Kansas City Halloween mega-guide: Pumpkin patches, haunted houses, festivals and more

Dan Kelly
·10 min read

Halloween-related activities have been going on for a month throughout the Kansas City area, but soon the onslaught of events begins.

Serious Halloweenists (or Halloweenies, if you prefer) likely have already checked out the haunted houses in the West Bottoms and picked out their pumpkins at one of the many area patches. They might also have visited the GloWild Lantern Festival at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium and challenged their nerve at Frights at Height at Swope Park.

But soon, the events get going in earnest. So we present a special countdown of daily ways to get ready for the holiday itself as an introduction to our annual mega-guide of Halloween activities.

“Tell-Tale Electric Poe,” an annual tradition of the Coterie Theatre, will move outside this year with shows Oct. 19-Nov. 5 at Union Cemetery,
“Tell-Tale Electric Poe,” an annual tradition of the Coterie Theatre, will move outside this year with shows Oct. 19-Nov. 5 at Union Cemetery,

The 12 days of Halloween

Oct. 19, “Tell-Tale Electric Poe,” The Coterie: Opens 6:30 p.m. Oct. 19; runs through Nov. 5, $18-$25; Union Cemetery. thecoterie.org.

Oct. 20, Night of the Living Farm: 5:30-9 p.m. Oct. 20-21 and 27-28, $15; Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. artsandrec-op.org.

Oct. 21, Dia de los Muertos Celebration: 5-9 p.m. Oct. 21, free; Kansas City Museum. kansascitymuseum.org.

Oct. 22, VIP Halloween Pajama Party: 7 p.m.-midnight Oct. 22, The Gallery Event Space, $75-$250. eventbrite.com.

Oct. 23, Louisburg Cider Mill Family Farm: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, $12.99-$15.99; 14730 Kansas 68, Louisburg. louisburgcidermill.com.

Oct. 24, Spooky Skate: 7-8:30 p.m. Oct. 24, $8 (free if wearing costume); Line Creek Community Center. kcparks.org.

Oct. 25, Ghosting Lawrence: A Theatrical Tour of Downtown Haunts: 7 and 9 p.m. Oct. 25-26, 7 p.m. Oct. 27-28, 7 and 9 p.m. Oct. 29-30, downtown Lawrence, $40-$50; lawrenceartscenter.org.

Oct. 26, Enchanted Forest: 4-8 p.m. Oct. 26, free; Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park. lenexa.com.

Oct. 27, Macabre Night Tour: Five tour times starting at 7 p.m. Oct. 27-28, $20; Vaile Mansion. vailemansion.org.

Oct. 28, Spookfest: 5-8 p.m. Oct. 28, $6-$8; Science City. unionstation.org.

Oct. 29, Historic Howl-O-Ween: 2 p.m. Oct. 29, free; John Wornall House. wornallmajors.org.

Oct. 30, “Hocus Poke Us”: 7 p.m. Oct. 30, $10-$35; Folly. follytheater.org.

Most area pumpkin patches will remain open through the weekend before Halloween, when the gourds will take on their new role as Jack-o’-lanterns.
Most area pumpkin patches will remain open through the weekend before Halloween, when the gourds will take on their new role as Jack-o’-lanterns.

Haunted houses

The Beast, Edge of Hell and Macabre Cinema: Thursday-Saturday through October, also Oct. 22, 29-31; The Beast and Edge of Hell also Friday-Saturday in November through Nov. 11; $35-$65, with combo tickets $60-$150; West Bottoms. fullmoonprod.com.

Exiled: Trail of Tears: 7-11:59 p.m. Friday-Saturday through Oct. 28, $49-$59; Zip KC, Bonner Springs. exiledkc.com.

A corn maze in the likeness of Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid was carved into an 8-acre field at Johnson Farms, 17701 Holmes Road in Belton. Crop artist Rob Stouffer of Precision Mazes of Lee’s Summit spent about eight hours cutting corn in the field to create it.
A corn maze in the likeness of Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid was carved into an 8-acre field at Johnson Farms, 17701 Holmes Road in Belton. Crop artist Rob Stouffer of Precision Mazes of Lee’s Summit spent about eight hours cutting corn in the field to create it.

Pumpkin patches and fun farms

(All open through Oct. 29-31)

Alldredge Orchards: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, $6; 10455 Highway N, Platte City. alldredgeorchards.com.

Carolyn’s Pumpkin Patch: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday-Monday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, $18.95-$32.95; 17607 N.E. 52nd, Liberty. carolynspumpkinpatch.com.

Cider Hill Family Orchard: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, free; 3341 N. 139th, Kansas City, Kansas. ciderhillfamilyorchard.com.

Faulkner’s Ranch Pumpkin Fest: 3-7 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Sunday, $15-$25; 10600 Raytown Road. faulknersranch.com.

