Treat Street and other spooky things to do in Galesburg before Halloween

GALESBURG — October is almost over, but there’s still time to take part in some spooky events and activities ahead of Halloween.

Besides going trick-or-treating — the city of Galesburg lists trick-or-treat hours between 5 p.m. an 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31 — here are five things to do as well as where, when and how much they may cost.

Treat Street in downtown Galesburg

Treat Street in Galesburg is 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29. Stroll through downtown Galesburg and visit the businesses handing out candy for the city’s annual Treat Street.

Families can start in Park Plaza or in the Sprinkle and Spoon parking lot to pick up a treat bag provided by the Downtown Community Partnership of Galesburg and a map of the participating businesses. Participating businesses will also be marked with orange traffic cones.

The Galesburg Community Art Center, 349 E Main St., will also be holding a pumpkin painting event at 1:30 p.m. that same day. Pumpkins cost $5 and supplies will be provided to paint them in the style of famous artist Yayoi Kusama. The event will run for as long as supplies lost.

Walk of the Dead haunted trail

Bring closed-toed shoes and your bravest friends to the annual Walk of The Dead haunted trail behind Lakeside Water Park and Nature Center, 1033 S. Lake Storey Rd. The event runs from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. every Friday and Saturday in October.

Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased online or with cash at the Lakeside Water Park Admissions window. The haunted trail is run by the Ages Community volunteer group and all proceeds go to support Lakeside Nature Center programs.

The walk is recommended for ages 12 and up, but younger children can attend if accompanied by an adult.

“It’s for all ages but I’m also told that if you’re scared, you don’t get your money back. You paid for the scare,” the Mayor of Galesburg Peter Schwartzman endorsed during a recent city council meeting. “It’s very much worth it.”

Ghosts of Galesburg walking tour

Witness a glimpse into Galesburg’s past by attending the Galesburg Public Library’s 10th annual Ghosts of Galesburg walking tour at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 31.

The free tour will begin outside the Galesburg Public Library, 40 E. Simmons St., and visit six different actors who will be dressed up as historical figures with connections to Galesburg and stationed in the downtown area.

The actors will tell you about their life  and as it is the event’s 10th year, the library is doing a “best of” featuring ghosts that have been particularly popular from past tours.

The tour is about 1.5 miles long and will end around 8 p.m. People can also attend the tour on a tram but seats are limited and first come first serve. If you want a seat on the tram you must reserve one by calling the library at (309. 343.6118).

The first 100 people who meet outside the library for the tour will receive a special “treat.”

The Rocky Horror Picture Show and costume contest

Catch a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show at midnight on Saturday, Oct. 29, in The Orpheum Theatre. Dress as your favorite character, shout callbacks and bring your own props to this campy cult classic — though the theater requests “NO TOAST!”

Tickets cost $10 in advance or $12 at the door, and can be purchased on The Orpheum’s website. Doors open at 10 p.m. and a costume contest will take place on stage at 11 p.m

No registration or signup is required for the costume contest. The four categories of the contest are: Best Halloween Costume, Best Couples Halloween Costume, Runner-up Rocky Horror Costume and Grand Prize Rocky Horror Costume.

The theater will also serve drink specials at a cash bar. You must be 18 to enter and present your ID at the door.

Horror movies at the AMC theater

In the mood for more films? The AMC CLASSIC Galesburg 8 movie theater is screening two new horror movies this month: "Halloween Ends" and "Smile."

The movies are showing every day at the theater located at 1401 W Carl Sandburg Dr. until at least Oct. 26, after which the theater will confirm its next schedule of screenings. Tickets cost $7.49 for an adult and $5.49 for a child but all tickets cost $4.49 if you catch a screening that begins before 4 p.m.

"Halloween Ends" is the latest installment in the Halloween movie franchise that first began in 1978, starring Jamie Lee Curtis against the masked slasher Michael Myers. The movie runs one hour and 51 minutes long and is rated "R" for gore, violence, language and some sexual references.

"Smile" is a brand new horror flick about a psychiatrist played by Sosie Bacon who witnesses a patient’s suicide and comes to believe she is pursued by a supernatural evil that takes the form of people smiling at her. The movie runs one hour and 55 minutes long and is rated "R" for violent content and language.

This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: Treat Street in Galesburg is 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29