Have a Happy Halloween, everybody.
Every year, the routine is exciting for the kids. They dress up in their various costumes, and then all the Iron Men, Spidermen, princesses, pumpkins, and Scotsmen (maybe that’s just us) go out to fill their bags of candy with their friends and families. They probably aren’t all that particular about where they trick-or-treat, so long as they can indulge their sugary desires.
The only trouble is that you never know the conditions of Halloween night until the evening comes. Halloween night could be stormy, neighbors could be out of town, and you never know when the kids may catch one of the bugs going around schools. If you want to ensure your kids get their fill of trick-or-treating fun without relying solely on October 31, you may want to check out some of the community events dedicated to Halloween going on between now and then.
Monster Mash at the Greenwood Public Library – This family-friendly Halloween Party takes place from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, October 26. The library will be providing the “tricks,” including activities like a costume contest and the “Find the Monster” interactive scavenger hunt. Meanwhile, local businesses from all over Johnson County will be giving away the “treats” to the kids. If you head to the Monster Mash, keep an eye out for Indianapolis On The Cheap — Julie will be representing us and would love to hear that you saw our post. (She used our candy posts to get a good price on Skittles and Starbursts for our booth’s trick-or-treaters.)
ZooBoo at the Indianapolis Zoo – This family-friendly event is going on already, but will still be available for you to enjoy from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. October 26-28. This year’s theme is “The Wonderful World of ZooBoo,” putting a Zoo twist on “The Wonderful World of Oz.” You can check out full details at the above link, but we’ll offer you a short summary. You will see fun activities like the Elephant Pumpkin Smash, the Obstacle Course at the Kroger Splash Park, and the Halloween Train Ride. And of course, your kids can go trick-or-treating through the Plains exhibit area.
Boone Village Trick or Treat – This one is coming up very soon. The Boone Village shopping center will be transformed into a completely kid-friendly trick-or-treat zone tomorrow (October 24) from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. If you head to Zionsville where Indiana 334 and Ford Road meet, you will find plenty of participating merchants who will have goodies on hand for the kids. In the meantime, the town will also hold the annual costume contest by age group.
Once Upon a Ghoulish Day – EventzPlus and Indy CoZ are putting this event together at 7960 Castleway Drive just a little south of Castleton. The fun lasts from noon to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 27. The event describes itself as children friendly and lights on. It will feature Halloween crafts, treat, and snacks. Your kids can also participate in the children’s costume contest. This particular event is not FREE, but we know a way for you to earn a discount. If you go to the above link before the sale ends on Friday, October 26, you can purchase tickets for $6 instead of the $10 you would be charged at the door.
Sweet Tooth Tuesday – The last pre-Halloween event will take place up in Carmel. The Carmel City Center (located on the southwest corner of Rangeline Road and City Center Drive) will be hosting its “Sweet Tooth Tuesday” event from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 30. The festivities kick off with a costume parade starting at 3:30 p.m. From there, kids of all ages are welcome to trick-or-treat at all participating restaurants and stores.
Scare in the Square – The Fountain Square Merchants Association invites you to bring your kids and follow the Trick-or-Treat Trail to Fountain Square Merchants on Wednesday October 31. Participating merchants will hand out treats from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. You can pick up your Trail Map and Treat Bag at the new Plaza where Shelby and Prospect streets meet. Best of all, this event is completely FREE.
UPDATED 10/24: Haunted Hall of Hoops: If you’re in the Bloomington area on Sunday, stop by Assembly Hall for the Cream and Crimson scrimmage at 2 pm, followed by a costume parade and group photos with coaches and players (plus candy) for children under 12. Doors open at 1 pm. More than 1,800 children participated last year. Admission is FREE.
Charlotte on the Cheap is a member of 