Farm fests and haunts fill October around the Rogue Valley: Oct. 7

Alissa Corman, Mail Tribune, Medford, Ore.
·6 min read

Oct. 6—Pheasant Fields Farm

The 18th annual Harvest Festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through October at the 20-acre farm, 1865 Camp Baker Road, Phoenix. Activities include a corn maze, hay rides, pumpkin picking, pear shooting gallery, animal exhibits, 10-passenger cow train and vendors with local produce, caramel apples, handcrafted items, and more. A new feature this year will be the "Zombie Train," where participants can take a ride through the corn maze and practice their paintball skills while shooting at different zombie targets. Tickets for the "Zombie Train" are $13 in advance, or $15 at the ticket booth. Special nighttime activities will also be offered every Friday and Saturday evening through Oct. Admission is $5-$12 in advance, $7-$14 at the door. Children 2 and younger get in free. Check the farm's Facebook page for more information and updates; see pheasantfieldsfarm.com or call 541-535-3873 to purchase advance tickets.

Fort Vannoy Farms Harvest Festival

The annual fall festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily throughout October at the farm, 5791 Lower River Road, Grants Pass. Activities include a corn maze, cow train, petting zoo, pumpkin patch, farm stand with local organic vegetables for purchase, and more. A haunted maze will be available on Saturday and Sunday evenings between 8 and 11 p.m., and from 8 to 10 p.m. Sundays, Oct. 23-30, and Monday, Oct. 31. Tickets for the haunted maze are $19; kids 4 and younger get in free. Admission to the farm is free, tickets for the corn maze and cow train are available at the farm stand and ticket booth. For further details see fortvannoyfarms.com or call 541-479-3765.

Nightmare Chamber Haunted House

After an outpouring of support by local fans, the October scary staple for Southern Oregon, the Nightmare Chamber Haunted House, is back. This year sees vampires as the main theme of the haunted house. An ancient evil has arisen from its 200-year slumber, and it has brought with it its minions of the night. Under the spell of Lucius Griffin, guests will be transported into the dark and horrific world of the blood sucker. By the end, will you be food or will you end up as one of the undead? The haunt runs from 7 to 10 p.m., with some nights being open until 11 p.m. and midnight, select Thursdays and Fridays through Sundays, Oct. 7-30, and Monday, Oct. 31, at 10 E. Third St., the corner of Front and Third Streets in Medford. The Nightmare Chamber is a high scare haunted house. It is not recommended for children 10 and under. Any child not able to walk on their own will not be allowed into the haunted house for their safety. Tickets, including Fast Passes, are $15-$20. Fast passes allow visitors to skip wait time with a scheduled appointment. VIP season passes are also available. Tickets can be purchased online or on-site at the haunt box office. For more information, tickets and safety rules see nightmarechamber.com or 541-622-3979.

Fall Celebration

Shooting Star Nursery will host its annual Fall Celebration from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, at the nursery, 3223 Taylor Road, Central Point. Look for food trucks, kid's crafts, silent auction, live music by Frank Ellis and others, apple cider and more. The silent auction will feature custom planted wine barrels with all proceeds going toward the expansion the nursery's outdoor exploration after school programs curated by Direct Involvement Recreation Teaching. This is an all-ages event; carpooling encouraged. All carpoolers to be entered in a raffle for a $200 Shooting Star Nursery gift certificate. Admission is free, $5 suggested donation for kids crafts. See roguevalleynursery.com or call 541-840-6453.

'Hell's Gate Asylum' Haunted House

One Eleven Theatre Company in Grants Pass will host the "Hell's Gate Asylum" Haunted House. Go in to be "healed of what ails you" —try not to go "insane" with fright, and leave a changed person. The "asylum" will be open from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 21-29, and 6:30 to 9 p.m. Sundays Oct. 23-30 and Thursday, Oct. 27, and from 6:30 to 11 p.m., Monday, Oct. 31, in the Commercial Building at the Josephine County Fairgrounds, 1451 Fairgrounds Road, Grants Pass. This haunted house is for ages 10 and older. A preview night will be offered Thursday, Oct. 20. Admission for the preview night is $7. Regular admission is $10; preferred entry is $20. For further information see oneeleventheatrecompany.com/hauntedhouse or call 541-450-9778.

Trick or Treat Treasure Hunt

Central Point Chamber of Commerce will host a Trick-or-Treat Treasure Hunt adventure that will take kids 12 and younger downtown along Pine St., in Central Point from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29. Kids will visit participating businesses to Trick-or-Treat and may find a few more tricks and treats along their way. For further information see centralpointchamber.org or call 541-664-5301.

Monster Dash

Run, walk or zombie-stroll to support our local community. The 14th annual Monster Dash Run for Education will have a virtual option and in-person race. Racers can sign up for the 1-mile, 5k or 10k distances — either in-person at Lithia Park in Ashland on race day, Saturday, Oct. 29, or virtually from Friday through Sunday, Oct. 22-31. Also look for contests and prizes. All registrants receive a bib and medal. All races are chip-timed, and costumes are encouraged. Registration is $15-$20, $10 for ages 18 and younger. Proceeds benefit Ashland public schools. For information and to register, see ashlandmonsterdash.com or call 541-482-8197.

Halloween Bash

A Halloween Bash will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at ScienceWorks Hands-On Museum, 1500 E. Main St., Ashland. The Halloween Bash is the after party for the 14th annual Monster Dash in Ashland. This event will include a monster ball, costume contest, games, spooky movies, food trucks and treats, raffles, and more. This fundraising event is hosted in memory of Sarah Wood, who loved Halloween and all things spooky, and who passed away the day after Halloween in 2020. She was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer in 2015. All proceeds will benefit four local charities that made a huge difference in Wood's Life — Southern Oregon Candlelighters, Tumor Hater, The Sparrow Club, and The Ethan Jostad Foundation. For further details see scienceworksmuseum.org or call 541-482-6767.

Children's Halloween Parade

Ashland's annual Halloween celebration and parade for kids will kick off at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31 The kids parade winds down E. Main St. to the Ashland Plaza. Kids can trick-or-treat at downtown businesses, and participate in a variety of activities. See ashlandchamber.com/halloween or call 541-482-3486 for details.