Halloween fun isn’t just for kids. Apparently, since trick-or-treating isn’t a socially acceptable thing for adults to do, we have to find other things to occupy our time. Good thing Saskatoon has plenty of other spooky thrills that will get you into the Halloween spirit.
Though you won’t get the exciting experience of being chased by Jack Nicholson with an axe, the Saskatoon Italian Cultural Centre offers an 8-acre corn maze that runs until Oct. 31. If the thrill of uncertainty, winding twists and turns and the dread that comes from encountering a sudden dead end sound appealing to you, then consider checking the maze out.
The maze is open Thursday to Sunday, regardless of nasty natural surprises, like the unpredictable, cursed weather. Evening hours are extended on Oct. 26, 27, 28 and 31. During these extended hours, you are required to bring your own flashlight. Directions, admission prices and more information can be found at saskatoonicc.com.
If you like heart-stopping events, Terror in the Trees is an exceptionally scary yard haunt. The haunt takes place on a private acre in Vanscoy and leads you down a forested path to a graveyard.
Terror in the Trees, open from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., runs on Oct. 27, 28 and 31. If you’re more fond of spooking than being spooked, consider volunteering and scaring the living daylights out of someone instead — no expertise required. Terror in the Trees relies on volunteers to keep the screams going, as admittance is gained on a donation basis. For more information, head to the Terror in the Trees Facebook page.
If you’re in the mood for something more mellow but still want to get in the Halloween spirit, Bartari Videogame Restaurant & Bar is hosting a costume contest called the Bartari Halloween Spooktacular. The event will feature gaming and a costume contest — so make sure your thumbs are warmed up and your costume is on point when you go!
Bartari offers games, new and old, for your gaming pleasure. To top it off, there is no cover charge for this event. If you want to find out more, check out Bartari’s Facebook page.
For those eager cinephiles, the Broadway Theatre never fails to satiate your Halloween movie desires. Their most notable screening is of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which they show annually. During Rocky Horror, expect to witness screams of delight, tons of laughter and a healthy amount of audience participation.
The theatre’s Halloween lineup also includes a triple feature of the original The Evil Dead trilogy and Tobe Hooper’s The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. With great staff and reasonable admission prices, you can’t go wrong in checking out these Halloween classics.
If you are a thrill junky, then you and your closest friends could also take a trip to Smuts, Saskatchewan’s resident ghost town. Located just over 50 kilometres outside of Saskatoon down Highway 41, Smuts is far from any source of help should you need it. The town is rumoured to have been decimated long ago by a plague that wiped out most of the townspeople. Evidently, this Halloween thrill is not for the faint of heart.
The dilapidated houses that comprise Smuts are eerily juxtaposed with the town’s pristine church. Unlike any of the other buildings, the church is supposedly the only structure that is maintained. If you’re looking for a real-life ghost hunt, then Smuts is the place for you this Halloween.
Don’t let anyone fool you into thinking that Halloween is just for kids. Saskatoon offers lots in the way of fun and scary events for people of all ages. No matter if you’re thrill-seeking or laid-back, there is a Halloween event just for you.
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Cleo Nguyen
Graphic: Jaden Pierce