Halloween activities in the area

NOW THROUGH OCT. 31

Camp Fontanelle has a family friendly pumpkin patch and 10-acre maze. There are two acres of free-will donation pumpkins, laser tag, petting barn, 10-ton sandbox, inflatable castle, tricycles, lawn games and campfire rings for cooking s’mores. Scheduled hayrack rides will be posted. Admission: $6 for adults and $4 for children ages 3 through 11. Coupons for $1 off are available under the “corn maze” link at www.campfontanelle.com. Cash or check only for admission, concessions and laser tag. Regular hours are 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays until Nov. 1. Hours on Oct. 24, 30 and 31 will be 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Movies will be shown on these nights, too. Kids can trick-or-treat in the maze from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 25. Camp Fontanelle is at 9677 County Road 3 in Fontanelle, Neb.

Cobweb Castle: The Not-So-Scary Haunted House at the Omaha Children’s Museum is designed for the museum’s younger, smaller visitors, Cobweb Castle will offer additional surprises this year, including new decorations. Children will travel through the maze of the Ghostly Graveyard, wind around creepy trees in the Find-Your-Way Forest and explore the castle’s Pirates Parlor, Kooky Kitchen, Casper’s Closet and Vampire’s Batty Bedroom. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Admission is free with regular museum admission. Information: www.ocm.org.

OCT. 21

A Sudden Chill, Nebraska History Museum, 15th and P Streets, Lincoln, 7 p.m. Traveling troubadour Judy Cook of Laurel, Md., sings ghost ballads. Admission is free, but donations of nonperishable food items for the Food Bank of Lincoln are encouraged. Information: www.nebraskahistory.org and 402-471-4754.

OCT. 22 AND 29

Halloween Boo Bounce from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. BounceU will provide the decorations, bouncing, games and surprises. For safety reasons, bring no costumes with sharp objects, no makeup or paint that might rub off on the inflatables or other customers and no inexpensive polyester costumes. Socks must be worn. Admission: $7 per bouncer; adults are free. Order pizza and drinks in advance at $3.50 per person. Call 884-9093 to reserve space. BounceU is at 13211 Chandler Road.

OCT. 23, 24 AND 30

Haunted Safari, Wildlife Safari, Exit 426 off Interstate 80. Haunted hike, fireside supper, spooky ride. Wear costumes, but dress warm. 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Children must be accompanied by an adult. $15 a person. Reservations required. 402-738-2092.

OCT. 24

The 11th annual Safe Night Out will feature an Everyday Hero Costume Contest. An everyday hero might be a doctor or a teacher or a construction worker. It’s someone who helps people as part of his or her job. The party is free and open to the public from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at 30th and Taylor Streets, outside the Northeast Police Precinct. There will be will be face-painting, candy, a SWAT truck, a firetruck, Campus Crime Stoppers and more.

Thriller Dance Party, 2819 S. 125th Ave., in the lower level of Westwood Plaza, 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thriller dance sessions at 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Admission: $8 at the door. Information: www.motion41dance.com and 884-4142.

Trick or Treat With the Animals, Gifford Farm, 700 Camp Gifford Road, Bellevue, noon to 4 p.m. Children can wear their costumes and visit farm animals. Plus hayrides, hay slides and games. For children up to age 12. Admission: $5 per child and free for accompanying adults. Information: www.esu3.org and 597-4920.

Three Dog Bakery at Village Pointe Shopping Center will have its third annual Growl-O-Ween from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the store, 17151 Davenport St., Suite 105. Costumed canines and their owners can join in on various games, including a costume contest. Dog owners are also invited to trick-or-treat at participating Village Pointe stores during the event. These stores will be identified with special signs on the door. The Nebraska Humane Society PAW Mobile will be on hand. Participants should RSVP by calling the bakery at 614-3647. A $10 donation per dog will benefit the Humane Society.

Papillion-La Vista High School DECA Club’s Spook-O-Rama. Families are invited to take a haunted walk through the Tara Hills Park from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Each area of the park will be decorated as a childhood fear (spiders, monsters under the bed, etc.). Admission: $5. All proceeds benefit Heartland Family Services.

