The BigView
By Chris Murphy
It is the haunted time of the year. The nights get longer, the wind gets colder and the air is spookier. I just love this time of the year. The fall flavors, the anticipation of Halloween and Trick or Treats and Trunk and Treats. There is just something about a fall evening that can feel both refreshing and romantic, or haunted with ghosts in the shadows. Oh yeah, and Pumpkin Spice is back in case you didn’t know.
Some of our favorites are back this year like our friends at Dell’Osso Farms with their amazing Pumpkin shooters, corn maze, rope tracks, and so much more and a special haunted event at the McHenry Mansion. Our friends at the Central West Ballet are jumping in with a special ballet of Frankenstein. Please take time to explore our area, have fun, dress in character and get into the haunted season. It’s fun and the family can do it too.
Neighborhood Trick or Treat
Please note that the actual Halloween Trick or Treat will be on a Monday night, October 31. Please be safe, watch your kids and thank those that are handing out the treats.
Higbee Horror Haunt
This frightening haunted house has a new home this year, at the John Thurman Field. It is exciting to see the return of live-action haunted houses and the theatrics and the frights are at an all time high. Since the baseball season is over. You can enjoy the scares on Friday and Saturday nights beginning at 7 pm on October 14. Tix are $30 for all events and $35 Oct 28-31.
John Thurman Field
601 Neece Dr, Modesto
higbeehorrorhaunt.com
Mortal Obsession at Mansion
The McHenry Mansion is open again for Halloween. If you notice, the mansion is featured on our cover this month with some special guests lurking in the shadows. Experience this exhibit with a self-guided tour of Victorian Funeral Customs. This is the other world from early Modesto with 19th Century Embalming Practices, Death Masks, Post Mortem Photo Gallery + Deadly Diseases. There will be a special exhibit of deaths and funerals in the Mansion. Learn about the fashionable disease of the day “consumption”. You will not want to miss this spooky but educational event.
McHenry Mansion 906 15th Street, Modesto
October 25, 26 & 27
5:30 p.m. to last entrance at 9:30 p.m. $10 per person
Ticket may be purchased in advance at the McHenry Mansion Gift Store.
Corn Mazes
It’s time to get lost and try to find your way out!
The corn mazes in our area are amazing this year. It will be a fun harvest season for the kids and families around our region. These events are fun for groups and parties and you can also check out some great local crafts, rides, and treats as well as some amazing pumpkins.
Fantozzi Farms in Patterson will be celebrating their 20th Anniversary with their maze theme. Get really scared in their special drive-through haunted attraction and pumpkin gardens. There are 10 acres of corn mazes with 5 miles of paths. The mazes have 12 hidden checkpoints! Friendly dogs on leashes are welcome.
Open Mon.-Thurs. 4-7 pm. Fri./Sat. 10 am-10 pm Sun. 10 am -8 pm. Open weekdays 9-4 pm for field trips and corporate events. The Haunted Drive-Thru is open Fri./Sat. 7 pm-10:30 pm and Sundays 7 -9 pm. Last entry in gate is 10:30 pm on Fri./Sat. and 9 pm on Sundays. $25/car. – 2665 Sperry Ave. Patterson, CA
fantozzifarms.com/ @fantozzifarms
RAM Family Farms in Turlock presents a new 20 acre corn maze and pumpkin patch, produce stand with U-pick Flowers. This will be a fun new season with special Freaky Flashlight Nights.
