Halloween Fun in Southern Illinois 2009

Haunted horses and haunted trails, pumpkins, parades, and seasonal festivals will mark the 2009 Halloween season in Southern Illinois. Here's your guide to the events for you to add to your calendar. Many of these events are free. Use the contact numbers provided for further information.

Oct 3. American Ghost Society 10th Annual Fall Festival (Madison Co). At Riverboat Molly's History and Hauntings Bookstore noon to 5pm. Free event. Speakers include Troy Taylor on St Louis' Exorcist House, Adam White on ghosthunting techniques, Andrea Prendable on Southern Illinois ghosts, and Jeremiah Niere on on legends of Zombie Road.  There are after hours events for which you have to make a reservation; there is a fee charged for these. Again, attendance at the fall festival itself is free, no reservations needed, just walk in. For information , check the wesbite at http://www.prairieghosts.com/festival.html.

Oct 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, 24-25, 31. Dorney's Pumpkin Patch (Lawrence Co) 12-5pm Sat, 1-4pm Sun. Hayrides, 5-acre corn maze, gold mine, dark straw crawl, gourd sling shot and choo-choo train all for $5 admission. Lawrenceville. 618-943-2699.

Oct 3-4 DuBois Center Fall Festival (Washington Co). Many Halloween-theme vendors among the dozens of crafters, lots of food vendors, musical entertainment, children's craft area, hay rides, horse rides, free parking with rides from parking area. Free. DuBois. 618-787-2202. Check out my story on this year's event at http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1895648/visit_the_dubois_center_fall_festival.html?cat=8

Oct 9-10. Haunted Creole House Experience (Randolph Co). Haunted trail experience starting in the Creole House. Prairie du Rocher. 618-284-3319.

Oct 10. Pumpkin Patch (Madison Co). Highland. 618-654-3721.

Oct 10 Cemetery Tour of the Old Golconda City Cemetery (Pope Co). Tour guides are in period clothing.  Golconda.  618-683-3341.

Oct 16-17.  Haunted Trail at Carlyle Lake (Clinton Co).  Wagon ride pick-up at McDonalds parking lot Participatns compete with compete with best scary exhibits for prizes along the lake's Little Prairie Nature Trail. Carlyle. 618-594-2484.

Oct 16-17, 23-24. Haunted Creole House Experience (Randolph Co). Haunted trail experience starting in the Creole House. Prairie du Rocher. 618-284-3319.

Oct 16-17, 23-24, 30-31. Hauntings Within (Jasper Co). Haunted house experience on north side of Newton Square, benefits Star Step Gym. 618-783-3260.

Oct 16-17, 23-24, 30-31, Nov 1. Forest of Fear Haunted Trail (Edwards Co). From Albion, take highway 15 West, then 11 mi. south on Red Hill Road, west 1.5 mi on County Road 100 North, south on 225 East, third driveway on left. www.myspace.com/forest_of_fear Rural Albion. 618-375-2036

Oct 17. Lawrenceville Spooktacular (Lawrence Co). At Lawrenceville City Park. Pumpkin decorating contest, games (11am-4pm), haystack scramble (noon), Lawrence County Tumbling and cake walk (1pm), bonfire with s'mores and hot dog roast at 7pm, hayride (6-8pm). Lawrenceville. 618-943-4946.

Oct 25. Witches Night Out (Madison Co). Shoppers encouraged to wear witch costume. Music, contests, treats. 5pm-9pm. Lebanon. 618-537-6625.

Oct 29. Lion's Club Halloween Parade (Fayette Co). Vandalia 618-537-6625.

Oct 30. Halloween Party (St Clair Co). Caseyville. 618-345-6256.

Oct 30. Olney Halloween Parade (Richland Co). 6-6:30pm through downtown Olney. Sponsored by TrustBank. Olney. 618-395-4311.

Oct 31.  Nashville Lion's Club Children's Costume Parade (Washington Co).  Afternoon event at Community Center of Nashville, 3pm parade on streets around community center, then move indoors for a holiday party. Nashville.

Oct 31. Christopher Lion's Club Fall Festival (Franklin Co). Parade, other events. Christopher 618-724-2928

Oct 31. Columbia Scare Square and Pumpkin Glow (Monroe Co). Columbia. 618-281-7144 x 106.

Oct 31. Centralia Fall Festival (Marion Co). Centralia. 618-532-3214.

Oct 31. Edwardsville Lighted Halloween Parade (Madison Co). Edwardsville. 618-656-7600.

Oct 31. Centralia Lighted Halloween Parade (Marion Co). Centralia. 618-532-5000 x 13.

Nov 6-7 Haunted Trails (Lawrence Co). At River Park in St. Francisville. 6-11pm. All proceeds to Shop With a Cop. $3 per person. St. Francisville. 618-948-2683.

For more information on events in Southern Illinois this fall and year-round, you can check out the Southern Illinois Road Trip website at http://home.midwest.net/~howes/southernillinoisroadtrip/.