Treat Street, Mid-America Center, Council Bluffs, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: $6, adults; $3, children ages 3 to 12; free for children 2 and younger. Parking is free. Information: www.treat-street.com and www.midamericacenter.com.

OCT. 25

Trick-or-Treat in the Old Market will be from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. More than 40 businesses will participate and hand out treats. Maps will be available at the Old Market tent at 11th and Howard Streets. Look for costumed mascots near parking areas. Check out www.oldmarket.com for more details.

Spooktacular, Henry Doorly Zoo, 3701 S. 10th St., from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Trick-or-treating, spooky train ride on the Terror Train, costume parade at 1 p.m. Free with zoo admission. Information: www.omahazoo.com.

Festival de Halloween will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bancroft Street Market, 2701 S. 10th St. Wear your costume and bring your goodie bag for a time of treats and fun. Admission: $1.

A Children’s Ministry “Not-so-scary Halloween” open house is planned from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Luke United Methodist Church, southeast of 120th Street and West Dodge Road. Games, prizes and food are planned.

Hitchcock Nature Center’s annual Enchanted Forest will run from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Wear your costumes and meet some of your favorite “Alice in Wonderland” characters. After the hike, visitors can enjoy pumpkin painting and carving (while supplies last), apple bobbing and refreshments. All ages welcome. Meet at the Trailhead, near the Loess Hills Lodge. Admission: $5 per family. Hitchcock Nature Center is at 27792 Ski Hill Loop in Honey Creek, Iowa. For more information, call Tina Popson at 712-545-3283.

OCT. 26-30

Boo at the Zoo, Lincoln Children’s Zoo, 1222 S. 27th St., Lincoln, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Trick-or-treating at the zoo is a merry, not scary, fundraiser for the zoo. Admission: $6 (free for children under 2); plus $3 if you wish to collect treats and $2 if you want to ride the train. Information and advance tickets: www.lincolnzoo.org and 402-475-6741.

OCT. 29

2009 Halloween Safe Night and Fall Festival happening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Papillion-La Vista South High School. The event is sponsored by local organizations that want to insure that kids have a safe environment to participate in Halloween activities. Children and families can partake in games, bounce houses, a costume contest and classroom-to-classroom trick-or-treating. Kids will have the opportunity to win prizes, refreshments, candy and more. The event is open to the public and free with a canned food or nonperishable food donation. Pre-registration is not required except for the costume contest. That registration will begin at 6 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Papillion-La Vista South Key Club, Papillion Police, Papillion Neighborhood Watch Association, Papillion Parks and Recreation, Papio Creek Church, Safe Kids Sarpy/Cass County and the Mayor’s Youth Council. For more information, contact 597-2041.

OCT. 29-31

Three Spooky Nights, Amazing Pizza Machine, 13955 S Plaza. Indoor Halloween activities and costume contests for children and families. Information: 829-1777.

OCT. 31

Monster Dash, Chalco Hills, 154th Street and Giles Road, 9 a.m. Little goblins’ 5-kilometer run and costume contest. Registration at www.teamnebraska.com/monsterdash. Entry fees: $25, adults; $10, children. Information: 895-1081.

Hallowine, Slattery Vintage Estates, 8925 Adams St., Nehawka, Neb., 7 p.m. to midnight. Wear your costume and join in the Monster Mash dance contest. $10 admission includes refreshments. Information: www.svevineyards.com and 402-267-5267.

Halloween Hoopla, Shadow Lake Towne Center, 7775 Olson Drive, Papillion, noon to 2 p.m. Trick-or-treating, hayrides, children’s activities and free hot chocolate. Information: www.shadowlakeshopping.com.

PUMPKIN PATCHES, CORN MAZES

Vala’s Pumpkin Patch, 12102 S. 180th St., Gretna. Features pumpkins, hayrides, pumpkin launching, pony rides, haunted houses and treats. Open through Nov. 1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Wednesdays and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. Admission: $12.25 Thursdays through Sundays and $9 Mondays through Wednesdays. Free for ages 2 and younger. Information: www.valaspumpkinpatch.com and 332-4200.

