‘Tis the season: Spotlight on Dayton Halloween attractions
By: Katie Christoff – A&E Editor
As Halloween approaches each year, so does an important question: what to dress up as on the last night of October. People spend so much time and effort trying to think of a funny, creative or impressive costume that the true meaning of the season is often forgotten. Isn’t Halloween really about subjecting yourself to sheer terror by letting strangers smeared in fake blood chase you with chain saws, then pretending that it wasn’t actually even that scary at all, because you’ve got to impress your friends, right?
Luckily, you don’t have to neglect this fun (?) anymore, because Dayton’s got plenty of haunted action this month. Here are some of the top Halloween attractions in Dayton – now do yourself a favor, break out of the UD bubble for a weekend and enjoy some good, old fashioned terror. You probably won’t regret it (after it’s over, that is). Happy Halloween, Flyers.
NIGHTMARE ON
VALLEY STREET
This scream park features four attractions, including a haunted trail, haunted hayrides, a Texas chain saw massacre and a paintball massacre. It costs $20 for guests to access all four attractions and is open Fridays and Saturdays from dark-midnight through Oct. 25. For more information, visit nightmareonvalleystreet.com.
HAUNTED CASTLE OF CARNAGE AND BLOODY HOLLOW
Just as the name suggests, this is not for the faint of heart. This attraction features a Haunted Castle and a Haunted Bloody Hollow, and guests can access both for $12 per person. The scares are for a good cause, too: it’s run entirely by volunteers from Riverside Jaycees, and the profits will help fund their community service projects throughout the next year. It is open Friday through Sunday at 7:30 p.m. through Nov. 1. For more information, visit riverside-jaycees.com.
HORROR ACRES
This Springfield attraction will bring guests face-to-face with chilling and infamous characters like Freddy, Jason, Michael Myers and Leatherface. It includes Horror Acres, $15; a Maze of Insanity, $10; or a combined pass for $18. It is open Fridays and Saturdays 8:30 p.m. to midnight through Nov. 1. For more information, visit horroracres.com.
THE CHAMBERS
OF HORROR
With over 30 rooms and 100 doors, this Middletown haunted attraction claims that it will “exploit your fears and make them a reality,” according to its website. Once inside, guests are cut off from all contact from others. Although you’ll be able to hear others screaming, you won’t be able to see them. It is open Fridays from dark to midnight and Saturdays from dark to 1 a.m. through Nov. 1 and costs $13 per person, cash only. For more information, visit thechambers.org.
And finally, for the faint of heart among us (or anyone trying to achieve that perfect fall Instagram):
PICK YOUR OWN PUMPKINS
If you’re looking to decorate your porch festively for Halloween and being scared isn’t really your thing, head over to Young’s Jersey Dairy in Yellow Springs to pick your own pumpkins. It’s open every day 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Oct. 19. The cost is $7.50 per pumpkin, which includes a hayride to the pumpkin patch. For more information, visit youngsdairy.com/pyo-pumpkin.