by kellie abrahamson kabrahamson1@aol.com
When I was a kid Halloween was my favorite holiday. I loved the idea of dressing up as someone else, checking out the creepy haunted houses in the area and, of course, racing home with a sack full of candy that lasted until Easter! Here in the River City many people go all out for Halloween and we should be taking full advantage of it. That’s why I’ve compiled a guide for First Coast Halloween fans. Read on, get a game plan ready and have fun!
trick-or-treating alternatives
Not sure if you want your child knocking on stranger’s doors? Let them experience the night without driving yourself crazy with worry. A number of local venues provide safe trick-or-treating along with other fun Halloween events.
The Museum of Science and History is hosting their annual Monster MOSH on October 27th and 28th. Come in costume for trick-or-treating, costume contests and tours of their now haunted exhibits. For more information call the MOSH at (904) 396-6674.
The Jacksonville Zoo is also a fun, safe place to trick-or-treat. The 18th annual Spooktacular festival is one of Jacksonville’s largest Halloween events with thousands of carved pumpkins, animal-related sets and, yes, trick-or-treating down Trick-or-Treat Lane. Admission is $8 for zoo members and $9 for everyone else. Be sure to go to www.JaxZoo.org for a coupon that will shave a dollar off admission.
Another great place to go for some treats is the mall. The Avenues will be hosting trick-or-treating and will have photographers on hand to take pictures of your child in costume for just $5 (free for Kidgit members). The St. Johns Town Center will have trick-or-treating and costume contests. Trick-or-treating will also take place at the Orange Park Mall. All of these events will happen on Halloween Night. The Avenues and the Orange Park Mall will hold their festivities from 6-8 p.m. while the Town Center’s events start an hour earlier.
Still more safe trick-or-treating can be found at various churches on the First Coast. Many of these “Harvest Festivals” have a slew of family-friendly activities and games as well as costume contests and trick-or-treating in one form or another. A word of warning: while you don’t necessarily have to dress up like Moses, it may be wise to leave the devil’s horns and witches hats at home.
on the spookier side…
Little kids are easy to please: give ‘em a Superman costume and some candy and they’re happy. Us old folks (and by old I mean teens and up) need an adrenaline rush and a good scare usually does the trick. Several haunted houses are up and running all over town and are dying for visitors… Get it?? Dying… Oh, nevermind!
A good place to start is one of the longest-running haunted houses in town: the Hall of Terror sponsored by the Jacksonville Jaycees and Adventure Landing. The haunted hall, which has been operating for 31 years, will feature 31 terrifying scenes that are sure to put shivers down the spine of the bravest of souls. The kid-friendly HalloWee Zone with games and crafts will give your kids plenty to do while you recover from your scare. The event will be held at both Adventure Landing locations and will take place at various dates and times leading up to Halloween. Admission is $9. For more information contact Adventure Landing (Beaches) at (904) 246-4386 or (904) 771-2803 (Blanding location).
The Villa Haunted House in Orange Park is also a hair-raising experience. Located across the street from Fleming High School, this fun but spooky haunted house has something for everyone. The cost is $3 per adult and $2 per student with proceeds to benefit FHS. Hours of operation are 10/21-10/22: 7-10pm; 10/28-10/29: 7-10pm; 10/30-10/31 6-9pm. For more information contact Jean at Dr. Fields Orthodontic Office: (904) 269-2022.
Another Orange Park creep show is the Haunted Hospital and Halloween Carnival at the Clay County Humane Society. The unique haunted house features a guided tour through an insane asylum. Tickets are just $5, screams are absolutely free! For more information and event times visit www.clayhumane.org or call (904) 276-7729.
Trick-or-Treating Tips
If you do decide to do some conventional trick-or-treating here are some helpful tips to keep everyone safe and happy on this extra spooky night:
- Choose a flame resistant costume that fits properly and is comfortable and make sure the child wears walking shoes. Blisters are never a treat!
- A responsible adult should always accompany the trick-or-treater during their night on the town. If the child does go with friends, be sure to know their route ahead of time and set a specific time limit for the festivities.