Kids 5 – 11, $8, Regular $10 Flashlight Nights Ages 12+ – $12
www.ramfarms.com/ (209) 668-2425
716 N Daubenberger Rd, Turlock, CA @ramfarmsinc
Dutch Hollow Farms has a new entrance on Santa Fe, barn craft area, super slide, zip lines, corn pit, petting zoo, hamster wheels, cannons, gem mining, hay maze rides and more. The corn maze is back this year with the likeness of Lacy Peterson
2500 Santa Fe Avenue, Modesto (209) 287-6010
www.dutchhollowfarms.com/<www.dutchhollowfarms.com/>
Admission week days $13 weekend $14
@dutchhollowfarms
Dell’Osso Farms
This amazing experience located adjacent to I5 in Lathrop is back. This is truly a day of activities and treats you can enjoy. Check out the Corn Maze, Haunted Castle, Dell’Osso Express Train, New Hillside Slide, New Tiny Town, Hay Ride, Goat Walk, Duck Races, Tire Pyramid, Dell’Osso Speedway, Animal Zoo, Ball Shoot Arena, Tire Play Area, Lawn Games, Mini Golf, Low Obstacle Course, Kiddie Play Land, Spinning Pumpkins, Pillow Jumping, Children’s Interactive Parade, Pig Races & Entertainment and Free Parking. These events are extra: Gem Mining $10.00, Pumpkin Blasters $8, Carousel $4, Pony Rides $10, Pumpkin Painting $5.00
501 Manthey Road Lathrop
info@pumpkinmaze.com<mailto:info@pumpkinmaze.com>
@DellOssoFamilyFarms
All Hallows Faire
Head to the hills for some fall creepies! More than that, this is a harvest Celtic event where Renaissance and Halloween collide October 29and 30. This two-day event will be at the Angels Camp Fairgrounds and will feature, local music, the Black Irish Band, Remedy, a variety of regional realms and an array of ghouls and zombies. There will be warrior battles, fire festivals and the Hearts of Khyber will be roaming the grounds. General Admission $20 More tix info at allhallowsfaire.com
101 Frog Town Road, Angels Camp
Rocky Horror Picture Show
I see you shiver with antici- – – – – PATION!
The amazing Rocky Horror Picture Show is back at the State Theatre. This is truly a musical that will engaged you with the big event full of costumes, fun and audience partici~SAY It!~pation. Rocky Horror has been a tradition in Modesto since the late 70s and 80s and it is brought to life on stage by the Barely Legal group while the film plays on the big silver screen, with the amazing Richard O’brien soundtrack playing through the excellent State sound system. If it is your first time to see this event, be careful as you may end up part of the show.
October 22, Doors at 8 Show at 9 Don’t Dream It, Be It!
www.thestate.org
Haunted Castle
There’s a light, over at the Frankenstein place. Yes friends, there is a real haunted castle. Right up the road in Ione, the Preston Castle is back with a new in-person experience, new tour map and a frightful experience that is unlike any other. Weekends beginning October 14, Preston Castle, on any regular day is spooky, but this Halloween will be transformed with an all new scare. Get tickets early as this sells out, and you will want a group of friends to experience this together. Tix are only available in advance and Fast Pass tix are available
900 Palm Dr, Ione, CA 95640
(209) 256-3623
prestoncastle.org/haunt/
Halloween at the State Theatre
You won’t want to miss the Halloween thrills at the State with these classics: Nightmare on Elm Street, Hocus Pocus, Coraline, Pink Floyd the Wall, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Hotel Transylvania, Beetlejuice, and the Nightmare on J Street Burlesque. Plan your schedule at get tix at www.thestate.org
Frankenstein!
Even our local performing arts groups get into the haunted action this year. Modesto’s Central West Ballet will be presenting Frankenstein. I think we will find out that this monster may actually be light on his feet. Central West Ballet opens their 35th Anniversary Season with the world premiere of Frankenstein, depicting Mary Shelley’s revered, gothic story on stage with rich visuals and an epic original music score. If you loved CWB’s Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Dracula, you’ll definitely love Frankenstein! Set in the 18th century, it is considered to be the first science fiction novel ever written. Be ready to be transported on a mesmerizing and frightening journey in CWB’s all-new Halloween Ballet Experience!
October 28 & 29
Gallo Center for Arts
www.galloarts.org
Shop Local
When you are getting ready for a special haunt, please shop local. There are two places that you won’t want to miss. Daydreams & Nightmares is the most amazing place, located in a former crematorium, they have truly amazing costumes and make up. Many of their costumes have been on the cover of ModestoView and it just feels haunted walking in. Halloween Guys is owned by Modestan Ray Pogue and they have a new special section for décor and costumes under $50. They have a large store with everything you need to decorate your house or yourself. Support these places that are here all year long in our community.
Daydreams & Nightmares – 1219 7th St, Modesto, CA 95354 (209) 575-0023
Halloween Guys – 2936 Veneman Ave, Modesto, CA 95356 (209) 529-0000
There are other haunted events and we will try to keep you posted as we learn about them on our amazing event calendar at www.modestoview.com
