FREAK SHOWS
By Scott Renshaw
Odyssey Dance: Thriller
While many other organizations try to play catch-up in providing Halloween-season fare, Odyssey Dance has been serving up its annual Thriller production for 18 years. Familiar pieces like the "River of Blood Dance," the Friday the 13th-inspired "Jason Jam" and, of course, the titular nod to Michael Jackson's iconic song will share the bill with new offerings, as multiple companies work to bring the show to eight venues in Utah and Idaho.
Kingsbury Hall, 1395 E. Presidents Circle, University of Utah, Oct. 10-Nov. 1, Monday-Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; 2 p.m. Saturday matinees, $25-$50. Full calendar of all cities at OdysseyDance.com/shows/thriller
Utah Symphony "Halloween Hijinks"
Conductor Vladimir Kulenovic leads the symphony in a program of music with a creepy flair, including the overture from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera, John Williams' scores from The Witches of Eastwick and Harry Potter, Wagner's "Ride of the Valkyries" and Mussgorsky's "Night on Bald Mountain." Patrons are also invited to dress up for the 24th-annual costume contest, with a chance to win prizes.
Abravanel Hall, 123 W. South Temple, 801-355-2787, Oct. 28, 7 p.m., $6-$18. UtahSymphony.org
Plan-B Theatre Company Radio Hour 9: Grimm
The company's annual season kick-off of producing a vintage radio show finds playwright Matthew Ivan Bennett adapting three classic Grimm fairy tales: Little Snow-White, Rapunzel and The Juniper Tree. Join the studio audience, or listen in during the KUER 90.1 FM simulcast.
Rose Wagner Center, 138 W. 300 South, 801-355-2787, Oct. 15, 7 p.m., $20. PlanBTheatre.org/Grimm.htm
Pioneer Theatre Company: The Rocky Horror Show
The story of the innocent young couple who encounter a "sweet transvestite" of a mad scientist—best known from the cult-classic movie—goes back to its theatrical roots in the company's special weekend presentation, complete with orchestral accompaniment. Come in costume as the spirit moves you; prop kits will be available for purchase at the show.
Pioneer Memorial Theatre, 300 S. 1400 East, 801-581-6961, Oct. 24, 8 p.m.; Oct. 25, 5 & 10 p.m., $20-$40. PioneerTheatre.org/2014-2015-season/rocky-horror-show/
SB Dance:
Cannibal: A Love Story
Choreographer Stephen Brown has presented wonderfully demented dance theater for grown-ups before, but this brand-new production finds a restaurant critic learning the hard way that there's a wide edible world out there. Actor Dan Larrinaga joins the music (an original score by Jeffrey Price) and movement in an evening of mature, munchy, gruesome fun.
Rose Wagner Center, 138 W. 300 South, 801-355-2787, Oct. 24-25, 8 p.m., $17.50.
SBDance.com/shows/halloween.php
An October Evening
Few Halloween events promise the broad range of artistic talents on display at the ninth-annual gathering of local independent artists. Stephen Simmons again plays de facto ringmaster for a night of music, film, dance, fashion, theater and pretty much anything else that can be touched by the spirit of the macabre.
Masonic Temple, 650 E. South Temple, Oct. 18, 7:30 p.m., $10. Facebook.com/AnOctoberEvening
Deep Love
First performed in 2010, this original production of through-sung, operatic theater by Ryan Hayes & Garrett Sherwood tells the story of a widow whose husband tries to maintain their connection from beyond the grave. American Idol alum Jon Peter Lewis leads the cast in this year's one-night-only Salt Lake City performance.