- Take a good look at the neighborhood your child will be trick-or-treating in. If plenty of houses are decorated for the holiday, chances are your child will come home with a sack full of candy and plenty of fun stories to share. If not, maybe you should consider taking them to another part of town where people are into Halloween; they’ll get more out of the night that way.
- Lay down the ground rules: never enter a stranger’s house, never accept rides from strangers, look both ways before crossing the street, only knock at houses that have their porch light on and, most importantly, have fun!
- When your little goblin comes home, be sure to check all of their candy. Any candy that has a damaged or missing wrapper should be discarded just in case.
Spending a boatload on a Halloween costume made of plastic is enough to drive any parent up the wall. Instead of buying a flimsy costume that a million other kids will have, make your own. With a few everyday household items and some creativity, your child can look like a million bucks without the hefty price tag.
racecar and driver
Disney’s hit film Cars has captured children’s imaginations and given them a slew of new characters to idolize. Thanks to the popularity of the film, several Cars costumes have hit store shelves and are available for between $30 and $50. I decided to save my hard earned money and make my own. We like racecars, but you can easily modify this costume to be any vehicle you want, even a fire truck or a train!
Materials
One cardboard box (I used a diaper box)
Spray paint, any color of your choosing
Construction paper
Heavy-duty tape
Glue
A wide ribbon (I used an old purse strap)
Directions
Tape one end of the box shut and cut the flaps off of the other end. Set these aside as you will need them later. Cut a hole in the side of the box you taped shut large enough for your child’s body to fit through. Next, spray paint your box and allow to dry thoroughly. Meanwhile, cut out decorations for your car from the construction paper. Some things you can add are pin striping, headlights, taillights, a license plate and bumper stickers. We had some extra cardboard lying around and made a cool spoiler! You should also take this time to cut out the car’s wheels. The flaps you cut and set aside should work well. Cut out circular shaped wheels and affix black construction paper to them using your glue. When the box is completely dry, glue on your wheels and decorations. Attach your ribbon to the inside of the body hole using tape. Your car is now complete!
When the big night comes, dress your racecar driver in a long sleeved shirt that’s the same color as the car, jeans and a ball cap. If you really want to go all out, pick up a motorcycle-type bicycle helmet and let him sport that.
The Verdict
While it may not have those recognizable characters, this costume is far cuter than the store-bought ones and a million times cheaper. We made ours out of stuff that was lying around the house and couldn’t be happier with how it turned out.
lady liberty
Requiring no sewing whatsoever, this patriotic costume is easy and fun to assemble. The draping of the gown takes some practice, but once you’ve got the hang of it, this simple costume can be modified to serve as a base for a Roman toga or a Cleopatra costume.
Materials
One green bed sheet (white is fine but you will have to dye it green)
One piece of green poster board (again, white is fine but be sure to paint it the same color as your sheet)
A black marker
Yellow tissue paper
Scissors
Glue and/or clear packaging tape
A headband
Safety pins
Directions
From the poster board cut out a 12 inch by 12 inch square, roll it into a cone shape and glue or tape in place. Once dry, crumple the yellow tissue paper and stuff into the cone to mimic a torch flame. You may also want to secure this with glue or tape. Next, tape the headband to the poster board and sketch the spikes. Cut out the spikes and the middle of the headband so that you have about an inch or so left in the center all the way around. Affix the poster board to the headband by cutting a slit, folding it over and taping it down. Work all the way around until the headpiece is complete. With the left-over poster board, cut out a tablet and with black marker write “JULY IV MDCCLXXVI” on it. Drape the sheet on the child like a toga, making sure to keep it short enough so that she doesn’t trip on it, and secure in place with safety pins. Apply some glittery make-up and put her hair in a bun. Add the accessories (torch, tablet and crown) and you’re all set! .... (continues on page 18)
The Verdict
Again, another fairly inexpensive costume that looks great and is rather original. If you choose to make this costume, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to work with the bed sheet. Once you’ve figured it out, though, this costume looks adorable and makes for a show stopper. Be prepared to hold onto Lady Liberty’s props on Halloween night, though. It’s kind of tricky to juggle a torch, a tablet and all that candy!
Need a costume super-fast? Here are some easy ways to create a costume in no time:
Miss America
Put on a fancy party dress and costume jewelry. Take a long wide ribbon and write “Miss America” on it with permanent marker (if you have time, write it in glue and sprinkle some glitter over it). Pin it at the end and slip it around your body as a sash. Apply glamorous make-up, put your hair up in a simple up-do and top it with a tiara.
Cowboy/girl
Put on jeans and a plaid button up shirt. Pick up an inexpensive cowboy hat from a store that carries dress-up clothes (most “super center” type stores have them). Carry some rope from the garage or a toy pistol and don’t forget the boots!
Spa Queen
Throw on a terry bathrobe and comfy slippers. Put your hair up in a towel or shower cap and apply green face paint, leaving an inch around the eyes and mouth.
Mime
Wear a black sweat suit and white glove. Apply white face paint to your entire face and use red lipstick on your lips. Top it off with a beret.
by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
Here’s a taste of some of the Halloween Themed attractions here in Florida, whether you’re looking for a good scare, or looking to entertain your little ones. Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights marks their sixteenth year by having some of their past scariest villains re-visit the park. Seven haunted houses are featured in the park including the Dungeon of Terror, People Under the Stairs, the ever-classic Bates Motel, Run Hostile Territory, Screamhouse Resurrection, Psychoscareapy and the All-Nite Die-In Take 2 featuring The Director, one of the scarier villains Universal has had at Halloween Horror Nights. Ages teen and up. www.universalorlando.com. Busch Gardens holds their annual Howl-O-Scream in Tampa. The premise is simple: you’re trapped in a rave club where psychotic artists are attempting to use your body parts as part of their sick art pieces. Florida residents can purchase one ticket and come back again and again during the Howl-O-Scream run. More info is available on www.howl-o-scream.com. Howl-O-Scream is appropriate for ages thirteen and up. Adventure Landing Hall of Terror and Hallo-Wee Zone is a local bastion of Halloween fun for younger kids. The Hallo-Wee Zone gives younger kids a chance to do Halloween themed crafts, get their face painted and participate in other, less scary and more kid-friendly Halloween activities. Go to www.adventurelanding.com for more info on this reasonably priced, local theme park. Disney, as always, has an alternative for young children with Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Held in the Magic Kingdom after dark, this party includes a parade and costumed characters. The 31st is already sold out, so get your tickets fast. For ticket pricing and more info, go to disneyworld.disney.go.com. MGM’s Tower of Terror is also sure to attract visitors during the Halloween season, as it has since it opened.
For the best costume rental in Jacksonville, you’ll want to visit Freckles (5517 Roosevelt Blvd. (904) 388-5541). Rentals go from about $20 to about $200 and deposits range from $30 to $500, depending on the quality of the costume. Owner Andy Anderson says that Freckles provides “a price-point to meet every need. We do that…so that everyone can be satisfied.” At Freckles you can be anything from a Roman Legionnaire to a Southern belle. Period pieces are second to none but you can also get full body costumes (ie. The Easter Bunny or a Bunch of Grapes). There’s also plenty to buy there in the way of accessories, packaged costumes, stage quality make-up (Ben Nye, Mehron) and wigs. The store year round, so you can come back in if you have a problem.
Another year-round store is Make Believe (1855 Parental Home Road (904) 645-6337 & 10950 San Jose Boulevard (904) 880-2288), with two locations in the Jacksonville area. They specialize in dance costumes and are an excellent source for shoes. The Mandarin location doesn’t have a rental section, but they do have packed costumes on racks so you can get a good look at them. Merlin’s Costumes and Magic (10131 San Jose Blvd 880-5250) is also a year-round store. They carry items for stage magic, besides a wide selection of costumes.
If you’re looking for a packaged costume, look no further than Party City, which has locations scattered around Jacksonville. They have a huge wall of pictures of costumes with their prices. Since the same prepackaged costumes can be found at most of the places you can shop for costumes, you’ll want to look for the lowest price, and in that department it’s hard to beat Party City. Be warned though, you shouldn’t buy a packaged costume just based on what the model looks like. You should always try on a pre-packaged costume before making your purchase.
Jacksonville Landing – 353-8464 Tuesday, October 31st, Halloween Night Presents A Twisted Night at The Haunted Playboy Mansion! More than $2000 in Cash & Prizes for the Sexiest, Scariest & Most Original Costumes! Drink Specials to Die For! $4 Captain Morgan Drink Specials All Night Long Hot Food Specials from Hell’s Kitchen! Gates Open at 8 pm No Cover Charge
1025 Museum Circle-396-MOSH. Celebrate Halloween at MOSH October 27th 6pm-9pm and October 28 10am to 2pm. Trick or treating, face painting, costume and scream contests, scary star show and spooky science lab experiments.
3033 Monument Rd., 645-5162-October 29th, 8pm. Drink specials and live music with Tytus Hale.
CLIFF’S AT THE BEACH-1401 Atlantic Blvd. (inside the Days Inn)-249-2777. October 28th. Drink specials and live music with Alpha Dog.
1021 Park Street, 5 Points-354-7002. Art show reception, October 27th, 6pm-9pm. “Sugar Rush” Halloween Candy inspired art by Kelly Eason. Drinks & 10% off the whole store.
The 31st Annual Hall of Terror. 13 days of Terror starting Friday the 13th and runs thru October 31st .The Hall of Terror has two locations this year Adventure Landing at Jacksonville Beach and Adventure Landing on the Westside. It’s Twice the Scare, if You Dare. Admission is $9.00 for single and $12.00 for combo which included single Hall of Terror admission and single Adventure Landing attraction. Hall of Terror opens at 7:00pm on Oct. 13-15, Oct 19-22, Oct 26-31. Go to www.adventurelanding.com
October 13-25, 19-22 & 26-31 from 5:00pm – 8:00pm - Adventure Landing. The FREE “not-so-scary” HalloWEE Zone features arts & crafts, face painting, bounce house, games & goody bags for kids under 8 (and parents too). So Come Play With Us this fall season. Costumes optional. Adventure Landing Jax Beach – 1944 Beach Blvd., Adventure Landing Westside – 4825 Blanding Blvd
Seawalk Hotel-117 First Ave., Jax Beach. 40 exhibitors, food, liquor, beer, wine, candy. Dark & sexy costumes encouraged.
1528 Hendricks Ave.-398-7496-October 30, Skalloween Eve with The Slackers and DJ Boss Harmony. October 31, Halloween Night with The Melvins.
14003 Beach Blvd., 223-9850-Jax Rocks Halloween Bash. 7 toe, Maggie, Borealis, Scheme & Echovalve.
5800 Philips Hwy.- 242-4630 – Halloween Party, October 27th. All ages event. Esther, Veronica’s Veil, Porcelain Black, Gargamel, Amidine. 21& up-$6, Under-$10
325 W. Forsyth St.-475-0488. Hip Hop Halloween, October 31st. Doors at 10pm. $5 with costume, $7 without. Featuring Simple Complexity, Heavenly Noise, Mr. Al Pete, The Empire/Elevation and DJ’s Triclops I and Kidd Yzer.
Corner of Girvin & Atlantic, 221-1090-October Bash, October 28th. Georgia/Florida in HDTV with a Halloween Spook Bash contest. At 9pm live music with party band Big Al & the Kaholics.
514 N. 1st St., Jax Beach-249-5181-Annual Halloween Costume Bash, October 31st. Top prizes include two custome shot machines. Live music by Little Green Men.
(located inside Bourbon Street) – St. Johns Bluff & Atlantic, 641-8777 – Saturday, October 28th, 10pm. Live music with Diario Vivir.
1770 St. Johns Bluff Rd. S.-641-8777-October 27th, in the Crazy Horse, $500 costume contest. October 28th in Mardi Graas, $500 costume contest. October 31st-3 of the main clubs open for drink specials & more all night long-$1000 costume contest.
