SCARY SALT LAKE: Halloween in Salt Lake City

Halloween Events in SLC this week

2009-10-23T15:52:00.000-07:00

'Tis the season of the haunt, one of my favorite seasons. Below are a few of the great activities around the valley for Halloween.

Haunted houses

Castle of Chaos

3300 south West Temple

Open 7-10pm Sunday-Thursday (closed Mondays), 7-midnight Friday & Saturday. Called "one of America's scariest Halloween attractions" by the Travel Channel.

$19. Save by buying admission to Castle of Chaos & Nighmare Mansion for only $27.

Nightmare Mansion

5600 south Redwood Road

Open 7:30-10 Monday-Thursday, 7:30-midnight Friday & Saturday. The newest creation from the Castle of Chaos team, this haunted house contains four haunts with increasing intensity. Go all the way for the full experience.

$18. Save by buying admission to Castle of Chaos & Nighmare Mansion for only $27.

Nightmare on 13th

1300 south 300 west

Open 7:30-11 Monday-Thursday, 7:30-midnight Friday & Saturday. One of Utah's longest running, and most technologically advanced haunts.

$15 regular admission, $20 for X-Treme Nightmare.

Haunted Village

2601 Sunnyside Ave - This is the Place Heritage Park

Open October 9-31 (closed Sunday). Wear comfortable shoes and dress warmly for this exciting haunt. (admission prices not posted yet.)

Haunted Forest

Take I-15 to exit 276 in American Fork, head west.

7:30-10pm weekdays. 7:30-midnight Friday-Saturday. An outdoor haunt with thorny underbrush, warped trees, and caverns. New Psycho Manor attraction.

$20.

Haunted Hollow

1900 west 1550 south, Ogden.

7:30-10pm Wednesday-Thursday. 7:30-midnight Friday-Saturday. An outdoor haunt that takes over an hour to walk through.

$15

Frightmares at Lagoon

I-15 exit 325, Farmington

5pm Friday. Saturday & Sunday 11am. Several haunted houses throughout the park, most rides open. $33.95

Asylum 49

140 east 200 south, Tooele.

Tuesday-Thursday 7-10pm, Friday & Saturday 7-midnight. A haunt in the old Tooele hospital. What patients still reside as ghosts? $16 per person, 2/$25 on Tuesdays.

Goatman Flats

1400 north 600 west, Orem

October 28-31, from dark until 11pm. Walk through a haunted house, funeral parlor, hospital, and more in this attraction. $6

Ghost Tours

300 south 500 west

Each Friday & Saturday in October, 6pm. Hop on a tour-bus with a professional storyteller who will guide you through the haunted spots of Salt Lake City. Call for reservations 801-529-4497 $18

Also in Ogden, north of the Union Station. Call 801-604-1218 for Ogden reservations.

Paranormal Dinner & Dark Tour of the Zoo

Hogle Zoo - 2600 east Sunnyside Ave

October 9-10, 16-17 6-9pm. Interested in the paranormal? Have dinner with a panel of experts who will discuss how they detect paranormal activity. After dinner, join them for a dark tour through parts of the zoo and watch them use their equipment. $20. Make your reservation soon 801-584-1769

Haunted Canyon Train Ride

450 south 600 west, Heber

Take a 35 minute haunted train ride. Come in costume, or as you are, but dress warm. $14+ Check their schedule for times

Theater

Forever Dead

Off Broadway Theater - 272 south Main

Mondays, Fridays, & Saturdays 7:30pm. The OBT's original haunting musical. Tickets $8-16

Dracula

Academy of Performing Arts - 2207 south Main

Bram Stoker's tale of the most classic Halloween villain. Opens October 2-30. Tickets $16

Thriller by Odyssey Dance Company

Kingsbury Hall - 1395 east President's Circle

A Halloween tradition that sells out every year. Runs Oct 14-31, get your tickets early for this great event. $20+

In Which Witch is the Head Witch?

Megaplex 20 at The District - 3761 west Parkway Plaza (Bangerter Highway & 11400 south)

October 9-31 (check for available showtimes). A comedy murder mystery dinner to die for. $39.85 (dinner included)

Radio Hour: Alice

Rose Wagner Theater - 138 west 300 south

October 22-31 Thursday- Sunday (check for showtimes). Wonderland turned on its ear. A dark re-imagining of what lies down the rabbit hole. $20

Dracula's Grand Masquerade Ball

Boccias D'Italia - 1045 north Washington Blvd, Ogden

Join the party at Count Dracula's house with this fun comedy murder mystery dinner. $39.85 (dinner included)

Something Wicked This Way Comes

UVU - 800 west University Parkway, Orem

10/22-11/7 7:30pm, midnight shows 10/30-10/31. What would you do if your most secret wishes were granted by the ringmaster of a traveling carnival. Get scared with this modern classic that has been terrifying people for over 45 years. $6+

Jeckyll & Hyde, the Broadway Musical

Lehi Arts Center - 685 north Center St, Lehi

10/15-10/31. Monday, Thursday-Saturday 7:30pm. A musical adaptation of the classic tale. $13.50

Midnight Movies at Tower Theater

900 south 900 east

Each Friday & Saturday The Tower will present horror films at midnight. Full schedule not posted yet. 10/3: The Shining.