Rose Wagner Center, 138 W. 300 South, 801-355-2787, Oct. 17, 8 p.m., $15. DeepLoveOpera.com, ArtTix.org
Tower Theatre's Tower of Terror Series
For those who want to get their scares from their favorite horror films, the Tower Theatre fills October weekends with special screenings of scream-worthy classics. This year's lineup features the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre and Night of the Living Dead, Fright Night and, of course, the traditional Halloween week screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Tower Theatre, 876 E. 900 South, 801-321-0310, Oct. 3-31, Fridays & Saturdays, 11 p.m.; Sundays, noon; Rocky Horror, 8 p.m. & midnight, $5-$10. SaltLakeFilmSociety.org
Edison Street Events: Phantom of the Opera
Experience the original, silent movie version of the classic story starring Lon Chaney, accompanied by the venue's wonderful live musical accompaniment on the mighty Wurlitzer organ.
Edison Street Events, 3331 S. Edison St., 801-485-9265, Oct. 22-24, 7:30 p.m., $6. EdisonStreetEvents.com/silent-movies/
NO MORE FEARS
Utah abounds with safe spooks and friendly fall activities for the whole family.
By Deann Armes
There's no shortage of non-scary Halloween fun for families along the Wasatch Front. This handpicked list of Utah's favorite kid-friendly hotspots will help you plan a season of family activities to enjoy before cold weather hits.
Pumpkin Patch Hayrides and Hot Apple Cider Donuts Rowley's Red Barn at South Ridge Farms October is the only time you can get your hands on these scrumptious apple-cider donuts. After you've indulged in one (or more) of these seasonal treats, take a laidback hayride through the fall fruit trees to the pumpkin patch. Kids will love mucking around the acres of vines hunting for the perfect pumpkin, while moms and dads can capture timeless photos at the many ideal picture spots on this beautiful farm in Santaquin. 901 S. 300 West, Santaquin, 801-754-5511, Sept. 26-Oct. 30, Monday-Saturday, hours vary, $4-$5, kids under 2 free. SouthRidgeFarms.com
Harvest Hayride and Corn Mazes Black Island Farms There is something for all harvest hunters, young and old, at this gigantic vegetable farm in Davis County. The Courtyard is full of fall fun—a corn box, bounce house, Animal Alley, bonfires, straw mountain, cow train and much more—to keep the whole family engaged. Older kids can venture to Nightmare Acres, and nobody will be bored with the farm's multitude of corn mazes. 3178 S. 3000 West, Syracuse, 801-774-6293, through Nov. 1, seven days a week, hours vary by attraction, $9-$20. BlackIslandFarms.com
Wild Wednesdays Ogden Nature Center Who says Halloween has to be all about sugar and make-believe? Sneak in some educational, slightly creepy fun for your little ones at this large nature preserve in Ogden. The center's hands-on Wednesday nature lessons for kids take on a seasonal theme throughout October, featuring sessions on owls, spiders, snakes and bats. The special event Creatures of the Night (Oct. 24 & 25, 5-8 p.m., $5-6, kids 3 and under free) is a chance for the little ones to don costumes, meet local spiders, visit the Hilarious House of Hoots, navigate a web crawl and play carnival games. 966 W. 12th St., Ogden, 801-621-7595, times and prices vary. OgdenNatureCenter.org
The Haunted Half Memory Grove Park and Provo Canyon Active families can get some extra mileage out of their costumes for these races through Salt Lake City's Memory Grove Park (Oct. 18) and Provo Canyon (Oct. 25). Adults can run in the half marathon or 5K, while even reluctant young runners might find that they have the candy-fueled energy needed to run the half-mile kids race. And the whole family will enjoy costume contests, entertainment and, of course, more candy. Info on pricing, race locations and registration at TheHauntedHalf.com
Monster Block Party The Gallivan Center Yes, you can find traditional fall fun in the middle of the city. This free event in downtown Salt Lake City has something for partygoers of all ages: arts and crafts, live performances, trick-or-treating booths, a costume contest and more. 239 S. Main, Salt Lake City, Oct. 25, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., free. TheGallivanCenter.com
