Halloween is approaching — a holiday marked by images of ghosts and monsters and things meant to scare us as the fall colors change and the nights get shorter.
Across Utah, people are seeking out chances to revel in the spooky season — walking through haunted houses and corn mazes, and experiencing terrifying stories onstage and on the big screen.
Here’s a roundup of events being staged by Utah arts groups for Halloween, as well as haunted attractions and corn mazes opening across the state.
(Kristan Jacobsen | Red Butte Garden) Costumed visitors at Red Butte Garden for its "BOOtanical" displays for Halloween.
Changing for the season
The Art Castle • Utah Arts Alliance’s Art Castle, at 915 W. 100 South, Salt Lake City, is throwing a series of events, Oct. 17-20 and 24-27. They include: “The Haunting Is You!,” an interactive theater experience by the Lords of Misrule Theatre Co. where the audience are the ghosts; a ghost tour by poet RJ Walker; a live seance show by professional medium Elle Alder; and an outdoor sculpture garden featuring works by Ralphael Plescia, rescued from his “Christian School” installation. Tickets range from $10 to $30 (though there’s a free option for “The Haunting Is You!”), and showtimes vary. Proceeds go to help make the Art Castle more ADA-accessible. Go to utaharts.org for details.
Gardner Village • The historic shopping and event space, at 1100 W. 7800 South in South Jordan, is throwing its annual WitchFest, now through Oct. 31. Events include “Breakfast with a Witch,” dinner theaer, an escape room, magic shows and more. Go to GardnerVillage.com for details.
The Leonardo • The art-and-science museum, at 209 E. 500 South, Salt Lake City, has various programs on its October schedule: Art adventures on Oct. 19; spooky arts and crafts on Oct. 23; and a “Spooktacular” party on Oct. 26. For details and admission information, go to TheLeonardo.org.
Loveland LIving Planet Aquarium • The aquarium, at 12033 S. Lone Peak Parkway, Draper, is holding its “Halloween on the High Seas” event — with a mysterious scavenger hunt that takes them to the habitats of animals from around the world — on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from now through Oct. 28, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. There’s also a “Trick or Treasure” event, Oct. 28, 4-8 p.m., with trick-or-treat candy available through the aquarium. For admission details, go to livingplanetaquarium.org.
Red Butte Garden • The garden at 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, stages “BOOtanical Days & Nights,” a walk-through event highlighting fall colors from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and light displays from 6 to 9 p.m. Admission ranges from $8 to $16 by day, and $13 to $21 at night. For information, go to redbuttegarden.org.
Salt Lake Film Society • The annual Tower of Terror series continues with weekend screenings of classic horror: “The Brain” on Oct. 11; “Elvira’s Haunted Hills” on Oct. 12; “Hereditary” on Friday, Oct. 18; “The Exorcist” on Saturday, Oct. 19; “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre” on Friday, Oct. 25; “The Shining: on Saturday, Oct. 26. The series ends with the annual screenings of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” — with your choice of three presentations: A live cast with emcee Susan Steffee (tickets are $25); a live cast with emcee Amanda Dusoe (tickets are $25); and an open-caption sing-along (tickets are $20) — on Oct. 31, Nov. 1 and 2. Go to slfs.org for details and to buy tickets.
Utah’s Hogle Zoo • BooLights, the zoo’s annual after-hours light display, features the Witch’s House program in the Oasis Plaza, Dr. Frankenstein’s Lab Show in the Wildlife Theatre, and nighttime rides on the Eccles Express (for an additional $3 charge). Now through Oct. 30, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. each night (except for Oct. 13, 15 and 23, when the exhibition is closed). For ticket information and details, go to hoglezoo.org/boolights-event.
(Utah Arts Alliance) The cast of "The Haunting Is You!," an interactive theater experience by The Lords of Misrule Theatre Co., being presented at The Art Castle in Salt Lake City in October 2024.
Concerts and other events
Oct. 12, 14, 16, 18, 20 • Utah Opera stages its version of Stephen Sondheim’s dark musical “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” at the Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City. For showtimes and tickets, go to utahopera.org.
