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8 WHAT'S UP! OCTOBER 10-16, 2021 Fun, Fear Go Bump In The Night 'Tis the season for Halloween thrills and treats LARA JO HIGHTOWER NWA Democrat-Gazette T he Fayetteville Public Library — with its gorgeous new expansion — is the last place you might consider "scary," But youth and teen librarian Jim Curry says that, during the month of October, the library is doing its best to celebrate Halloween in a spooktacular way. "In addition to our FPL Fright Nights on Mondays and a pumpkin-decorating workshop, we'll have additional events such as a one-day writers' workshop for youth and teens on Oct. 25 that will explore the subgenres of horror," says Curry. "Our Be (A)ware event on Oct. 30 is an allergy-friendly Halloween event which will include 'A Toy Story' performance from Spotlight Characters, a costume parade and trick-or-treating opportunities inside the library. And be sure to keep an eye out for 'Goosebumps" villain Slappy wandering the children's library." FPL's Monday Fright Nights will feature scary movies shown on a huge screen in the new state-of-the- art event center, says Curry. "This year's movie selection shares scares from across the decades," he says. "From the late '90s ('Scooby-Doo on Zombie Island') to the last decade ('Goosebumps'), parents and kids may find a familiar film this October. These films represent a diversity of studios and animation styles sure to bring a healthy amount of fright to families who visit us." Curry says masks are required at all times inside the FPL, and the Event Center's spacious seating allows for social distancing. No food or drink is allowed inside the Event Center. The expansion of the library was unveiled in the middle of the covid-19 pandemic, and, as a result, says Curry, the staff has been carefully monitoring prescribed safety precautions as they plan events. "As the library continues to navigate covid-19, we are actively monitoring ways in which we can bring programming to the public that keeps our visitors and staff safe," says Curry. "We encourage the public (including youth, teens and families) to visit the new library spaces, to attend one of our free and engaging programs, and to remain safe in their visits by following the current health and safety guidelines. We look forward to more in-person programming — like story times! — when it is safe to do so." Fright Night movies start at 5:30 p.m. each Monday in October; Pumpkin Painting, for grades K-4, starts at 4 p.m. Oct. 19; the Chilling Poetry Workshop for grades 8-12 starts at 5 p.m. on Oct. 25; and the Be (A)ware Allergy-Friendly Halloween event starts at 3 p.m. on Oct. 30. Check the library's October calendar for more Halloween events at faylib.org. Want more Halloween options around Northwest Arkansas? Check out our round-up of scary — and not so scary! — events. Adult-Sized Scares While some of these haunted houses feature "family days," their regular offerings and business hours are best suited for older kids, teenagers and adults. Asylum Haunted House 210 N. Main St. Cave Springs theasylumhauntedhouse.net 7 p.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays in October; 7-10 p.m. Oct. 28 and 31 (family nights) $20-$50 Voted the No. 2 haunt in Arkansas by the haunted house directory the Scare Factor, this haunted house in Cave Springs is open from 7 p.m. until midnight every weekend in October; Oct. 28 and 31, the event operates from 7-10 p.m. for Family Nights, so the scares will be a little bit tamer for the younger kids. Teah Bidwell and husband John Bowman delight passers-by with their extravagant Halloween decorations at their Bella Vista home. (NWA Democrat-Gazette File Photo/Spencer Tirey) FEATURE