Garden After Dark Red Butte Garden Little goblins and ghouls can wander through Red Butte Garden's endless flowers and plants searching for hidden fairy-tale villains. Festive light displays, crafts and other activities provide enchanting merriment for the whole family. 300 Wakara Way, Salt Lake City, 801-585-0556, Oct. 16, 17, 18, 23, 24, 25, 6-9 p.m., $6-$12. RedButteGarden.org
Sixth-Annual Giant Pumpkin Drop Hee Haw Farms This event is exactly what it sounds like: giant pumpkins being dropped from giant heights into pools of water and onto cars, dummies and other pumpkins. The pumpkin drop doesn't begin till Oct. 26 at noon, but Hee Haw has plenty to offer families in the meantime, including trick-or-treat hayrides and haunted hayrides, a pumpkin patch, farmyard paintball, pig chases, an animal train and a corn cannon. 150 N. 2000 West, Pleasant Grove, 801-368-0255, Sept. 26 through October, times vary, $6 and up. HeeHawFarms.com
Witchfest Gardner Village A scavenger hunt sends wee folks running through this "village" of relocated historic Salt Lake City homes in search of funny, crazy witches. The Wee Witches Playground, new this year, includes a giant pillow jump, spider-web climb, witches disco and even a candy-corn pool. Other seasonal Gardner Village activities—Wee Witches Weekend, Flight of the Witches Ride, Breakfast With a Witch, and more—will ensure your family will have something to do during all of the witching hours. 1100 W. 7800 South, West Jordan, 801-566-8903, through Oct. 31, Monday-Saturday, specific dates, times and prices vary. GardnerVillage.com
Little Haunts This Is the Place Heritage Park Looking for low-key fall fun? This is the place for Halloween crafts, pony rides, trick-or-treating and train rides. And parents and kids can rest their weary bones during a visit with the friendly Story Witch. 2601 Sunnyside Ave., Salt Lake City, 801-582-1847, Oct. 16, 17, 18, 25, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., $8-$11, free for kids 2 and under. ThisIsThePlace.org
Pumpkin Festival Family Train Experience Heber Valley Railroad Utah's famous train has Halloween fun for all. Climb aboard this 40-minute train ride to be entertained by costumed folks and given a delicious pumpkin cookie. And, if you dare, you can also take a trip through the haunted car at the depot. 450 S. 600 West, Heber City, 435-654-5601, dates and times vary, $3-$15. HeberValleyRR.org
Halloween Central: Nod to Oz Thanksgiving Point A Laughin' Pass to the popular Cornbelly's Cornmaze includes all non-haunted activities, like the Jumper Air Pillow, cow train, chicken show, pumpkin princess playground, animal band and more. Don't miss the adorable Emerald City at Farm Country during the entire month of October—but watch out for the Wicked Witch of the West. 3003 N. Thanksgiving Way, Lehi, 801-794-3276, Oct. 3-Nov. 1, Monday-Saturday, hours vary, $7 and up. Cornbellys.com
BE VERY AFRAID
Utah's haunted-house architects up the ante on ghosts & goblins.
By Trevor Hale
There's no better way to get in the spirit of Halloween than wandering through hordes of zombies, deranged clowns and lunatics with power tools while trying to pretend you're not terrified. Haunted house season is upon us, and Utah has its fair share of some of the best in the country.
Nightmare on 13th
Nightmare on 13th is one of the oldest haunts in town and still one of the absolute best. Each year, the inside of the building is completely rebuilt from the ground up, never repeating itself and always offering the most frightening experience possible. This year, the haunt is divided into three levels—Swamp Blood, Haunted Hollywood and Delirium—with each section taking on a clear aesthetic design. Each set is jarringly different, making it hard to get accustomed to the surroundings before you abruptly switch to something else entirely. Whether it's the deranged, riddle-inspired assault on the senses of Delirium, or the quietly creepy and unsettling feeling of wandering through a haunted New Orleans bayou in Swamp Blood, Nightmare on 13th never allows you to let your guard down.
