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Fall Festivals and Halloween Fun
 Whether you're into pumpkin-carving contests, hayrack rides,
or trick-or-treating, you'll find fun Metro-area events
here. The season comes but once a year, so don't miss out on
these autumn amusements.
Bellevue Berry and Pumpkin Ranch
Fun for the entire
family! In addition to thousands of pumpkins, the ranch's
Fall Harvest in October offers attractions such as the
Haunted Hayrack Ride, "How the West Was Fun" Activity Barn,
Lewis & Clark Keel Boat, Sand Pit and Trike Track, the Lost
Gold Mine, Ranch of Terror Haunted Barn and Buried Cave, the
Old West Frontier Town Walking Tour, Ranch Animal Corral,
and the Harvest Barn and Hungry Moose Cafe. In 2005, The
Ranch of Terror brings a whole new experience of fear! Newly
added is the ghost town walk, and thirty minutes of heart
pounding screams in the haunted house! The facility also
offers planned events, group outings, and school tours with
an educational focus.
Each October, pre-school and school age
kids visit the Great Pumpkin Round-up at the Bellevue Berry
& Pumpkin for educational, outdoor fun. If you are
looking for an activity that's matched to the bustling
energy your group has, this is it! Children have the
opportunity to experience hands-on pumpkin farming! We're
looking forward to seeing your group soon at the Great
Pumpkin Roundup! Looking for a place to hold your next big
event? The Bellevue Berry Farm can handle it. From catered
weddings and parties, to group outings and parties, we offer
facilities that will meet all your needs.....regardless of
your group size and budget. We've just opened our new 10,000
square foot barn. General admission is $8.00. Located
conveniently between Bellevue and Papillion at 11001 S. 48th
Street. Call 402-331-5500 for more information.
(NOTE:
Due to a road project, please enter the ranch off of 370
Highway and 48th Street)
Fontenelle Forest
Enjoy Halloween With the Wild
Things! Meet the magical creatures of Fontenelle Forest,
including a few big bugs, on your journey to find the Great
Pumpkin! From October 26-28th (6:00-8:20 p.m. on the 26th
and 27th. 5:00-8:20 p.m. on the 28th) Children ages 3 to 10
will enjoy this delightful celebration of Halloween that
includes a guided walk on the boardwalk and refreshments. An
entertaining, educational, not-too-scary evening of fun.
Walks depart every 20 minutes and each is limited to a
maximum of 30 people. Fontenelle Forest Nature Center. 1111
Bellevue Blvd. Reservations are required. Call 731-3140 for
more information.
Lauritzen Gardens Autumn Ambience Festival
Autumn
Ambience is a celebration of the harvest and will
demonstrate many ways to reap the rewards of the gardening
season. The festival will be held October 7 and 8 from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. It will feature antique tractors
on display throughout the garden and an antique tractor
parade at 4 p.m. on Sunday. The festival will also include
hands-on children's crafts, scarecrow making,
demonstrations, live music, free herb corsages from the
Omaha Herb Society, a bake sale and cozy garden strolls.
Hay-rack rides will also be offered near the children's
garden, and special café food will be available including
soups, sandwiches and desserts.
This year, nearly 15 "organ
grinders" from the AMICA (Automatic Musical Instrument
Collectors’ Association) will be featured throughout the
garden filling the air with music. Admission both days of
Autumn Ambience will be $7 for adults and $3 for children
age six to 12. Members and children under age six receive
free admission. The event will be held rain or shine, and
free parking will be available. Lauritzen Gardens is
conveniently located in the beautiful riverfront hills at
First and Bancroft streets, and is close to the Henry Doorly
Zoo, Rosenblatt Stadium and the Old Market. For more
information, visit
www.lauritzengardens.org or call (402)
346-4002.
Haunted Hollow
Omaha’s Haunted
Scream Park! When a farmhouse in the area of 120th
and Giles started getting torn down, Jill and Mike McCormick
bought the house and had it moved to their farm. As victims
tour the 1880’s three-story farm house, they will be
frightened by spooks, props and scary features. Beginning
Sunday October 1st, Haunted Hollow will offer a
No Scare Time from 6:00-7:30 p.m. each Sunday evening in
October. This time is specifically designed for families
with younger children.
The haunted house is just one part of
the attraction. Visit the haunted trail, barn maze, hatchet
house and more for the $12 admission. (You get one trip
though the haunted house and the rest is unlimited.) A café
features a full menu including funnel cakes, caramel apples,
popcorn balls. There’s also a big bonfire on the hill with
do-it-yourself smores.