Bellevue Berry and Pumpkin Ranch, 11001 S. 48th St. By day, youngsters enjoy the pumpkin patch, hayrides, Old West ghost town, pirate play area and Lewis and Clark keel boat. By night, the Ranch of Terror presents a haunted house, crazy cells, corn maze, haunted caves and haunted carnival games. Day hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays. Evening hours: dusk to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and dusk to 10 p.m. Sundays. Admission: $10 covers most of the nighttime haunted attractions; daytime admission is $8. Information: www.bellevueberryfarm.com and 331-5500.

Wenninghoff Pumpkin Patch, 6707 Wenninghoff Road (85th Street and Sorensen Parkway). Pumpkin patch, corn maze scavenger hunt, hayrides, playground, pumpkin painting, hay-bale climbing and bonfires. Open through Nov. 1. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays; 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Admission: $5. Information: www.wenninghoff.com and 571-2057.

Big Red Barn and Pumpkin Farm, 132nd Street and Bennington Road. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 31. Pumpkin patch, hayrides, pony rides, face-painting, bluegrass music, petting zoo, apple cider and food. Bring a canned food item to donate to the Omaha Food Bank and receive 50 cents off admission, which is $7 a person. Children 2 and younger are free.

Pooley’s Pumpkin Patch, 144th Street and Bennington Road, Bennington. Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, through Oct. 31. Corn maze, straw bale maze, pumpkin patch, hayrides, face-painting, petting zoo, pony rides, refreshments. Admission: $5 a person. Children 2 and younger are free.

Skinny Bones, 3935 Highway 133, Blair, Neb. Hayrides ($3.50), pumpkins (29 cents a pound) and a 10-acre corn maze (admission $5 by day or $7 by night). Maze is accessible to the disabled. Hours: 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays, 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 1. Information: www.skinnybones.info and 402-426-2295.

Benson Farms, 6000 S.W. 140th St., Denton, Neb. Mazes, trails, corn box (like a sandbox for children), hay jump, hayrides, pumpkin launcher, chuck wagon food stand and campfires. Hours: 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays, noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 31. Admission: $9, age 12 and older; $7, ages 4 to 11; and free for ages 3 and younger. Information: www.bensonfarms.com and 402-795-3276.

Uncle LeRoy’s Pumpkin Patch, 2555 Highway 59, Denison, Iowa. Haunted house, petting zoo, corn maze, hayrides and children’s bounce houses. Hours: 2 p.m. to dark, Mondays through Thursdays; and noon to dark, Fridays through Sundays. Admission: $4 per person; children 2 and younger, free. Information: www.uncleleroyspumpkinpatch.com and 712-263-5067.

U-Pick Pumpkin Patch, Kimmel Orchard, 5995 G Road, Nebraska City. Pick your own pumpkins and apples, plus hayrides, through Nov. 1. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. No admission fee. Information: www.kimmelorchard.com and 402-873-5293.

Pumpkin Festival, Bloom Where You’re Planted Farm, 911 108th St., Avoca, Neb. Hayride, nature trail, corn box, play areas, farm animals, pumpkin painting, cafe and gift shop. Hours: 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 1. Admission: $4 per person; children 2 and younger, free. Information: www.bloompumpkinpatch.com and 402-267-4104.

Pioneer Trail Orchard and Pumpkin Patch, 21534 Chestnut Road, south of Council Bluffs. Hayrides to the pumpkin patch, haunted house and barn, mini-train ride for toddlers, corn maze, games, movies at dusk. Hours: 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 5 p.m. to midnight Fridays; 10 a.m. to midnight Saturdays; and noon to 7 p.m. Sundays through October. Monster parade with costume contest, noon to 6 p.m. today. Admission: $5 per person; free for children 2 and younger. New, haunted hayrides, from 8 p.m. to midnight, $8 per person. Information: www.ptapples.com and 712-366-1505.

Pumpkin Patch on the Hill, Elkhorn Hills United Methodist Church, 20227 Veterans Drive, 10 a.m. until dusk through Oct. 31. Select a pumpkin to buy. Free admission. Information: 289-4764.