Oct. 12, 14, 18, 19, 21, 24, 25, 26 • The Ziegfield Theatre, 3934 S. Washington Blvd., Ogden, mounts its own production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd.” Tickets are $26.95 for adults; $24.95 for seniors, students and children. For information, go to zigarts.com.
Oct. 17-18 • Candlelight Concerts will hold “A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics,” with the Range Ensemble string quartet playing music from “Thriller,” “Beetlejuice,” “The Addams Family” and other appropriate titles, Clubhouse on South Temple, 850 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City, at 7 and 9:15 p.m. both nights. Tickets, starting at $31.25, available at feverup.com.
Oct. 25, 26, 30, 31, Nov. 1, 2 • Ballet West’s production of the psychological thriller “Jekyll & Hyde,” at the Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City. Tickets and showtimes available at balletwest.org.
Oct. 29 • Utah Symphony plays its “Halloween Spooktacular,” with a program of scary music — from “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” to the “Jaws” theme — with a costume contest. Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, at 7 p.m. Tickets at utahsymphony.org.
Nov. 2 • “An October Evening,” the annual immersive Halloween experience with film, fashion, music and live performances by local artists — including the acoustic duo Raffi & Ischa. Salt Lake Masonic Temple, 650 E. South Temple, Salt Lake City, 6 p.m. Tickets are $30, plus fees, at eventbrite.com.
Haunted houses, etc.
Castle of Chaos • 7900 S. State St., Midvale. A haunted house (with five levels of fear) and escape rooms. Open through Nov. 2: Hours: Seven days a week (closed on Wednesday, Oct. 16), opening at 7 p.m. castleofchaos.com.
Fear Factory • 666 W. 800 South, Salt Lake City • A haunted attraction that takes on six buildings, six stories high, and is impressive even from Interstate 15. Open Oct. 12-13, Oct. 16-20 and Oct. 23-Nov. 2. Hours: Opening at 7 p.m. fearfactoryslc.com.
Frightmares • Lagoon • The Lagoon amusement park goes to the dark side for Halloween, with some attractions for kids and some “absolutely too scary for most kids.” Open through Nov. 3. LagoonPark.com.
Haunted Basin • Snowbasin Resort, 3925 E. Snowbasin Road, Huntsville • The Snowbasin ski resort launches its first Halloween-themed attraction, Haunted Basin, with twisted trails and a haunted house in Earl’s Lodge (with two horror movies screening), and food and drinks at “The Mountain Morgue” in The Cinnabar. Open Oct. 10-14 and 17-21. Hours: Family-friendly events from 6 to 7 p.m., with the scary stuff from 7 to 11 p.m. snowbasin.com.
Haunted Forest • 6400 N. 6000 West, American Fork • Marking 35 years of scaring Utahns outside, the Haunted Forest returns with demons, monsters and zombies. Open through Oct. 31. Hours: Monday-Saturday, starting at 7:30 p.m. hauntedforestutah.com.
Haunted Halloween Haven • 1641 Oak View Lane, Spanish Fork • A free, family-friendly haunt, originally organized by neighbors for fun. Open through Oct. 31. Hours: 7:30 to 10 p.m. hauntedhalloweenhaven.com.
Hidden Lake Haunts • 277 Hidden Lake Dr., Bountiful • A haunted house in what looks like a crumbling old mansion. Open Oct. 11-12, 18-19 and 25-26. Hours: 7 to 10 p.m. each night. Admission is one nonperishable food item per guest, benefiting the Bountiful Community Food Pantry. hiddenlakehaunts.com.
Night Stalkers Haunted Trail • 8800 S. 4000 West, West Jordan • Three attractions: The haunted trail, the Fright Lights pumpkin patch, and the Crazy Corn Maze. Open through Nov. 2. Hours: Mondays-Saturdays, starting at 7:30 p.m. nightstalkershaunt.com.
Nightmare on 13th • 320 W. 1300 South, Salt Lake City • The acclaimed attraction has two draws: The Nightmare haunted house and the Institute of Terror. Open through Nov. 2. Hours Mondays-Saturdays, opening at 7 p.m. nightmareon13th.com.
(Cornbelly's) A corn maze cut into a portrait of country star Luke Bryan is the attraction for October 2024 at Cornbelly's Lehi, at Thanksgiving Point.