Fun Farm: 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday, Thursday, Sunday; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Wednesday, Friday, Saturday; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 31, $16.95-$21.95; 650 N. Jefferson, Kearney. funfarmpumpkinpatch.com.

Historic Weston Orchard & Vineyard: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, $9-$15; 18545 County Road H, Weston. westonorchard.com.

Johnson Farms: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, $13.99; 17701 Holmes, Belton. johnsonfarms.net.

KC Pumpkin Patch Fall Festival and Pumpkin Patch: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, $17.95-$24.95; 13875 S. Gardner Road, Olathe. kcpumpkinpatch.com.

Kerby Farm: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday, $8; 15943 158th, Bonner Springs. kerbypumpkinpatch.com.

Liberty Corn Maze: 5-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, $13.28-$15.17; 17607 N.E. 52nd St., Liberty. libertycornmaze.mazeplay.com.

Louisburg Cider Mill Family Farm: 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, $12.99-$15.99; 14730 Kansas 68, Louisburg. louisburgcidermill.com.

Powell Pumpkin Patch: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, free; 25695 Spring Valley, Louisburg. powellpumpkinpatch.com.

Pumpkins Etc.: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Sunday, free; 10700 Farmer Lane, Platte City. pumpkinsetc.wordpress.com.

The Pumpkin Pad: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, $18.99; 35100 E. Outer Belt, Lone Jack. thepumpkinpad.org.

Pumpkin Valley: 3-6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, $15; 2807 NW Chipman, Lee’s Summit. pumpkinvalley.net.

Red Barn Ranch: 1-6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, $9; 23111 S. Jefferson Parkway, Harrisonville. redbarnranch.farm.

Weston Red Barn Farm: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, free; 16300 Wilkerson, Weston. westonredbarnfarm.com.

Frights at Height will operate Oct. 20-21 and 27-28 at the Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park in Swope Park. It has been thrilling visitors since early this month.
Frights at Height will operate Oct. 20-21 and 27-28 at the Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park in Swope Park. It has been thrilling visitors since early this month.

Also ongoing

Dark Forest: 7-11 p.m. Oct. 15, 20-22 and 26-29, $35; Powell Gardens. powellgardens.org.

Fall Farm Festival: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday-Sunday, $7; Colonial Gardens, Blue Springs. colonialgardenskc.com.

Frights at Height: 6:45-8:45 p.m. Oct. 20-21 and 27-28, $34.95; Go Ape Zipline and Adventure Park, Swope Park. goape.com.

Great Pumpkin Fest: Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 29, $29.99-$54.99; Worlds of Fun. worldsoffun.com.

Halloween Haunt: Select nights through Oct. 28, $39.99-$54.99; Worlds of Fun. worldsoffun.com.

Haunted Trails: 6:45-8:45 p.m. Oct. 20-21 and 27-28, $14.95; Ape Zipline and Adventure Park, Swope Park. goape.com.

Brick or Treat Monster Party: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily through Oct. 31 (hours may vary), $19.99-$25.99; Legoland Discovery Center. legolanddiscoverycenter.com.

Pumpkin Hollow: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday through Oct. 31, $9-$10. Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead. artsandrec-op.org.

Tricks and Treats: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday through Oct. 31, $14.99-$39.99; Sea Life Kansas City. visitsealife.com.

GloWild Lantern Festival: 6-10 p.m. through Dec. 30, $16-$25; Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium. kansascityzoo.org.

The GloWild lantern festival at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium will continue through Dec. 30.
The GloWild lantern festival at the Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium will continue through Dec. 30.

More entertainment

“The Rocky Horror Show”: Select nights through Oct. 31, $32.50-$37; Black Box. rockyhorrorkc.com.

Lawrence Metal Massacre Halloween Bash: Noon Oct. 21, $15, Bottleneck, Lawrence. thebottlenecklive.com.

Creepshow: 5 p.m. Oct. 27-28, $59-$159, Smokey River Entertainment District. creepshowkc.com.

Halloween Spooktacular: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 27, $15-$25; Bird Comedy Theater. thebirdkc.com.

Tricks (or trunks) and treats

Trunk or Treat: 4-6 p.m. Oct. 15, free; Lakeside Nature Center. kcparks.org.

Truck or Treat: 8-11 a.m. Oct. 21, free; Lenexa Municipal Services Service Center. lenexa.com.

City of Leavenworth Trunk or Treat: 5-7 p.m. Oct. 21, free; Sportsfield Park. leavenworthks.org.

Olathe’s Best Trunk or Treat: 6:30-8 p.m. Oct. 21, Olathe’s Best Afterschool and Summer Camp, free; olathe.org.

Trunk or Treat: 6-7:30 p.m. Oct. 27, free; Southeast Community Center. kcparks.org.

Kids Safe Trick or Treat: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 28, $5; Shoal Creek Living History Museum. kcparks.org.