Highs: The attention to the little details throughout is incredible. The craftsmanship that goes into creating some of the set pieces and the makeup on the cast makes you feel like you're actually part of something horrifying and allows you to forget that you're just walking through a building.
Lows: Being the most well-known also means Nightmare on 13th is the most crowded. You're bound to run into the group ahead of you much sooner than you'd like, which causes you to miss out on a few of the bigger scares.
1300 S. 300 West, Salt Lake City, dates and operating hours vary through September and October, $22-$37, free VIP upgrade when purchased online. NightmareOn13th.com
Fear Factory
Fear Factory doesn't just want you for a little bit; it wants you for the entire night. Located in the old Portland Cement Works building on 800 South, Fear Factory has made quite a name for itself in just a few years. By using its massive amount of space, Fear Factory is able to offer a lot of things that other haunts around town can't. The structure of the building itself—from the cave-like basement to the painted tower visible from Interstate 15—is a natural kind of creepy that's amplified when it's brought to life with wandering costumed actors. Nearly half the haunt takes place outside, and the brisk night air builds a great B-movie atmosphere that starts the second you walk through the main gate. With a zombie bus that transports visitors from The Gateway, a couple of "extreme attractions" (a bungee jump "Fear Fall" from one of the towers and a zip line) and live entertainment while you wait, Fear Factory makes sure that you fill every last bit of your time before, during and after you've walked through.
Highs: The sheer size of the place is what's most impressive. The logistics that go into planning a public haunt that takes up nearly an entire city block is something to be marveled at, and they put all the available space to great use.
Lows: The size is sometimes a burden as well. Some sections feel a bit underpopulated by cast members, which leaves a lot of time to admire the intricate set designs, but also leaves a lot of time for the teenagers behind you to catch up.
666 W. 800 South, Salt Lake City, dates and operating hours vary through September and October, $25 with online purchase, $35 for VIP and one "extreme attraction." FearFactorySLC.com
Castle of Chaos
While it's still getting comfortable in its new Taylorsville home (the old building on 3300 South was purchased and torn down), Castle of Chaos proves it didn't lose any of its bite during the switch. The atmosphere upon arrival isn't as creepy as some of the other haunts, but it's hard to immediately establish an aesthetic in a well-populated shopping area called the Family Center, with a brightly lit Starbucks next door. Don't let that deter you, though, because once you're inside the double doors, it's dark, ominous and creepy for the rest of the way. Castle of Chaos is packed with movie and pop-culture references, and you're met by a dead ringer for Daryl Dixon before heading into a scene that looks like it was plucked directly from the set of The Walking Dead.
Highs: The Hands-on Horror experience (which costs extra) allows the cast and crew to have physical contact with you as you walk through. Most other places stop short of touching you, but here, you can sign a waiver and open yourself up to a new level of terror. Just don't be surprised if you find yourself physically separated from your group and forced to go it alone the rest of the way.
Lows: The set designers make mostly great use of the space, including the loading dock, but occasionally, you'll spot the exposed white rafters above and remember you're inside an old grocery store.
5600 S. Redwood Road, Taylorsville; 1100 W. Riverdale Road, Ogden, dates and operating hours vary between locations, $25-$40. CastleOfChaos.com
Strangling Brothers Haunted Circus
There's something about clowns that's already inherently creepy and unsettling, but Strangling Brothers Haunted Circus in Draper, inspired by a traveling carnival, takes it to a whole new level. No time is wasted here: Once you're through the front doors and inside the big top, the show starts. The cast staggers groups by nearly 10 minutes each, so it's very rare that you'll catch up to the group in front of you, and this leaves more room for the well-trained cast to get a great scare out of you. There's a nice inside/outside atmosphere as you walk through a maze of more than 20 converted semi-truck trailers and outdoor sets that are some of the best-designed in the state. The cool night air is a welcome feeling, too, since some of those trailers get a little claustrophobic.