331 E. Bay St.-359-9090/MARK’S DOWNTOWN-315 E. Bay St.-355-5099-Halloween Party, October 28th, two bars, one party! “3” the band live.
333 N. 1st St., Jax Beach-242-8884/THE ATLANTIC-333 N. 1ST St., Jax Beach-249-3338-All ghoul’s, ghosts & goblins head to 3rd Avenue North as Ocean Club and The Atlantic combine for the biggest Halloween party in town! $1,000 cash costume contest, clocks go back an extra hour to party, no cover with costume before midnite. 4 DJ’s-Jade, KGB, Wes Reed & George Torres.
1860 Starratt Rd., Jax-757-3603. Halloween Bash Saturday, Oct. 21, 2006. 5 to 8 p.m. $10 donation per person. Lots of prizes, candy, cookies, costumes. Everyone welcome. Family fun. Tour the cats (lions, tigers, leopards, cougars, serval, artic foxes, etc.) and watch the tigers carve a pumpkin. See the great cats up close and safely. Great outing for the whole family. Proceeds benefit the animals directly. Bring your camera for closeup photos.
200 n. 1ST St., Jax Beach-246-2473-Halloween Party, one free draft beer, prizes for best costume. Live music with Yankee Slickers.
124 Charlotte St.-829-9336. Infamous Annual Halloween Party, October 31st. Costume contest, 1st prize $300 Trade Winds gift certificate. Live music with Matanzas.
October 17-21 & 24-31- Board the Ghost Train for a ride throughout the haunted streets of old St. Augustine. There are stops along the way where tales are told and guests can use Electro-Magnetic-Field Meters to identify the presence of spirits. After hearing stories of the local haunts, passengers enter the historic Castle Warden for a sleuthing experience of actual events. Tours start from Ripley’s Castle Warden, 19 San Marco Avenue at 7 p.m. Tickets are $24 for adults and $12 for children 6 -12. Reservations are required. For more information call 904.824.1606.
October 19th- Experience an 18th century funeral as the St. Augustine Historical Society presents “Death in the Oldest House,” a special evening program about funeral and mourning customs practiced during St. Augustine’s colonial period. Library manager Charles Tingley will speak, and museum docents will interpret living tableaux depicting the funeral of an infant son of Tomás González and his wife Francisca (1727) and the funeral of Joseph Peavett, husband of Mary (María) Evans (1786). Death in the Oldest House tours take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., with last tour at 8:30 p.m. Admissions are Adults $8, Seniors $7, Children 6-18/Students $4, Family$18, St. Johns County residents $3. Historical Society members are free. The Oldest House Museum Complex is located at 14 St. Francis Street, in St. Augustine. For more information call 904.824.2872.
October 20-23 & 27-31 - TONIGHT’S THE NIGHT! Enjoy a most haunting experience on St. Augustine’s premier “Frightseeing” Tour that explores the darker side of St. Augustine’s past. The only tour that takes you inside the three most haunted places in the entire city. Haunts include: The Old Drug Store that rests upon an old Indian burial ground and is a natural gathering place for lost souls and malignant spirits. Enter... and in darkness you will learn the secrets of embalming and why so many people were buried alive; The Spanish Military Hospital where you can visit a death bed and hear of amputations and strange medical practices shared in whispered tones as you re-live the grizzly duties of 17th century medical practitioners; and The Old Jail, featured on the Sci-Fi Channel’s Ghost Hunters, that was built in 1891 and housed prisoners for over 60 years. Tours are scheduled nightly and start at 8 p.m. Tickets are $24 for adults and $12 for children. For more information call 904.829.3800.
A children’s Ghost Adventure-October 21, 28 & 31- Bring the kids for a FUN Halloween experience at Ripley’s. Geared towards kids under 10, Children’s Ghost Adventure includes a kid-friendly haunted house and a night-time walking tour that is a tiny bit scary but never threatening! Tickets are $5. Tours start at 5 p.m. and leave from Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, 19 San Marco Avenue. For more information call 904.824.1606.
