Halloween is getting closer and closer, and the city of Madison, Wisconsin, is more than prepared for this exciting holiday. As a kid, Halloween plans were easy to come up with. All you did was go trick-or-treating, but as someone older, you have a lot of options for how you want to spend that spooky night. Here’s a look at some of the best Halloween happenings in and around Madison.
Screamin’ Acres
If you’re a fan of haunted houses, Screamin’ Acres might be exactly what you’ve been looking for. There are five distinct attractions here that are sure to fill you with thrills and chills. The Slaughter Haus is the most brutal experience, as you navigate the shop of a deranged butcher. Crawl Space puts you in some tight situations that may leave more claustrophobic visitors running the other way.
For a more visual experience, The Last Resort puts you in contact with some of the most interesting — and most twisted — personalities around. Meanwhile, the Side Effects experience offers a 3-D journey that will show you a new definition of weird. Finally, for one night only, the Screamin’ Acres experience can be enjoyed with just a simple flashlight to light your way during their Blackout event on Nov. 3.
Freak Fest
Nothing offers an experience quite like a music festival, and Freak Fest manages to blend the best parts of Halloween and music together in one spectacular event. For six hours, you can enjoy over 15 artists, both local and national, playing across three different stages until about 1:30 in the morning.
You’ll find this music festival happening on State Street on Saturday, Oct. 27. State Street has become particularly popular due to the numerous bars and restaurants located there, but ever since the festival’s inception in 2006, State Street has taken extra safety precautions for Halloween night. With plenty of security and a prohibition on weapons, you can enjoy the music worry-free.
Chamber of Horrors
The Chamber of Horrors at Thunder Ridge Mansion has been a staple of the Wisconsin haunted house scene for 11 years, and this is its final season. You can be sure these scare experts are going out with a bang, so don’t miss out on anything this Fall River attraction can offer. While there will be plenty of scares, you can also take pleasure in knowing that this entire attraction is benefiting the local Fall River Chamber of Commerce, which helps local commercial and civic interests.
Experiencing this haunted house is best when you don’t know what to expect. Just know that the Chamber of Horrors has been voted to be the best haunted attraction in southwestern Wisconsin more than once. Are you brave enough to venture through this house of agony and madness to face the undead that await? You can embark on your journey every Friday and Saturday in October.
The Halloween season offers unique attractions you won’t find any other time of year in and around Madison, Wisconsin. Whether you’re looking to be scared at a haunted house or just dance the night away at a music festival, this city has more than enough to make your Halloween the best one yet.
“The Halloween Spirit” via Flickr by JD Hancock. Used with permission via CC BY 2.0 / cropped from original
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