Anticipation is brewing in the witch’s pot for Halloween this year… and we know we’re going to see a whole lot of creativity from local businesses to make this year’s celebration festive
UPDATE as of September 28, 2020: There will not be trunk-or-treat at this year’s FrightFest event, as the event activities were updated recently to comply with state COVID-19 guidelines.
First, it was the Halloween parade. (Thanks Champaign Park District!)
Now, we hear about an event where attendees will find an open air cemetery walk-through, trunk or treat with pre-packaged treat bags, roaming monsters and a part in-person/part virtual costume contest.
Harvest Moon Drive-In will host FrightFest for its ninth annual year. It’s made a few changes and adjustments to help keep guests at the drive-in safe during this family-friendly Halloween event.
(NOTE: Family-friendly means different things to different folks, ESPECIALLY when it comes to Halloween. If your kids are sensitive or easily scared, beware.)
Details began to emerge on the Harvest Moon Twin Drive-In Theatre Facebook page as to how this year’s FrightFest was going to look, and a visit to the Harvest Moon website provided even more details.
Key Details About FrightFest 2020:
- Held on Friday and Saturday evenings the first and second weekend of October
- There will be a “bonus weekend” this year showing “The Nightmare Before Christmas” – not all details listed below will apply to the third bonus weekend this year, as it was a late addition to plans
- Regular drive-in admission rates apply to attend ($8 for anyone 12 and up, $7 for kids 4-11). Guests are encouraged to buy tickets ahead of time on the Harvest Moon website as the drive-in is operating at limited capacity this year.
- There are two screens, each showing two spooky films back to back – one screen will have family-friendly movies and the other will be for more mature audiences
- Costume contest – attendees are encouraged to dress up. If you want to participate in the costume contest, send photos of your family’s costumes into the Harvest Moon email address the week prior to FrightFest (along with the night you plan to attend) to be entered to win prizes. Pictures of winners will be shown on the screen during intermission.
Trunk or treat – Arrive as early as 6 pm when gates open to begin decorating your car for trunk or treat. To participate, cars must have pre-packed candy treats to hand to trick or treaters. The person distributing treats must wear gloves and a mask. (Harvest Moon can provide gloves if you don’t have them.) Please maintain social distancing while going from car to car and parents must accompany children as they walk around.- The whole drive-in gets a spooky makeover with Halloween style props, decorations, ghosts and more.
- Open-air cemetery walk-through – while there will be no haunted house this year, there WILL be an open air haunted walk-through “cemetery” event (free).
- Food specials at the snack bars like zombie brains funnel cakes and more.
- Photo booth will be set up (but no props this year).
- Roaming monsters/creatures will be walking through the drive-in throughout the evening for pictures, scares and fun.
Schwoo! Isn’t that a whole lot of Halloween excitement to look forward to?!
Boo!
Looking for more Halloween fun this year near Champaign-Urbana? Find out about the parade (!) happening this year here. Find out all the Champaign-Urbana area pumpkin patch and corn maze info HERE.