Highs: There's lots of different entertainment—prerecorded videos, DJs, dancers, magicians, etc.—while you wait, and it's nice to not have the bigger set pieces spoiled by being only a few steps behind the group in front of you.
Lows: The wait time can get a little out of control on busy nights, and there's only so many times one can watch Rob Zombie music videos before going crazy—though that might be the point.
98 E. 13800 South, Draper, dates and operating hours vary through September and October $23-$35, free VIP upgrade when you purchase online.
StranglingBros.com
Frightmares at Lagoon rolls out its version of a haunted amusement park and offers both kid-friendly versions as well as attractions that are "absolutely too scary for kids." Enter at your own risk. 375 N. Lagoon Drive, Farmington, prices and hours of operation vary by date. LagoonPark.com
Insanity Point at Cornbelly's offers several different attractions, all at varying levels of terror according to the "scream scale." Hayloft Horror, Cabin Fever and Cornophobia are just a few of the obstacles you'll try to make it through alive. Thanksgiving Point, 3003 N. Thanksgiving Way, Lehi, prices and operating hours vary by date. InsanityPoint.com
Haunted Hollow leads you down outdoor trails that wind through thick trees, mineshafts and swamps, and takes nearly two hours from start to finish. It's all outdoors, so make sure you dress appropriately. Each ticket also includes the Zombie Paintball Safari, which allows you to shoot paintballs at wandering undead corpses. 1550 S. 1900 West, Ogden, dates and operating hours vary through September and October. HauntedUtah.com
Haunted Forest leads you through a variety of outdoor attractions similar to the Haunted Hollow, and also offers a separate attraction called Zombie War Z, which puts you right in the middle of a zombie apocalypse—armed for safety, of course. Dress appropriately for both. 6400 N. 6000 West, American Fork, dates and operating hours vary through October, $20-$25 depending on desired attractions. HauntedUtah.com
WHO ARE YOU
Find the essential disguise for Halloween tricks and treats.
By Aimee Cook O'Brien
Though dressing up as someone or something different is one of the best parts of Halloween, it can also be the most difficult. Where do you begin? Well, whether you plan to create a truly one-of-a-kind costume with props and makeup, or need someone else to do the preparation for you, Utah's many costume and consignment shops should be your first stop on the way to that gruesome zombie or fairy-princess costume—or an awesome mixture of the two.
Mask Costumes is open year-round and has two locations in Salt Lake City and Taylorsville (718 E. 3900 South, Salt Lake City, 801-268-8466; 1826 W. 5400 South, Taylorsville, 801-828-3484, MaskCostumes.com). Don't let the name fool you—there is far more to experience than masks, and costume rentals make an easy way to reinvent yourself each year.
Farina's Costumes (25 Kensington Ave., Salt Lake City, 801-466-3006, FarinasCostumes.vpweb.com) is another year-round costume shop that also has costume rentals and full costume kits available. Farina's has everything from superheroes to Disney Princesses, and if you can't find what you're after, the friendly staff will help you create it.
Pib's Exchange (1147 E. Ashton Ave., Salt Lake City, 801-484-7996, PibsExchangeOnline.com) is a great place to find all of the parts to create a one-of-a-kind costume. Pib's also sells vintage and current clothing styles, so you can mix & match to create an eccentric masterpiece.
Spirit Halloween (multiple locations, SpiritHalloween.com) is a nationwide superstore of Halloween goodness with something for the entire family, including hard-to-dress pets. Who knew there were so many varieties of fake teeth?
Spoox Boutique (3453 S. State, Salt Lake City, 801-867-2777, Facebook.com/SpooxBoutique) is less about costumes and more about celebrating all things creepy, no matter the time of year. Hosting a monster ball will seem like a snap when you gaze upon their impressive selection of themed décor.
Blue Boutique (multiple locations, BlueBoutique.com) will help shake up the holiday in a sexy way, whether you're looking to turn heads at a party or give someone special a private Halloween treat.
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