It's October, and that means it is officially Halloween season, with plenty of seasonal fall activities as well as spooky haunted houses to see throughout the area.
First, here is a look at trick-or-treating times in Waukesha and some of its surrounding communities:
·City of Waukesha: 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31
·Town of Waukesha: 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31
·Village of Pewaukee: 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26
·City of Pewaukee: 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26
·Village of Big Bend: 6 to 8 p.m Friday, Oct. 31
·Town of Brookfield: 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31
·City of New Berlin: 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26
Ready to be scared?
Wisconsin Feargrounds: The award-winning haunted houses open to the public for the 11th straight year on Friday, Oct. 3, at the Waukesha County Expo Center grounds, 1000 Northview Road.
The Feargrounds is open from 6:45 to 11:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25, 31 and Nov. 1, and from 6:45 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30.
The Feargrounds features three haunted houses, totaling 55,000 square feet.
Admission to the Morgan Manor haunted house is $13, or brave souls can opt for the $30 three-haunt combo pass that includes Morgan Manor, CarnEvil of Torment, and BlackOut, a new house in 2014.
An early-bird three-haunt combo pass can also be purchased for $20. To use this pass, you must arrive between 7 and 8 p.m. and passes are only available online at wisconsinfeargrounds.com.
Catholic Memorial Haunted House: CMH's annual haunted house, now in its seventh year, is open from 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 24, 25, 31 and Nov. 1. "Family-friendly hour," in which lights are left on and the student actors will be less dramatic, will be offered from 6 to 7 p.m. Oct. 25 and Nov. 1.
The Haunted House will have an Edgar Allan Poe theme throughout the three-story residence to tie in with Waukesha Reads, a community event put on by the library that encourages reading throughout the month of October. This year's Waukesha Reads book is "Great Tales and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe" by Edgar Allan Poe.
The cost to enter the house, which resides on CMH's campus, 601 E. College Ave, is $7 per person. Proceeds from the haunted house will go to the Fischer House in Milwaukee.
Programs
Fun-filled event: The Friends of Retzer Nature Center will host its annual "Howl-O-Ween" event at the Retzer Nature Center, S14 W28167 Madison St., Waukesha, from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17.
The "unhaunted event" is recommended for families with children 10 years old and younger. The event includes a guided hike, a DJ dance, crafts and games and planetarium shows. The entrance fee is $15 per carload. The event is sponsored by the Waukesha County Park System and the city of Waukesha Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department.
Haunted HAWS: The Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County will host "Creatures of the Night," a Halloween bash, from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at the Marriott West, W231N1600 Corporate Court.
Admission is $50 per person. The event, which benefits the animals and programs of HAWS, includes festive food and drink, a silent auction, costume contests, DJ music by Double Platinum and a meet and greet with HAWS' adoptable pets.
John Bartlett, an acclaimed designer and founder of Tiny Tim Rescue Fund, will also be present.
Reservations can be made at the shelter at 701 Northview Road, online at hawspets.org or by phone at (262) 542-8851.