On-Campus Events

FIJI Halloween on Oct. 28 starting 8:30 p.m.

FIJI is hosting an event with a concert and their annual Halloween party, proceeds from tickets will go to philanthropy. Come by in your costume to the FIJI house to enjoy the night.

GIFT Halloween Movie Night on Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m.

GIFT is hosting their annual Halloween movie night in YGCU 221/222. They will be putting on an Interactive Rocky Horror Picture Show experience. There will be snacks and a raffle with sweet and spicy prizes. Come dressed in your costume for the chance to win a costume prize! The movie will begin at 8 p.m. Interactive viewings of the Rocky Horror Picture Show have a unique culture of challenging gender norms, which is especially important in light of anti-drag legislature that has swept the US in recent times. Student Life will also be hosting a Happy Hour during the event with alcoholic beverages for A-approved students, along with nonalcoholic options. 

KA Fall Fest on November 4 at 7 p.m.

KA is hosting their 4th annual Fall Fest with bonfires, pumpkin painting, barbecue and live music! Tickets are $6 and the event is at the KA house.

Kansas City Events

Haunted Houses in West Bottoms

Kansas City is called “The Haunted House Capital of the World” for good reason! The West Bottoms has some of the best haunted houses for those of you that enjoy the adrenaline rush and an immersive experience. If you’re interested in visiting several of the haunted houses, there are discounts available for multi-house tickets.

The Edge of Hell is a nationally acclaimed haunted house, featuring five stories of haunts, heaven-to-hell-themed frights and the world’s largest living snake. If you’re brave enough to enter The Edge of Hell, tickets are $35. Open select dates Sept. 22 through Nov. 11. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. every weeknight and 6:30 p.m. every Saturday. Closing times vary. 

The Beast is one of the most frightening haunted houses in Kansas City and is also nationally ranked. This attraction has four flours of terrors awaiting those who enter, from the Louisiana Bayou swamp, Jack the Ripper’s foggy London, a medieval castle and a forest full of werewolves. Tickets are $35 and Doors open at 7:30 p.m. every weeknight and 6:30 p.m. every Saturday.

If you’re a horror movie enthusiast, you might like to take a trip to Macabre Cinema during the spooky season. This haunted house features spooky attractions from famous classic and modern horror movies through a 1930s movie theater with four floors. The haunted house also has actual movie sets from famous horror movies. Doors open at 8 p.m. every weeknight and 7 p.m. every Saturday. 

Outdoor Scary Experiences 

If you’re looking for an outdoor haunted house, Exiled in Bonner Springs, KS is the place for you. This secluded haunted forest tour leaves visitors in the middle of the forest and must navigate their way to safety while avoiding creeps, freaks and more. This experience does require you to be willing to get down and dirty in the outdoors, so beware if this is not for you! Tickets for the Trail of Horrors tour are $49, the first tour is at 7 p.m. and the last one is at 10:30 p.m.

Worlds of Fun’s annual Halloween Haunt transforms the amusement park into the ultimate Halloween attraction. There are over 400 monsters in the fog-filled park, many different scary attractions, mazes and of course the rush of the typical rides. If you enjoy shows, there are a variety of live performances to get you in the Halloween spirit. Tickets start from $39.99 and the hours are 6 p.m. to midnight. 

Less-Scary Options 

If you’re more of a history buff or interested in less-sensationalized spooky events, check out Wornall Majors House Museums. During October, they are offering paranormal investigations and tours of the Alexander Majors house, one of the most haunted locations in KC, led by professional investigators. If you’re interested in history, but not ghost stories, you can check out their tour, the “Anatomy of a Haunted House,” which will explore the origins of the Victorian-style haunted house and life in the Victorian era. Check out their tours here.

Powell Gardens is hosting an immersive, multi-media 1-mile trail walk through the woods called, Dark Forest, in October. It takes you through the mysterious and mythical woods that have unexplainable paranormal forces and supernatural beings. There are no scary actors, but there are eerie performances, fog, strobe lights and more. In addition to spooky fall displays, they also have Halloween-inspired drinks and shopping. Dark Forest is on Oct. 13-15, 20-22 and 26-29 from 6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $35.

If you’re a fan of cocktails, check out the variety of pop-up Halloween-themed bars in KC. In North KC, Apparition- Spook Easy at the Vignettes Bar has spine-curdling spirits and a spooky ambiance. The Ghosts of Baseball Past is a haunted cocktail experience at the Legends Stadium featuring a spooky version of baseball history. If you’re a fan of the Rocky Horror Picture Show, check out the Rocky Horror Pop-Up Bar at the Time-Warp Club.

Whatever you decide to do, whether it’s braving a haunted house or checking out a Halloween-inspired speakeasy, have a Happy Halloween! Make sure to check out some of the events on campus to support philanthropy and student organizations, too.

There was some anxiety about what the weekend might bring. This was clear at Cody’s Corner Store, the locally owned convenience store and ice cream haven down the street. Detecting anxiety in the typically relaxed store, I asked one of the employees how she felt about the upcoming festival.

One of many different food and drink stands.

“Maybe it will be fun for most people, but for us, this will be one hell of a busy weekend,” she said.

I revisited Cody’s during the festival. It was exceptionally busy, but employees seemed energized by the traffic.

The festival itself was a whirlwind of sensory intake.

There were children running, shouting and laughing with adults casually in pursuit. The streets were lined with booths, some crammed with trinkets for sale, others with activities and fun distractions. One stall simply had an assortment of colorful wigs, scarves and absurd accessories which people could try on and photograph themselves in.

One booth had license plate art for sale.

There was music blaring. A local band called Oxford Remedy, consisting of two female guitarists and one singing drummer, filled all of downtown with Cage the Elephant covers.

The smell and sight of food was everywhere. Corndogs, hotdogs, nachos, stir-fry, bloomin’ onions, cheeseburgers and funnel cakes were all available. Perhaps the most visually astounding and absolutely delicious culinary indulgence on offer was a massive brick of fried potatoes. It was perhaps a little larger than a human head and consisted of countless thinly shaved potatoes compressed into an imposing brick of starch. It was absurdly delicious.

The rides were small but nevertheless an exciting attraction for younger attendees. Lines were long, and the kids waiting could not conceal their impatience. Eventually, they would be whirled through the air on small benches or steadily whisked in a circle in big colorful automobiles or on the backs of adorned horses.

Local kids enjoyed the rides.

She spoke of the job and it’s routines with some fatigue.

“It’s kinda exhausting to be packing and unpacking every few days and hauling all this stuff around. Especially during the summer, when it’s so damn hot,” she said.

Certainly a lot of work, anguish and attention was devoted to the Fall Festival. For those that were able to indulge, it offered a simple and brief escape.

The Jewell Theatre Company and Concert Choir held booths at the Fall Fest.

“I liked the vibe, it was good. I bought a gourd, and was there for a bit. Aside from that, nothing really profound to say,” one Jewell student said.

For information about upcoming festivals in the area, including KC’s Renaissance Festival, pumpkin themed events and general fall activities, visit http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/article97368852.html

Photos by Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe.