Jack-o’-lanterns will soon decorate the steps of Bozeman homes as many engage in the Halloween activities around town. The Bozeman community offers an array of events for the spooktacular season.

Returning for the eighth year is the Bozeman Maze, a hay bale maze geared for all age groups. Located behind Murdoch’s Ranch and Home Supply off North 7th, the maze on average takes about 20 to 40 minutes to complete, however this year several new challenges will be offered which may lengthen the time it takes to make it through.

Opening October 5, the maze will remain open for each weekend in October on the following schedule: Friday 5 pm to 8:30 pm, Saturday 10 am to 8:30 pm, and Sunday 12 pm to 6 pm Additionally, the maze will admit people October 18 from 12 pm to 5 pm and will be open early October 19, opening at 12 pm instead of 5 p.m. The $7 admission fee includes entrance into the big maze and participation in courtyard activities such as a smaller maze, photo area, and corn bin (similar to a sandbox). To encourage groups to attend, the Bozeman Maze is offering a discount of $1/person for groups of 10 or more. Children four years of age and younger get in free. Additional activities include a kids train ride, bungee trampoline, and concessions.

Fear Mine, an interactive haunted house recommended for adults and children 13 and older, will open for the last three weekends of the month and the night of Halloween. Fridays and Saturdays doors are open from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. and Sundays and Halloween from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. This attraction will take place at the Lee and Dad’s IGA shopping plaza in Belgrade. Admission is $13, with a $3 discount with a canned good. The food will be donated to the Gallatin Valley Food Bank, and a portion of the proceeds will go toward non-profit organizations.

Tim Schober, co-owner and operator of the haunted house, explained that this haunted house is more than just walking by skits or sets. “You will be immersed into the mine itself, surrounded by the environment and experience a journey deep into the earth’s crust,” said Schober. This is the second year that the Schober’s have put on the Fear Mine haunted house, emphasizing the couple’s passion for spooky things. The couple has been active in haunts around the country for years and opened the Fear Mine to continue this hobby.

A second haunted house will take place the last weekend in October. Open both Friday October 28 and Saturday October 29, the Anderson School Haunted House will continue the long tradition of scaring members of the Bozeman community as a way of funding the eighth grade trip to D.C. Each year, the eighth grade class fundraisers to participate in a program that takes them to Washington D. C. and New York, and the annual haunted house acts as the main fundraiser for this trip. Planning begins early for this group of students, who put on the attraction as a class. They began discussing ideas as early as the second day of school this year.

Eighth grade teacher Mattie Mulick explained that this activity allows students to learn valuable lessons. They learn “the art of compromising with their peers… [and] about cooperation, organization, [and] budgeting,” said Mulick.
This year’s theme is Movie Madness, and both nights there will be a showing with the lights on from 5:30 pm to 7 pm. Then the real scare begins at 7 pm when the lights go out. Tickets, $5 each, can be bought in advance at Anderson School, or they are available at the door. Concessions will also be available.

The biggest Halloween tradition of all occurs October 31, the holiday itself, when children trick or treat for candy. The Bozeman community has offered two alternatives to the traditional door-to-door trick or treating, both of which will take place Halloween night.

The first is sponsored by the Downtown Bozeman Partnership. For the sixth consecutive year, Downtown Bozeman will host trick or treating. The activity goes from 3 pm to 6 pm and over 125 businesses along Main Street and surrounding side streets will welcome children and their parents to stop by and gather candy.

Before the partnership began hosting downtown trick or treating, Hawthorne Elementary students used to parade down main dressed up in their costumes each year. Then, as indoor trick or treating became more popular as parents became concerned about knocking on stranger’s doors, the partnership decided to host trick or treating as a way of keeping the traditional Halloween trick or treating spirit alive while offering a safe environment for children.

Ellie Staley, Program Director for Downtown Bozeman, believes that “Walking downtown offers the same ambiance of strolling your community for goodies, but the safety of little reservation in trusting your neighborhood retailers.” Also, downtown trick or treating is beneficial for the businesses. It is an opportunity for the community to create relationships with the downtown district, perhaps creating motivation to come back to shop or get lunch, said Staley.

In conjunction with the Downtown Trick or Treat the Emerson offers its own Halloween Open House Free Family Events on Halloween from 3-6pm. A variety of games, treats and prizes and a lively open house for children and adults of all ages in a creative and safe environment is available to all who dare! Emerson Trick or Treat spans the whole building, and includes a costume contest at 5:30pm.

The Gallatin Valley Mall offers a third alternative to door-to-door trick or treating. The mall will host the 32nd Annual Kid’s Trick or Treating from 5pm to 8pm KBZK/CBS will give away trick or treat bags and will also host a Costume Contest in Macy’s Court. The contest is broken down into three categories based on age, and first, second, and third prizes will be awarded for each age group. Wilke Photographics will be there taking photos, and each family can receive one free photograph.
These community activities, from getting lost in a hay maze, to being spooked at a haunted house, to taking your family trick or treating, will satisfy an array of interests and age groups and will provide fun entertainment for the entire month of October.

Jessianne Wright is an honors student at MSU and also writes for the MSU Exponent.