Corn mazes
Corn Maze on the Farm • American West Heritage Center, 4025 S. Highway 89-91, Wellsville • The maze, plus a pumpkin patch, giant lawn games, a straw fort and other family-friendly attractions. Open through Oct. 30. Hours: Mondays through Thursdays, 5 to 10 p.m.; Fridays, 4 to 11 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. awhc.org/corn-maze.
Cornbelly’s Lehi • Thanksgiving Point, 3003 N. Thanksgiving Way, Lehi • This year’s maze is a portrait of country singer Luke Bryan. Open through Nov. 2. Hours: Mondays through Thursdays, 4 to 10 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Oct. 17 and 21, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Nov. 1 and 2, 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.; closed Sundays and Halloween. Cornbellys.com.
Cornbelly’s Spanish Fork • 3687 W. 5600 South, Spanish Fork • Like its sister maze in Lehi, the Spanish Fork maze features a portrait of country singer Luke Bryan. Open through Nov. 2; Mondays through Thursdays, 4 to 9 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Oct. 17 and 21, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; closed Sundays and Halloween. Cornbellys.com.
Crazy Corn Maze • 8800 S. 4000 West, West Jordan • Attached to Night Stalkers Haunted Trail. Open through Nov. 2. Hours: Mondays-Thursdays, 6 to 9:30 p.m.; Fridays, 6 to 11:30 p.m.; Saturdays, 2 to 11:30 p.m.; Halloween, 6 to 9 p.m.; closed Sundays. thecrazycornmaze.com.
Cross E Ranch • 3500 N. 2200 West, Salt Lake City • Fall festival, open through Oct. 30. Hours: Mondays through Thursdays, 4 to 9 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; closed Sundays. crosseranch.com.
Glen Rays Corn Maze • 1750 W. 8000 South, Spanish Fork • Open through Oct. 30. Hours: Mondays through Thursdays, 4 to 9 p.m.; Fridays, 4 to 11 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Oct. 17-19, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; closed Sundays. glenrayscornmaze.com.
Lapoint Corn Maze • 6400 N. 10000 East, Lapoint (Uintah County) • This year’s maze theme is “first responders.” Open through Oct. 28. Hours: Fridays, 4 to 9 p.m.; Saturdays, noon to 9 p.m.; Sundays, noon to 5 p.m.; Tuesdays through Thursdays, open to groups with reservations; closed Monday, Oct. 14. Special days: Thursday, Oct. 17; 4 to 9 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 21, 4 to 8 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 28, 4 to 9 p.m. lapointcornmaze.com.
Little Bear Bottoms • 5100 S. U.S. Highway 89-91, Wellsville • Corn maze, a pumpkin patch, and the Haunted River Trail (at scary and non-scary levels) on the weekends. Open through Nov. 2. Hours: Mondays through Thursdays, 3 to 10 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; closed Sundays. littlebearbottoms.com.
Rowley’s Red Barn • 901 S. 300 West, Santaquin • Three corn mazes, plus a barn yard, apple cannons, ziplines, a corn pit and more. Open through Oct. 30. Hours: Mondays-Fridays, 3:30 to 9 p.m.; Saturdays, 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Oct. 17, 18 and 21, 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; closed Sundays. rowleysredbarn.com.
Staheli Family Farm • 3400 S. Washington Fields Road, Washington • Farmland includes a “corn maize” and a wide assortment of activities. Open through Oct. 30. Hours: Mondays through Thursdays, 5 to 10 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 10 p.m.; closed Sundays. stahelifamilyfarm.com.
Water Hollow Ranch • 4660 N. 12000 West, Bluebell (Duchesne County) • This year’s theme is the 75th anniversary of the Peanuts comic strip. Open through Oct. 26. Hours: Thursdays and Fridays, 5 to 9 p.m.; Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; closed Sundays and Mondays; open Tuesdays and Wednesdays to group reservations only. bluebellcornmaze.com.
Wilkerson Farm • 710 W. 2000 South, Orem • The corn maze is part of the farm’s “Fall Fair.” Open through Nov. 2. Hours: Mondays through Wednesdays, 3 to 9 p.m.; Thursdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; closed Sundays. wilkersonfarm.com.
