Willamalane hosts a variety of different Halloween celebrations, drawing in thousands of visitors during the district’s busiest times of year.
Willamalane’s first fall event of the season kicks off with Ghostly Golf on Oct. 3. This event runs from Oct. 3-12 and again Oct. 19-Nov. 1 at Camp Putt, where folks can play mini golf in the dark starting at 6 p.m. Attendees do not have to register in advance to play. Admission is $12.
Springfield Public School students can play for free on Oct. 13-14, and adult night for people 21 and older is on the 15th. Adult night tickets are $25 and go on sale Oct. 1 at 8 a.m. Each ticket comes with two drinks, pizza, and a salad from Roaring Rapids.
Next on the lineup is Willamalane’s Haunted Hayride at Dorris Ranch. On Oct. 16-18, folks can see fire dancing, glow stick dancers, and circus art while riding through the orchards.
According to a press release by marketing and communications manager Whitney Hoshaw, “The hayride transforms the trails into a one-of-a-kind, interactive theatrical experience.”
Tickets are required in advance, are not available for purchase at the gate, and are $16 in-district or $21 out-of-district. They go on sale Oct. 1 at 8 a.m.
Tracy Kribs, special events and operations manager, said, “One of the clearest signs that Halloween is here is when hundreds of pumpkins line the paths at Dorris Ranch during the week of Haunted Hayride.”
Registration for the Halloween Carnival also opens on Oct.1. The Bob Keefer Center will be home to the carnival as the dates on the calendar creep closer to Halloween. For $5 per child, families can trick-or-treat, play carnival games, do crafts, and show off their costumes in the gym on Oct. 26.
Finally, on Halloween and for Day of the Dead, Willamalane is throwing a special celebration at Willamalane Park Swim Center. Advanced registration isn’t needed for this event, but regular admission rates apply for the Swim Center.
Much like the summer Dive-In Movies but with a festive twist, attendees can trick-or-treat, swim, and watch a movie. Movies will be shown both nights from 5-7 p.m., with the 2012 film “Hotel Transylvania” playing on Halloween night and “Coco” the next day, in honor of Día de los Muertos.
To see the full lineup of events and purchase tickets when they go on sale, visit willamalane.org/halloween.
