Memphis takes Halloween to the next level

In Memphis,  there’s no doubt that Halloween is taken seriously. It’s not just the traditional trick-or-treating and bobbing for apples that people see. Memphis offers a number of great Halloween activities for all ages all around town, everything from haunted corn mazes to local fall festivals both scary and child-appropriate.

One of the most popular attractions for the Halloween season would be the Mid-South Corn Maze held at the Agricenter. On Friday and Saturday nights in October, admission to this haunted labyrinth costs $10 for people thirteen and up. For the ones that don’t particularly like corn mazes, they have a number of other attractions right there as well, such as the 15-minute long haunted hayride ($5 per person), the jumping pillow ($4 per person), and the corn cannon (3 shots for $1).

Another thrilling Halloween attraction is the Haunted Web of Horrors. The Haunted Web of Horrors consists of two haunted houses, The Dark Matter, a labyrinth of darkness and psychedelic matter that’s bound to send chills up the spine, and Tormented, which is Dr. Hacker’s twisted institution for the insane. Going in just one of the houses will cost  $10 and $18 will covers admission into both. Normally there’s a pretty long line, so they offer what they call a RIP pass which allows anyone who buys it to skip the line and go right in; this costs $30 and includes admission to both haunts. These fantastically creepy houses are located in the very back corner of the Trinity Commons Shopping Center and are open every weeknight from 7:30-10 pm and 7:30pm to midnight on weekends.

A less intense haunted attraction is Terror at 2596. It is privately owned and has moved from Altruria Rd. out to Jones Orchard in Millington. There, scare-hungry Halloweeners will find two acres of homemade terror. Like most Halloween-based attractions, its hours are from 7-11 p.m. on weekends in October, and admission per person is $8.

Bartlett Baptist Church is offering fun for the whole family at their annual Trunk-or-Treat/Fall Festival on October 24. Trunk-or-Treat is from 5-6pm and the other festivities such as the games, blowups, and hayrides, will begin at 6 p.m. and end at 8 p.m. The cost for all this is free, and kids in K-6th grade are encouraged to wear their best NON-scary costumes and collect as much candy and prizes as they can!

Halloween: Be brave or chicken out?

Everyone wants to go somewhere for Halloween, but some can never figure out where they should go.  Scary, but fun, experiences await anyone who dares to enter any of these haunted attractions.

Corn Maze:

Just like any attraction, the Corn Maze, features many surprises; and the fear of getting lost just adds to the scariness.  “Monsters” sneak up on customers and jump out at them from the bushes.  Some ghouls even chase trick-or-treaters who decide to run away.  If the fear of getting lost in the spooky corn maze seems like too much, then one can always enjoy the haunted hayride (about 15 minutes) on site.

Address: Agricenter International—7777 Walnut Grove Road

Hours: Fri.-Sat.  7:00-10:00

Admission: Adults (13 and up) $10, Children (ages 6-12) $8

Terror at 2596:

Terror at 2596, an outdoor walk-through in Tristan Harford’s (Bartlett High graduate) backyard, guarantees pure heart-pounding scares.  “I’ve been expecting you,” the voice within the realms of Terror 2596 says.  At the very start of the tour, everything appears completely real and just plain scary.  The voice on the speakers gives you a little intro to the haunted house, and that starts the very beginning of the scare; much more will come.

Address: 2596 Alturia Road

Hours: Fri.-Sat.  8:00-until

Admission: $7

Hauntedweb of Horrors:

Two haunts are offered at Hauntedweb of Horrors—Dark Matter and Tormented.

Dark Matter is described as a “labyrinth of darkness and psychedelic matter that will challenge your senses and send chills up your spine”.  In Tormented, the customers go through an insane asylum turned hillbilly nightmare.

Hauntedweb of Horrors, which has proven to be a popular spot for Halloween night, has reached waits of up to two hours.

Address: 700 North Germantown Parkway (the Trinity Commons Shopping Center)

Hours: Fri.-Sat.  7:30-midnight

Admission: $10 each or $18 for both

Nightshade Manor:

With 18 rooms full of frights, Nightshade Manor guarantees a night of scary fun.  30 live actors, dressed as ghosts and ghouls, await their next victims.  Professionally operated, Nightshade Manor is well set-up, and the “ghosts” look like they come directly from a scary movie.  If one becomes too scared to finish the tour then they will be guided to one of the many “chicken exits” by one of the actors.

Address: 1301 Heistan Place

Hours: Fri.-Sat.  7:30-midnight

Admission: $12 or $10 plus two canned goods

Trail of Terror-Jones Orchard:

Similar to the Corn Maze at Agricenter International, Trail of Terror-Jones Orchard offers new experiences this year, including claustrophobic effect, a suspension bridge, hex in the harvest, and a black hole tunnel, which serves as the entrance to the haunted cornfield.

Address: 6880 Singleton Parkway

Hours: Fri.-Sat.  7:00-10:00

Admission: $12

Terror in the Woods:

The Millington Jaycees present their annual haunting on the highway titled “Terror in the Woods”; this is one of the scarier attractions in the area.  This walk through the woods into a rundown haunted house filled with ghosts and gore will definitely test one’s courage.

Address: 6907 Highway 51 North

Hours: Fri.-Sat.  7:00-11:00

Admission: $8

All are great places to go, but some may be too scary or gory for fearful types.  So, which one is the best choice?  One must go to find out, but the question is, “Are you brave enough?”