Family-friendly haunts for a Vegas Halloween
Remember last Halloween? Your Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle snapped the elastic off his mask while nunchucking his sister, Princess Elsa had gum in her “Frozen” hair and your little pun’kin upchucked a real horror down the front of his Etsy costume. Face it, you’ve got kids and you’re at their mercy 90 percent of the time. We’re here to give you a leg up on the little monsters (figuratively, of course) with Halloween festivities in Vegas that are fit for the whole family.
Titanic Haunted Tour
We all know the story of the night the Ship of Dreams became the Ship of Nightmares, but now we’re getting a closer look at the paranormal side of the story. Every Saturday night in October, Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition inside the Luxor Hotel and Casino will host a Haunted Ghost Tour. With more than 300 authentic artifacts from the wreckage, many guests and employees report claims of ghostly passengers coming to collect their earthly possessions. Hear spooky tales of a “Lady in Black” who is seen on the Grand Staircase, and Frederick Fleet who paces the Promenade Deck, unable to forgive himself for not seeing the iceberg sooner. Ticket prices are $32 for adults, $30 for seniors and $24 for children 4 – 12 years of age.
Bonnie Screams
This Wild West town in Red Rock Canyon was once a stop on the Spanish Trail during the 1800s. But this Halloween, Bonnie Springs Ranch has been infected by a virus so serious it turns those who become infected into decaying, ravenous fiends. Zombies. Haunted houses like No Hope Hospital, Infected Circus and Quarantine tell the story of a town overrun by the undead. There’s also nightly entertainment and a one-of-a-kind Zombie Paintball Express. When will you ever be able to shoot paintballs at zombies from a real, moving school bus? Tickets are $25 for the haunted houses and $20 for the paintball experience. Not recommended for children under 13.
HallOVeen
At Opportunity Village, the attractions are a lot more “Hocus Pocus” than “Nightmare on Elm Street.” This year, the Magical Forest has once again been Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo’ed into a Halloween wonderland. Each weekend in October, little ghouls can make Halloween crafts, watch festive movies, sing “Scary-oke” and visit the Candy Cabin for sweet treats. They’ve also got rides like the Haunted Adventure, the Forest Express Ghost Train, an Enchanted Carousel, Rod’s Monstrous Mini Golf and more. There are even parades and a 250-foot interactive maze with a giant inflatable dragon. Tickets are $12-$22 for adults and kids 13 and older, and $10-$19 for kids 3 – 12 years old.
Haunted Harvest
Each year, the Springs Preserve hosts a family-friendly event with food, games and live entertainment. A bit like a wicked carnival atmosphere, there is a haunted hay maze, spooky story time, a petting zoo, family bingo and even a Safe Street Trick-or-Treat. For an extra couple bucks, your Addams Family can hop on a haunted trolley and tour the desert trails for monster hunting. There’s a photo contest every weekend with their ghostly mascot, Haunted Harvey. Share your selfies on Twitter or Instagram using #HauntedSprings @SpringsPreserve for a chance to win prizes. Tickets are $7.
Halloween Express
The Nevada Southern Railway dates back to the 1930s, which is not that old for some of you, but nearly ancient to Las Vegans. By default, it should be haunted, right? We may never know, but on October 24th and 25th, the Halloween Express leaves the station for a ride into the supernatural. The train ride is decorated with costumed conductors and includes story time and Halloween crafts. There’s also a pumpkin patch in the Bone Yard where you can pick your own pumpkins for $5, play free games and have your face painted. Kids in costumes ride for free.
See more Halloween festivities in Vegas.