Pumpkins, zombies and corn mazes galore

Buffy Pollock, Mail Tribune, Medford, Ore.
·6 min read

Oct. 15—Many fall festivities already are in full swing around the Rogue Valley, from pumpkin patches and haunted houses to trunk-or-treating, late-night movies and haunted corn mazes.

It's sure to be frightful, trying to squeeze them all in:

Celebrate the Harvest

A celebration at Shooting Star Nursery will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The nursery, 3334 Taylor Road, in Central Point, will host food trucks, kids' crafts, a silent auction and live music by Frank Ellis. Proceeds for the all-ages event will benefit the Direct Involvement Recreation Teaching (D.I.R.T.) Park in Central Point. Admission is free with a $5 suggested donation for kids' crafts. For details, see roguevalleynursery.com or call 541-840-6453

Pumpkin Patches

Pheasant Fields Farm will host its 18th annual Harvest Festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through October at the 20-acre farm at 1865 Camp Baker Road, Phoenix. Activities include a corn maze, hayrides, pumpkin-picking, pear-shooting gallery, animal exhibits, 10-passenger cow train and a slew of vendors. New this year, the "Zombie Train" will traverse the corn maze and give participants a chance to hone their paintball skills on zombie targets. For details, call 541-535-3873 or see pheasantfieldsfarm.com

KLZ Pumpkin Patch, 4283 Fern Valley Road, offers everything from corn cannons and pumpkin tossing to paintball, tractor rides and bounce houses. The patch is open throughout October; 2-6 p.m. Wednesdays, noon to 6 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays. Online, facebook.com/KLZFarmStand/

Fort Vannoy Farms Harvest Festival in Grants Pass is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily throughout October, offering a corn maze, cow train, petting zoo, pumpkin patch and farm stand. A haunted maze will be open Saturday and Sunday evenings and on Halloween night. For details and pricing, see fortvannoyfarms.com or call 541-479-3765. The farm is located at 5791 Lower River Road, Grants Pass.

Haunted Houses and other scary places

Nightmare Chamber Haunted House — Joined by an evil spirit awakened from a 200-year slumber, this year's Nightmare Chamber is back at the corner of Third and Front streets in downtown Medford. Open Thursdays through Sundays through Halloween and on Halloween night (hours vary), the haunt is not recommended for children younger than 10. For info on tickets, see nightmarechamber.com or call 541-622-3979.

Nightmares on the Rogue Haunted Mines, tucked alongside the Nightmare Chamber in downtown Medford (offering "one-stop shopping" for Halloween hauntings) operates Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 23, then Thursday through Sunday, Oct. 27-30. See nightmaresontherogue.com

Carnival of Chaos — A second haunt run by Nightmares on the Rogue, Carnival of Chaos will be in Eagle Point Oct. 14-15, 21-22 and 28-31. They hope to "Scare the Yell out of you!" For details call 541-414-7059. See nightmaresontherogue.com

'Hell's Gate Asylum' Haunted House — Put on by One Eleven Theatre Company in Grants Pass, the "Hell's Gate Asylum" will "heal what ails you" from Oct. 21 through Halloween Day (hours vary). The haunt is hosted inside the Commercial Building at the Josephine County Fairgrounds, 1451 Fairgrounds Road. Not recommended for children younger than 10. A preview night will be offered Thursday, Oct. 20, for a discounted fare. For details, see oneeleventheatrecompany.com/hauntedhouse or call 541-450-9778.

All Aboard for Haunted Trolley Tours — Offered by the Jacksonville Chamber, haunted trolley tours will be Oct. 27-31 (times vary, and reservations are required). Tours meander through the spookier parts of Jacksonville's past. Space is limited. For more info, see jacksonvilleoregon.org/discover/events-festivals/annual-events/haunted-trolley/

Kid-friendly fall fun

Haunted House and Graveyard at the Gold Hill Museum — A kid-friendly haunt, the haunted museum event will feature a fortuneteller, bake sale, haunted house and kids' activities. Open from 6:30 to 9 p.m., the haunt is located at 504 First Ave., in Gold Hill.

Halloween Fun at the Medford Railroad Park — For a final day this year, and a chance to show off Halloween costumes if you'd like, the Medford Railroad Park will run its trains and host other fun activities from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 23. See facebook.com/Medfordrailroadpark

14th annual Monster Dash Run for Education — In Ashland's Lithia Park, costumed kiddos and parents are invited to run, walk or zombie stroll their choice of 1-mile, 5K or 10K event, Saturday, Oct. 29. Races are chip-timed, and costumes are encouraged. Registration starts at $10 for kids, and proceeds benefit Ashland public schools. For information, see ashlandmonsterdash.com or call 541-482-8197.

ScienceWorks "Halloween Bash" — A monster ball of sorts — complete with costume contest, games, spooky movies and treats — will be at ScienceWorks Hands-on Museum, 1500 E. Main St., in Ashland, from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29. The event is hosted in memory of Sarah Wood, a local Halloween lover who passed away from cancer the day after Halloween in 2020. Proceeds will benefit four local charities: Southern Oregon Candlelighters, Tumor Hater, The Sparrow Club and The Ethan Jostad Foundation. Details, scienceworksmuseum.org or call 541-482-6767.

Howling Good Time With Wild Critters — Wildlife Images Howl-O-Ween, featuring hourly critter talks, trick-or-treating and a howling fun carnival will be hosted at the facility in Merlin from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 22-23 and 29-30. Visitors are invited to wear costumes and bring treat bags. Details, wildlifeimages.org/event/howl-o-ween-3-2022-10-29/2022-10-29

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 East Main Street 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.

Just Candy!

Trick-or-Treat Treasure Hunt — Central Point Chamber of Commerce will host a Trick-or-Treat Treasure Hunt for kids 12 and younger throughout downtown Central Point. The event, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 29, will be sponsored by downtown businesses. Details, call 541-664-5301 or see centralpointchamber.org.

Trunk-or-Treating at Twin Creeks Park — Liam's Trunk-or-Treat, founded after a local boy who passed away just before his favorite holiday, will be hosted by the city of Central Point and Liam's family, from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22. See facebook.com/liamstrunkortreat

More candy from the Young Marines — Trunk-or-Treating With the Young Marines will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29. The event, at 2830 Maple Court in White City, will fill goodie bags and buckets until they run out of candy. Volunteers with decorated cars are needed to sign up (candy provided). Details, call 541-613-7154 or see facebook.com/campwhiteym

Drive-Thru Trick-or-Treating will be hosted by Jacksonville's Pioneer Village at 5:30 p.m. Halloween Day. The village is located at 805 N. Fifth St. Call 541-702-1112 or RSVP via email at info@pioneervillageoregon.com.