Halloween High-Jinks with the Utah Symphony

Abravanel Hall - 123 west South Temple

October 27, 7pm. Come in costume to enjoy the Utah Symphony for a night of chilling music.

For the family

Crazy Corn Maze

8800 south 4000 west

6-10:30pm Monday-Thursday, 6-11:30pm Friday, 3-11:30pm Saturday. A big, complicated maze to find your way out. $4-7

Cornbelly's Corn Maze & Pumpkin Fest

Thanksgiving Point, Lehi.

4-10pm Monday-Thursday. 10am-11pm Friday & Saturday. Enjoy Halloween- fun on the farm with a new maze and many attractions. $10.95+

Little Haunts

2601 Sunnyside Ave - This is the Place Heritage Park

Open October 24 & 31. Bring the kids in costume for trick-or-treating, games, and more.

Ghost Stories

Children's Theatre & School of the Arts - 237 south State St

10/23: 7pm; 10/24: 1pm & 4:30pm; 10/30: 7pm; 10/31: 11am & 2pm. A haunted book is found in a book store by an unsuspecting reader. The stories come to life in this exciting and funny production.

Boo at the Zoo

Hogle Zoo 2600 - Sunnyside Ave

October 24, 9am. Trick-or-treat event for kids 12 and under. Come in costume and receive candy and specials deals.

Monster Block Party at Gallivan Center

239 Main St.

October 31 12-4pm. Free, family friendly party with trick-or-treating and many activities. Costume parade and party.

Scarecrow Festival

Thanksgiving Point, Lehi

October 15-19 (closed Sunday), 10am-9pm. Food, games and activities for the whole family. Includes a haunted house, spider speedway, 16 inflatables, 35 children's games, two climbing walls, and more. $5 adults, $10 kids, $40 family.

Halloween on the Farm

Wheeler Farm - 6351 south 900 east

10am-8pm Monday-Saturday daily in October. Wagon rides and pumpkin patch where children can pick a pumpkin and decorate it.

$7 per person, or $30 for family

Get Bewitched at Gardner Village

1100 west 7800 south

Witches will be on the prowl during regular business hours, and they are presenting Witchapalooza, a dinner show nightly 7pm Monday-Saturday. (reservations required for the show)

Garden After Dark

Red Butte Garden -

October 22-30 select nights 6-9pm. A kid-friendly tour of the garden, decorated with jack-o-lanterns, witches, and activities. $8

Halloween Adventure Cruise

3606 west Center St. Provo

Nightly beginning 6:30pm, closed Sunday. Take a cruise along the Provo river. Ghost stories, and a possible pirate attack. $6/person or $25/family

Sleepy Millcreek Hollow

I-15, exit 346, Ogden

Thursday-Saturday 10/8-10/17. A haunted village with vendors, food, and ghost stories. $3 per person.

Formal parties

Wheeler Farm Costume Dance

6351 south 900 east

7pm-midnight. For 18+, dress in costume for a fun singles dance. $5 per person

Tower of Terror Schedule. (Tower Theater midnight movies)
10/2-4: The Shining
10/9-11: Evil Dead 2
10/16-18: Zombie weekend: Shaun of the Dead, The Return of the Living Dead, & Michael Jackson's Thriller
10/23-25: The Exorcist
10/29: Rocky Horror Picture Show 10pm
10/30-31: Rocky Horror Picture Show 8pm & midnight

Friday & Saturday shows are midnight. Sunday @ noon. Tickets are $5, except for Rocky Horror which is $10

Missing anything? Let me know.

From WWJD in SLC

You've got red on you.

2009-10-17T12:44:00.000-07:00

Weekend 3 of Tower of Terror at The Tower Theater in SLC. It's official. I know firmly believe that there is no movie that is not made better by simply watching it in a proper cinema. I noticed so many details that my repeated home viewings had simply robbed me of.

Also, today is the last day of Sleepy Millcreek Hollow. If you are yet unaware of what that is, it's a Halloween Fair up at the Marriott-Slaterville renaissance festival site. Come visit the haunted market and trail of terror! Scary stories told by firelight and delicious food from friendly vendors.

Be there or be scared.

