What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1177764
OCTOBER 20-26, 2019 WHAT'S UP! 37 BECCA MARTIN-BROWN NWA Democrat-Gazette H alloween can be hard in Bella Vista," muses Bailley Kinser, event coordinator for the Bella Vista Public Library. "We're so spread out, and the roads are too dangerous for trick-or-treating. Having a Halloween celebration at the library seems like the perfect solution." The Spooktacular is now in its 13th year — predating Kinser's job with the library — but she's proud to say "it's really staggering to see how big it's become." "The last time we held Spooktacular, we had over 500 kids from all over Northwest Arkansas and southern Missouri," she says. "Our primary audience is young families. The event is designed with kids in mind, so it's not too scary. We have lots of smiling jack-o-lanterns and friendly ghosts." When Kinser starts talking about the fall festival, her excitement is contagious. "For Spooktacular, we turn our Encore! Bookstore into a not-so-scary Haunted Bookstore walk-through," she explains. "All the lights are out, and we put up some spooky Halloween lights, jack-o-lanterns, spiderwebs — you name it, we've got it! There's always a few creepy guests as well, like Cecil the Skeleton. "It is so much fun to watch the kids walk through the store because they are so fascinated by all of the decorations and characters that we put up in there! "We usually have a witch's cottage where the kids can come meet our own resident witch and get their picture with her," Kinser goes on, "but with our construction, we've had to move her — so this year we're thrilled to announce the Witch's Woods." She has to give that witch a "shout-out," Kinser adds — "in part because she is a crowd favorite and in part because she's my mother." Kinser says she's grateful for everyone that helps with the event. "The Scott Family Amazeum is having a Hallow-STEAM station. Super Science NWA is making cotton candy. Kings Kettlecorn is providing, you guessed it, kettlecorn." But her favorite part of the Spooktacular every year is the hayride. "Our limited parking means that attendees have to park at the Baptist Church up the hill," Kinser says. "To help prevent this from being an inconvenience, we have a hayride that transports guests to and from the event. It is so much fun to ride down Dickens Place on a chilly fall afternoon with everyone in their costumes. It's very nostalgic and fun." Haunted Houses Banshee Manor Haunted House WHEN — 7-11 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays through October and 7-10 p.m. Oct. 31 WHERE — 4520 N. College Ave., Fayetteville COST — $10 INFO — bansheemanor.com Haunted Skeleton House WHEN — 7-10 p.m. Oct. 31 WHERE — Skeleton House, 20 Sandridge Dr. in Bella Vista COST — Donation to NWA Bully Haven Rescue or the Bella Vista Community Involvement Coat Drive INFO — (479) 899-5117 Zombie Event at Modern Mission WHEN — 7-10 p.m. Oct. 25-26 WHERE — 3484 E. Joyce Blvd., Fayetteville COST — $25 INFO —595-0055 or modernmission.com The Expelled Haunted House WHEN — 7-11 p.m. every Friday and Saturday in October; Oct. 31; Nov. 2 WHERE — 29555 Arkansas 23, Huntsville COST — $10-$20 INFO — theexpelled.com Nightmares Haunted House WHEN — Dusk-midnight every Friday and Saturday in October; Oct. 25; Oct. 31-Nov. 2 WHERE — 3706 N.W. Frontage Road, Bentonville COST — $20-$30 INFO — nightmareshaunted house.net Warehouse of Fear & Swamp Walker WHEN — 6:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays in October and Oct. 31 WHERE — 17023 Chambers Springs Road, Siloam Springs ROUNDUP Staff Photo BEN GOFF • @NWABenGoff Jillian Grau, of Bella Vista takes a turn at the bean bag toss at a previous Halloween Spooktacular at the Bella Vista Public Library. This year's event, set for this afternoon, includes a haunted bookstore, Witch's Woods, cotton candy, kettlecorn and a hayride. FAQ Spooktacular WHEN — 2-4 p.m. Oct. 20 WHERE — Bella Vista Public Library, 11 Dickens Place in Bella Vista COST — Free INFO — 855-1753 See Spooktacular Page 40 It's Spooktacular!