My Favorite Halloween Memory

It's is Halloween night. The kids are all out trick-or-treating in their various costumes and parents tag along to wait at the end of the driveways while children collect candy.

One large house near the far end of the street has no electric lights on. The path to the door is lit by torches and the path itself strategically littered with leaves. A well hidden mat, when trod on, gives the faintest of mysterious noises, so quiet you may not hear it. The sound of wind rustling through dry leaves. Children knock on the front door. It is answered by a gentleman with a long white beard in the black hat and cloak of a wizard. Old-fashioned wire glasses perch on the end of his nose.

The house is dark but for the candles lined on every available surface. You can just see the end of a long wooden table, covered in candles and other mysterious jars. A large dragon is perched on the stairs behind him; his head and neck stick out from around the corner. Occasionally he blows steam through his nostrils as his eye watches the door.

"Trick or treat!" the children cry.

"Would you like a trick or a treat?" he asks calmly.

The hesitant children (myself included) answer, "A treat," and are rewarded with candy.

The brave children and parents (my mom included) answer, "A trick," to which he doles out riddles to be answered by the end of the night for a special treat.

"What has roots as nobody sees, is taller than trees. Up, up it goes, and yet never grows."

Everyone ponders. Ask around. All the trick-or-treaters and parents in the neighborhood are talking about it. "What was your riddle?" "Do you know the answer to..."

A couple hours later we return with my mom to give her answer: "a mountain."

My mom is invited in to stand near the table of candles and jars. She may pick her special treat from the mysterious jars. She picks a jar containing a liquid-y substance with good-smelling herbs in it that he assures her is a good health potion. Just put some on as you would a lotion. We walk home curious, excited, and pleased. Most of all, we can't wait until next year to visit the wizard's house.

The gentleman who lived in that house did this for several years. He was one of the only people who knew that Becca and I were from CATS when we came around in 7th or 8th grade. He eventually stopped, but to this day we still refer to The Wizard and his house. I have decided that I am going to do this on Halloween when I have a house. I will be the mysterious witch who gives out riddles and health potions and who, hopefully, gives kids a unique and unforgettable Halloween experience.

Happy Halloween everyone!

Haunted Houses, Corn Mazes, and Pumpkin Patches, Oh My!

Here in Colorado we have a great selection of Halloween activities available to us.

1. Haunted Houses
If this is your style, you are in luck. There are so many around here. I am not a huge fan of haunted houses, sadly, so I have only been to one. However, sometimes a local family will turn their house into a haunted house (usually on Halloween night) and I have gone to one or two of those in the past and enjoyed them.

The haunted house that I have been to is Field of Corpses. My brother works here as a guide and I know that he has tons of fun. My mom goes every year (but often has a hard time finding people who want to go after one time, ie: me).

Here is a list of haunted houses in Colorado. Try going to all of these in one month. Haunted House.com: Colorado

2. Haunted Corn Mazes
Similar to haunted houses, I suppose. However, a couple of friends of mine dragged me to one of these last year. To my great surprise, I actually had a lot of fun! This was the one we went to: Field of Screams.

There is also Terror in the Corn by Anderson Farms. They also do regular, day time corn mazes. I have heard that both are good.

3. Zombie Paintball Hunting
Yes. This appears to be the "new thing" this year. I know they do this at Anderson Farms and Field of Screams. I'm sure you can find other places as well.

The premise seems to be to ride around in a cart (horse and cart maybe?) and you shoot the actors with paintball guns. I hope the actors make a lot of money because it doesn't seem like they can retaliate.

I haven't tried this one, but if someone has, please share.

4. Haunted Places
There are loads of places in Colorado said to be haunted. Of course, there is the famous Stanley Hotel in Estes Park and the Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs.

Here is a little list from the Denver Post that I found interesting: Outside Guide: Haunted places in Colorado. And here is a very thorough list of haunted places in Colorado broken up by city: Haunted Places in Colorado. This one I had to check out because there are, allegedly, two haunting spirits in the Macky Auditorium in Boulder and I have a friend who works there. Wonder if I should mention that. I guess she will know if she reads this!

This is usually a little bit much for me...

5. Pumpkin Patches
Ah, THIS is more my speed! Going out on a nice, Fall day and picking pumpkins and going on hay rides, going through mazes and eating caramel apples!

One that I have gone to a few times in the past: Rock Creek Farm. (This year is kind of a bust with the drought however.) Anderson Farms has all of the fun, not scary stuff, too. Here is their main site: Anderson Farms.

Here is a list put out by the Denver Post: Colorado corn mazes and pumpkin patches. I have only been to a couple of these myself, but the list is quite extensive.

6. For Kids and Kid-friendly Events
I want to go to most of these, who is with me?

There are various Trick-or-Treat Streets set up. I heard of one event from a friend with kids called Trunk or Treat where people decorate their trunks and themselves in a theme and hand out candy from one location. It is supposed to be a safer alternative to going door-to-door.

The Denver Botanic Gardens have several Halloween events including a corn maze and re-enactment of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

The Children's Museum of Denver has a Trick-or-Treat street at the end of October and a bug-theme for October museum visits.

The Butterfly Pavilion has an event called Bug-A-Boo that they do for kids around Halloween.

The Denver Zoo does a Boo at the Zoo (and a Boo at the Zoo After Dark) that includes a Trick-or-Treat street and other fun stations to stop at.

And last but not least, the Colorado Railroad Museum does a Trick-or-Treat Train with little fun things on the side.