Not So Silent Fright

2009-10-13T17:15:00.000-07:00

Join us for our first "Not So Silent Fright" costume party!! Why pay $20 to go to a club downtown and hang out with 500 people you don't know, when you can come enjoy crazy cheap drinks, good food, amazing tunes, all the other usual Halloween debauchery, AND give to a very deserving charity whose work helps local children with Autism?

- Costume Contest
- Drink specials all night long
- Prize raffle
- Auction for framed pieces of art done by local children w/Autism
- No cover charge (but we hope you'll make a donation to the charity of course)

The event benefits Autism Speaks. America’s #1 non-profit organization for Autism. For more information about the organization, please visit:

www.autismspeaks.org

This event brought to you by the same people who organize "Not So Silent Nite"

* Costumes requested....it's Halloween!! Amazing prizes for the best costumes so you better be prepared to impress!

Click here to RSVP

Groovy

2009-10-10T10:50:00.000-07:00

I love The Tower Theater. I've seen more amazing classic (and neoclassic) movies there than in any other theater I've ever been to. And that's saying something. To name just a few, I've seen The Shining, Repo! The Genetic Opera, Rushmore.. and last night I popped my Raimi horror cherry with Evil Dead 2: Dead By Dawn.

Amazing.

Also, today is day three at Sleepy Millcreek Hollow. I'm having an awesome time there so far, and can't wait to see what it'll be like with the crowds in full swing today. Fingers crossed.

Also, I'm a pirate.

Tricks and Treats!

2009-10-07T13:51:00.000-07:00

Jack Watches Over You

2009-10-06T19:29:00.000-07:00

Tower of Terror

2009-10-04T10:42:00.001-07:00

Every October, The Tower theater, owned and operated by the Salt Lake Film Society, screens classic horror films at midnight on Fridays and Saturdays.

This past Friday I had my first experience at the Tower of Terror when I showed up bright eyed and bushy tailed for my virginal viewing of The Shining on the silver screen.

It may shock you to hear that I've never seen The Shining proper at a movie theater, but it's true. In fact, the only way I've ever seen it is on the TV during Halloween when I was a bit younger. The problem with that is they always take out the good stuff, so I've never gotten to see exactly why the movie is so scary and disturbing. No doubt is left in my mind.

Even though I've seen the movie several times, my viewing at The Tower left me on the edge of my seat.

I do have to admit, however, that the beginning of the movie is possibly one of the funniest starts to a very serious horror movie I've ever seen. Probably inadvertently. Also, thank you Kevin Smith. I can't hear the opening of The Shining without thinking of Listerfiend and Pillowpants. When Danny said that Tony was the little boy who lived in his mouth I just about lost it.

If you haven't seen The Shining at a theater and you live in SLC, tough luck. The last screening of the weekend is today at noon.

However, it is not too late for you to experience The Tower of Terror. The schedule for the remainder of October is as follows:

Weekend of 10/9:
The Evil Dead II: Dead By Dawn

Weekend of 10/16
Zombiefest! (movies as yet to be named
but more than likely including
Shaun of The Dead)

Monday, 10/19
An October Evening
locally made Halloween
themed films, art and music.

Weekend of 10/23
The Exorcist

Weekend of 10/30
The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Be there or be square. And by square I mean dead.

Zombieland

2009-10-02T10:00:00.000-07:00

It was about 4:00pm that I got a worried text from my friend at The Chronical. "I just found out that we need to exchange the screening passes for actual tickets for this movie... I heard they start exchanging at four and usually run out (of tickets) by five". So I ran out the door of my mom's new age gift store and hopped into my white 1986 Camaro, and prayed that it wouldn't choose this day to finally roll over and die on me. It has been inches away from death since I made the long and exhausting journey up from Norco, California two months ago.

Being new to the city, and never having before been to The Megaplex @ Gateway, I drove past it about three times before I figured out how to get into the underground parking. It was 4:27, time was running out. After running through the maze of the subterranean parking garage, I escaped into the chilly courtyard in front of the theater. Renna (my friend at the Chrony) and Jordan were waiting for me in the foyer. I exchanged my pass for two tickets and selected my seats (at Megaplex theaters they have assigned seating). As the rest of her friends from Amtgard began to arrive, she put on my zombie make-up, and after a bit of worry about not having enough tickets, we got organized and were able to get seated and ready for the film.

A couple of the film's promoters were present, including their sponsor (a gun emporium whose name I can't remember) who gave a little zombie-pun-laced speech before it began. The movie begins with an introduction to the world, narrated by the film's not-quite-a-hero hero, played by Jesse Eisenberg. What follows is one of the most fun, exciting and satisfying zombie movies I've ever seen, and I make it a point to see 'em all.

