It’s getting the time again – Halloween! This is my favorite time of the year. There’s activities galore to choose from all over Central Illinois. If you love a good scare, there’s plenty of haunted houses, ghost tours and even a ghost train to enjoy. Boo At The Zoo is great for younger kids. The zoo is dressed up for Fall and Halloween and there’s even stops for candy here and there for the kids.
I’ll be taking a Haunted Decatur tour with my daughter this Friday. We’ve both read several of the books by Troy Taylor, and have wanted to go on a tour the last few years, but they were always sold out before I thought to sign up. It marries together two of my great loves – history and a good scare!
Later this month, we’ll be taking the kids to Monticello for a ride on the Ghost Train. It’s held at the rail museum and passengers ride in old passenger cars, that Americans used to board many years ago, as their means of travel across the country. However, the ghost train has some surprises as it navigates through the night. My youngest has never been there and loves trains like most 6 year old boys do. He’ll board the non-scary afternoon tour with my husband, while my daughter and I will ride the night train. The two boys are definitely the scaredy cats of the family.
Of course there are some great nearby pumpkin patches to visit. I hear the one by Arthur is awesome, though I’ve yet to make it out there. We go to Black Barts by Warrensburg, since it’s closer to our house. It’s always a pleasant afternoon watching my son pull a big wagon in search for the perfect pumpkin. My daughter pretends she’s too old to enjoy it, while walking around texting her friends, about how she was dragged there by her evil parents. Oh, those wonderful teenage years!
The Fall craft fairs are the best ones to visit and hopefully next year I’ll be able to participate again. The Apple & Pork Festival in Clinton is my favorite, which occurs in late September. Lincoln’s Balloon Festival is great too. I love the quaintness of smaller towns, especially in Autumn.
So, you have no excuse to sit at home and do nothing throughout October. We’re having a hard time choosing which places to go!