Trick or Treat: Noon-4 p.m. Oct. 28, free; downtown Parkville. parkvillemo.org.

Tricks and Treats: Noon-2 p.m. Oct. 28, free; Power & Light District. powerandlightdistrict.com.

Trick or Treat off the Street: 3-6 p.m. Oct. 28, $3-$4; Mahaffie Stagecoach Stop and Farm. mahaffie.org.

Trick or Treat: 5-7 p.m. Oct. 31, free; downtown Liberty Square. historicdowntownliberty.org.

Scare-It Halloween: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 31, free; Gladstone Boulevard. kcparks.org.

Grown-up stuff

The Ghosts of Baseball Past: A Haunted Cocktail Experience: 6-11 p.m. Thursday, 6 p.m.-1 a.m. Friday-Saturday, 6-11 p.m. Sunday through Oct. 31, $10; Legends Field. apparitionbar.com.

Ghoulish SpookEasy: 4 p.m. Thursday-Saturday through Oct. 31; Kansas City Live! powerandlightdistrict.com.

BOOlevard: Oct. 24-31, events, times and prices vary; Boulevard Brewing Company. boulevard.com.

Masquerade Ball: Vampire Kiss: 5:30 p.m. Oct. 28, $80-$150; Kansas City Renaissance Festival. wycosf.org.

CarnEVIL: 7 p.m. Oct. 28, $20-$30; Kansas City Live! powerandlightdistrict.com.

Terror at Electric Park: 8 p.m.-midnight Oct. 28, $40-$100; J. Rieger & Co. jriegerco.com.

Runs and skates

Spooky Skate: 5p.m. Oct. 19, free ($5 to skate); Cable Dahmer Arena. cabledahmerarena.com.

Mileage Monsters 5K: 9:30 a.m. Oct. 22, Frontier Park, Olathe, $40; runsignup.com.

Monster Dash 5K and Lil’ Monsters Kids Run: 8 a.m. Oct. 28, $12-$37; South Creek Office Park. kcrunningcompany.com.

Spooky Sprint KC: 8 a.m. Oct. 28, $19-$60; Longview College. runsignup.com.

Other activities

Hoots & Howls: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 15 and 21-22, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 28, free with admission ($9.50-$22); Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium. kansascityzoo.org.

Lawrence Zombie Walk: Sundown Oct. 19, free; South Park, Lawrence. thegranada.com.

Beats & Broomsticks: “Hocus Pocus” in the Park: 5-9:30 p.m. Oct. 20, free; Zona Rosa. zonarosa.com.

Enchanted Forest: 7-9 p.m. Oct. 20-21 and 27-28, $4; George Owens Nature Park. facebook.com.

Halloween Happenings: 2-3:30 p.m. Oct. 21, free; Merriam Marketplace. merriam.org.

Boo N Brew: 3-6 p.m. Oct. 21, free; Town Center Plaza. towncenterplaza.com.

Haunted and Historic Spaces Tour: 6-9 p.m. Oct. 21, downtown Lee’s Summit, $30; downtownls.org.

JamBOOree: 5-8:30 p.m. Oct. 27, free; Theatre in the Park. jcprd.com.

Fright Night: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 27, free; Copley Quad residence hall, Park University. park.edu.

Boo at the Zoo: 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 28-29, free with admission ($9.50-$22); Kansas City Zoo & Aquarium. kansascityzoo.org.

Boos, Barks & Badges: 9:30 a.m.-noon Oct. 28, free; City Hall Plaza, Lee’s Summit. downtownls.org.

Halloween Parade: 10 a.m. Oct. 28, free; Independence Square. ichamber.biz.

Halloween Ride: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 28, 75 cents; Kansas City Northern Miniature Railroad. kcnrr.com.

Jack O Lantern Jamboree: 3-6 p.m. Oct. 28, $10 per vehicle; National Agricultural Center & Hall of Fame. aghalloffame.com.

Historical Hauntings: 6-8:30 p.m. Oct. 28, $1 suggested donation; Shawnee Town 1929. shawneetown.org.

Haunted Tales: 7:30-9 p.m. Oct. 28, Ernie Miller Park, $8-$10; jcprd.com.

Westport Ghoul House: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 30, Westport Roanoke Community Center, $5; kcparks.org.

More Dia de los Muertos

Original Dia de los Muertos Celebration: 5-9 p.m. Oct. 27, free; Guadalupe Centers. guadalupecenters.org.

Dia de los Muertos: La Fiesta: 6 p.m. Oct. 27, Crossroads Hotel XR Café (free). crossroadshotelkc.com.

Dia de los Muertos on Central Avenue: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Nov. 4; free; Central Avenue, Kansas City, Kansas. cabakck.org.

Dia de los Muertos Festival: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 5, free; Nelson Atkins Museum of Art. nelson-atkins.org.