One of the best things the movie has going for it (in addition to simple, straight forward dialogue, brutal action, and some of the best slapstick laughs in modern horror/com) is the soundtrack. Clever and never corny, the music in this movie had me cheering from the opening titles (featuring slo-mo zombie action set to Metallica's For Whom The Bell Tolls) to the end credits.

The cast is also amazingly inspired. For just having four characters in the main cast (all the others being either zombies or dead) this movie never feels as empty as the world its heroes are stranded in. Some lesser critics than myself may find the lack of character development disturbing. They are missing the point entirely. We never learn the whole backstory of these four people, and frankly given their situation, we really don't need to. They all act and react to things in their own funny, and sometimes heart-wrenching ways.

It all comes down to this. If you love the boom, you'll
love Zombieland.

D-Money out.

Haunting Season Begins

2009-10-01T08:06:00.001-07:00

It's official, October has arrived. So many exciting things to look forward to here in Salt Lake City. Despite its reputation, there is a depth here that one might not suspect at first glance. There is something altogether wrong.

Over the course of this October, I shall be exploring and documenting everything scary, disturbing, ghastly, ghostly and between. All in good fun, right? You don't really believe in ghosts, do you?

In other news, the sneak preview showing of Zombieland is tonight. I, for one, am extremely excited. I shall be dressing for the occasion. Have a ghoulish day.

Something's come back to the western woods...

2009-09-09T11:19:00.000-07:00

Have you heard? Sleepy Millcreek Hollow is back!

Open October 8,9,10, and 15,16,17
From 6 PM to 9 PM Thursdays
and 6 PM to 10 PM Fridays and Saturdays

Featuring:
The Scarecrows of Millcreek Hollow
Hawkhurst Village Market
Spooky Story Forge 7:30 PM Nightly

Admission:
$3 per person or $12 for up to 6

Visit the Trail of Terror if you dare! Admission to the trail is $5 proceeds to benefit Pack and Pounce Animal Rescue and the Wild Bird Rehab of Weber County

http://www.sleepymillcreekhollow.com

GRAAAVES

2009-08-31T10:16:00.000-07:00

That is all.

Repo! was AWESOME!

2009-08-29T18:28:00.000-07:00

Got to meet Terrance Zdunich. One of the coolest fucking people I've had the pleasure of meeting. He signed one of my awesome new business cards (pic of that coming later) and I gave him one to keep. The shadowcast, Scapel Sluts, was amazing as well. Very energetic and charismatic. Also, I love seeing movies at The Tower.

Repo at The Tower!!

2009-08-28T17:56:00.000-07:00

Repo! The Genetic Opera is playing this weekend, Friday and Saturday at Midnight at The Tower Theater on 9th and 9th in SLC. Terrance Zdunich, writer and Graverobber will be there signing autographs and hanging out. Live shadowcast performance by Scalpel SL,UTs!

Come early to guarantee your seat.

Castle of Chaos

2009-08-26T12:38:00.000-07:00

Since I don't know anyone who is been here, I'll post a review I found on Yahoo!
"The Castle Of Chaos is an interactive haunted house which is fun for the whole family. The costumes may not be realistic and gut-wrenchingly scary, but they are fun and the actors full of life and vigor. They also have mystery solving where one can act like a detective and try and solve a mystery within the castles haunted walls. The 3D area has great artwork, and the actors seem to morph off the walls. With the X-scream section you are pushed to every limit as you deal with elements such as water, claustrophobia and peoples brains! So go on, try and solve the mystery of the castle and have a frightful ball while you're at it."

Castle of Chaos

Where: 4650 S. Highland Drive

Price: $8-$14; Black Crypt $3 extra

Phone: 949-8958

Can't find info on hours, but they open September 4th.

Nightmare on 13th

2009-08-25T11:27:00.000-07:00

The first Friday that I spent here in Salt Lake was an exciting day. Worked at mom's store, had dinner at Mazza, and then by complete surprise, my stepfather drove us by one of SLC's best haunted attractions. Nightmare on 13th. The outer facade and gate are beautiful. It was too dark for me to get pictures, but I plan on returning during the day at some point soon to capture it.

They're open Friday-Sat, Sept 18th-19th and then Sept 25th through Oct 31st.
Monday thru Thursday - 7:30 -11:00
Friday thru Saturday - 7:30 - Midnight
Closed Sundays

New Beginnings

2009-08-22T14:38:00.000-07:00

Hello my grim grinning ghouls!

I have just moved to Salt Lake City from Tempe, Arizona by way of Norco, California. As I dig in my roots here, I intend to document and track all things spooky, scary, creepy and ghoulish in Salt Lake City and its surrounding environs.

If you have anything you feel should be on my blog, please feel free to contact me at doriusrex@gmail.com!