Open Sunday through Thursday
7:00-10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday from 7:00 – midnight
beginning September 29. New in 2006, the Boogie
Barn! The Haunted Hollow is located at 120th and
Giles. Take Exit 442 off I-80. Go South about 1 mi.
to 120th. Turn right & follow the signs. Bring a
non-perishable food item for the Open Door Mission and
receive $1 off admission Sunday through Thursday. Call
(402) 896-1920 for more information.
Omaha Children’s Museum
It’s back and it’s a little
kooky, a little spooky, a small bit scary and just a tad
hairy. Kids can enjoy this not-so-scary haunted house
throughout October. "Parents are looking for safe, fun
activities around Halloween," said Tom Simons, director of
education and public programming. "Cobweb Castle lets kids
enjoy a little fright while not being terrified." Guests
will be greeted with a graveyard maze and can wander through
the Pirates Parlor, Kooky Kitchen, Vampire’s Batty Bedroom
and Casper’s Closet. Kids can try out their costumes and get
goodies before the big day at Trick-or-Treat Nights on
October 19 and 26, 5:30-7:30 p.m. Yummy treats provided by
Whole Foods will be at stations around the museum.
Spooktacular
Grab your little goblins and have a
terrorific Halloween celebration! Load up your bags
with lots of tricks and treats. Take a spooky ride
on the terror train and create your own creepy craft to take
home. Join us for this Spooktacular Day.
Spooktacular is free with Zoo admission or Omaha Zoo
membership. Sunday, October 29 from 10:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Treat Street
Candy, costumes, tricks and treats!
Mid-America Center and Kidz Explore are proud to present the
fourth annual Treat Street Saturday, October 28th.
This Halloween trick-or-treating option offers children of
all ages a new and fun way to load up on treats in a safe
indoor environment. This year the entire Mid-America Center,
including the arena, will be transformed into a Halloween
wonderland with a neighborhood to trick or treat, magical
theme areas, candy, costumes, games, live shows, music and
more!
Treat Street is even bigger and sweeter this year with
three themed areas including the Princess Palace, Islands of
the Lost, and the Mystery Mansion! Don’t forget to sign up
for the costume contest! Spook-tastic Prizes will be awarded
for the winner of each of the 3 costume contests – ages 1
through 6 years, 7 to 13 years and 14 and up! And don’t
forget to step right up for the most fun-filled,
thrill-packed rides on Treat Street! Watch kids delight in
classics such as the Ferris Wheel, Merry Go Round and the
Train, as well as more adventurous fare like the Super Jet
Roller and the Hustler. But the highlight of the event is
still the actual "Treat Street." Custom made spooky houses
line Treat Street where kids receive treats, trinkets and
toys given from costumed characters greeting them at the
door of their eerie houses.
Pick up a 1$ off coupon at any
area Walmart store! Visit
www.Treat-street.com to play
games and get more information! Children age 3-12 are $3 and
Children 2 and under FREE Adults are $6. Event takes place
from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m, Tickets available at the door.
Please call 712.323.0536 for more information
 Vala’s Pumpkin Patch
When people in the Omaha area
hear the name VALA'S PUMPKIN PATCH, they immediately conjure
up images of pumpkin fields full of bright orange pumpkins,
hay rack rides, and grilling hot dogs. Vala's has lots of
fun activities for everyone! The Lost Pumpkin Mine and
Tumbling Rock Cavern is a walk-through cave featuring the
antics of many ornery miners! The "Pigtucky Derby" race is
one of the more amusing activities on the farm. Visitors
gather around and clamor for a spot to watch barnyard
animals race to the finish. The races last about 20 minutes,
and are held once per hour.
Vala's features a tractor-pulled
hayrack ride out to the pumpkin fields where visitors can
pick their own pumpkins. The hayrack ride lasts about 30
minutes. Selections of barbecue, roasted turkey legs,
succotash, caramel apples and much more are available to
keep stomachs full during the busy day. Campfire sites may
even be reserved for families to have their own picnic with
catered Vala entrees, or they can bring their own hot dogs
to roast. Vala's is located at 12102 S. 180th St. in Gretna
(a mile south of Highway 370 on 180th St.). Vala's is open
through Oct. 31. Hours of operation are from 9 a.m. to 9
p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday
and Saturday. Call 332-4200 or visit
www.valaspumpkinpatch.com for more information.
Haunted Tram Ride: October 24 - 28 at
the Wildlife Safari
Experience a spooky adventure
as you travel by tram through the Wildlife Safari.
Reservations are required, call (402)738-2092 for more
information. Located on Nebraska's I-80, Exit 426.
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