Lake Metroparks Halloween Drive-thru returns in October

Sep. 29—Lake Metroparks Farmpark is preparing to welcome guests and volunteers for the annual Halloween Drive-thru in October.

The mile-long course will have 27 themed sites, said Seth Begeman, the park district's chief of outdoor education. Sites may include special effects such as music, fog, lights and more, and will range from traditional Halloween elements including spiders, jack-o'-lanterns and a cemetery to cultural references such as "Star Wars," "Top Gun" and "Stranger Things."

Other display themes include pirates and Vikings, a cornfield in the woods, a haunted barnyard, a carnival and "The Wizard of Oz."

"A lot of it's the same," Begeman said. "We've changed locations of certain areas just to make it a little bit more different as they experience it."

He added that work on the displays was about three quarters of the way done as of Sept. 28.

"We kind of keep it a little light-hearted, some humor," Begeman said, explaining that the event is designed to be kid-friendly and does not include elements such as blood.

Park Services Director Tom Adair said the event is designed for individuals of all ages. Because it is a drive-thru, loved ones with limited mobility can experience the event without needing to exit the vehicle.

He added that Buckeye Chocolates will operate a concession stand with items such as hot chocolate, coffee, roasted nuts and popcorn. Visitors will be able to pull aside, purchase concessions and rejoin the line without leaving their vehicles.

Lights will mark the path, Adair said, helping drivers safely navigate the Farmpark at night. And while the event's webpage notes that it will operate in rain or snow, he added that drive-thru times will be canceled in circumstances where there are high winds or lightning.

"The last thing we would want is for people to be stranded out here in a dangerous situation, so we would cancel for high winds and lightning," he said, "but other than that, the nice thing about the drive-thru model is, you're in your car, you're warm and safe and dry, and you go at your pace."

Lake Metroparks is also looking for volunteers to help with the event. Begeman said that between 50 and 70 volunteers usually help out each night by acting or pulling ropes to operate the displays. He and Adair noted that these volunteers often come from organizations including schools, churches, scout troops, community groups and families.

Individuals interested in volunteering can visit lakemetroparks.com/news-updates and click the Sept. 1 article "We Want You to Help Make Holiday Memories" to learn more.

"The public gets a nice, consistent experience every night, but the more bodies, obviously, the better," Adair said.

The Halloween Drive-thru is the successor to the previous Halloween Hayride held at the Farmpark.

The drive-thru format came about in 2020 due to pandemic restrictions, Lake Metroparks Executive Director Paul Palagyi noted in a July interview. He received feedback from visitors who said that the format made it easier for entire families to attend, including young children and grandparents. The new event is also more feasible with recent staffing shortages.

In addition to the Halloween Drive-thru, Farmpark Administrator Lee Homyock noted that the Farmpark's corn maze is currently open. Apple Butter and Cider Weekend is scheduled for Oct. 1-2 and Corn and Pumpkin Weekends for Oct. 8-9 and 15-16. The Farmpark will also shortly begin setting up for the winter Country Lights Drive-thru, with ticket sales for that event beginning Oct. 30.

The Halloween Drive-thru will be available from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. over four weekends in October: Oct. 7-9, 14-16, 21-23 and 28-30, according to the event's webpage. Tickets are available for $27.50 per car and can be purchased by visiting lakemetroparks.com and clicking the option for "Halloween Drive-thru Tickets." A full list of rules and recommendations can be found on the event and ticket webpages.

Adair noted that some of the dates in the middle of the month have already sold out, with more than 1,000 tickets still available overall.

Lake Metroparks Farmpark is located at 8800 Euclid Chardon Road in Kirtland.