October 20 & 21 - Young children will be able to go through a “scare-free” walking loop of the Enchanted Forest for a magical experience. The fun starts at Anastasia State Park (please enter the park at the St. Augustine Amphitheatre). Call 904.461.2035 for more details.
October 20 & 21, 26-31 - Ride through old St. Augustine hearing the haunting stories and legends of the Nation’s Oldest City aboard Ripley’s Haunted Tour Train. Tickets are $18 and tours start at 6 p.m. from Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, 19 San Marco Avenue. For more information call 904.824.1606.
October 25-31 - Join the ghostly pirate that has commandeered the 72’ Schooner Freedom and holds passengers captive as they sail the dark waters of Matanzas Bay. Entertaining tales and assistance from the captives are the highlight of this adventure-- not to mention the rations and grog that add to enjoyment. BEWARE--’there be pirates here’. Tours start at 8:15p.m. on the Wednesday and Thursday and 8:15 and 9:45 on Friday and Saturday, 6:45 and 8:15 on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Tickets are $35 for adults and kids 2 -12 are $25. For more information call 904.810.1010. Reservations are required for these tours.
October 27-28 - Take an old-fashioned hayride and discover the nighttime beauty of the maritime hammock while meeting haunting goblins of the forest, spooks from sandy graves and other denizens of the dark. Young children will be able to go through a “scare-free” walking loop of the Enchanted Forest for a magical experience. The fun starts at Anastasia State Park. Call 904.461.2035 for more details.
October 27-29 - The Doctor is always in at the Haunted Hospital! Come check in with the MAD Surgeon as he demonstrates the “cutting” edge of patient care. This tour is not for the faint of heart for you never know what lurks within each of the dark rooms of the Haunted Hospital. Tickets are $6 per person. Tours start at 6 p.m. at the Spanish Military Hospital, 3 Aviles Street in St. Augusitne. For more information call 904.827.0807.
October 27-29 - Walk the dark, narrow streets of St. Augustine and hear stories of those who came before us…and refuse to leave. Tours depart from the Old Drug Store, 31 Orange Street in St. Augustine. Tours include admission to the Haunted Hospital and start at 6 p.m. Tickets are $14 per person. For more information call 904.827.0807.
October 30-31 - Join us on the only walking tour that enters a haunted building. Enter the Military Hospital that has been investigated by the Ghost Hunters Team of the Sci-Fi Channel. Tours start from the Old Drug Store, 31 Orange Street and the Haunted Hospital, 3 Aviles Street in St. Augustine. Tickets are $10. Tours start at 8 p.m. For more information call 904.827.0807.
October 27-28 - Join Ghost Tours of St. Augustine for a hauntingly fun walking tour highlighting the many murders, myths and monsters that makes St. Augustine known as one of the nation’s most haunted cities. North-side tours start from the City Gates area, at the north-end of St. George Street and tickets are $12. The South-side walking tour includes admission to Potter’s Wax Museum’s Mysteries and Monsters. Tickets are $16. Tours start at 7 p.m. and run through the evening. For more information call 904.829.1122 or 800 461.1009.
October 27-28 - Ride around the nation’s oldest city hearing of the ghosts and legends that abound. The tour includes a visit to the St. Augustine Lighthouse that was recently featured on the Sci-Fi Channel’s Ghost Hunters, where the ghosts are dying to meet you. Tours start at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $22. For more information call 904.829.1122 or 800.461.1009.
October 27-29 - Come dressed in your favorite costume to the St. Augustine Alligator Farm Zoological Park and we will provide the candy, a creepy creature experience, animal trading cards, and a great time! Young ghosts and goblins can wander the wild walkway and encounter costumed animal keepers with creepy creatures and candy! There will be an alligator feeding show and a drawing for free annual passes and other prizes. The fun takes place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and admission is $7 adults, $5 children. For more information call 824-3337 or visit www.alligatorfarm.com.
years the beautiful Casa Monica hotel has ghosts--now you can see for yourself! The evening promi
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