Children and college kids seem to get all the hype when it comes to Halloween with their trick-or-treating and their sexy clubbing costumes.
But what about us responsible, bill-paying adults? Where can we go to get our freak on, our scare on, or simply to put our costumes on for a good time -- especially with Halloween landing on a Friday this year?
Well, I've got you covered my friends with Missus Peg's picks for Gate Night and Halloween:
If a little fear is part of your fun then Six Pines Haunted Attractions is for you. This Halloween and Gate Night (Thursday, October 30th) they've gone for the gusto with possibly their most frightful interactive experience yet with their Fear By Night programming (it's almost too scary for Mister Peg, but me and my gal pals love it).
On this R-rated, adrenaline-filled adventure you can dare to make your way through their classic Barn of Doom, "Welcome to Terminus" (a la The Walking Dead), along with their two new haunted features, "Alice in Zombieland" and CARNEVIL: "Fear the Clowns." Don't bring granny because this stuff is not for the faint of heart. I'm talking actors dressed as zombies, along with the only thing that is scary than the undead -- clowns.
How scary can it be you may ask? Well, they don't recommend it for pregnant ladies, so you've been warned. But I do recommend it for you and a group of your best girlfriends, because nothing is better than a post-scare glass of pinot gris to rehash over the spooky experience (once you drive back to the city, of course).
Six Pines is located just north of the city. Here is a map.
The Haunted Forrest at A Maze in Corn (A Maze in Corn)
Gate Night and Halloween night is also terrifically terrifying in the Haunted Forest at Amaze in Corn, located just south of the city in St. Norbert (here's a map). From 6:30 p.m.-10 p.m. you can dare to get lost in the darkness of their rustling corn maze (is it just the wind making sounds, or is something out there?). If you still have your wits about you, you can then head into their Haunted Forest where skeletons and a host of demonic creatures are waiting to scare the living daylights out of you (all in good fun of course).
We went last year with several friends of ours and we had a ghoulishly good time. The corn maze itself is also quite a spectacle -- during the day we've been out with other families with kids and everyone has had a fun time, while at night with adults (as it is a little too creepy for kids), the sounds coming through the corn (which stands well over your head) along with the other people trying to make their way through does make for a hair-raising experience.
It is always a popular attraction so get there early as limited tickets are available each night, with Gate Night and Halloween obviously being quite popular.
My third recommendation is Parks Canada's Fright Night at the Forks at the Lower Fort Garry National Historic site (located north-east of the city, here's a map). For those of you into experiential theatre this is for you. Once you enter the Fort you get to interact with all the inhabitants in their historical Victorian-era garb. They will invite you into their house, tell you about their worries and about the people that have gone missing from the Fort. It will pretty much give you the heebie jeebies.
My girlfriends and I love going to this year after year. There is something so unique about seeing a scary story being played out in front of you, especially at a venue -- which was used before as a jail and an insane asylum -- that is already rumoured to have some supernatural inhabitants. In fact, the TV show Ghost Hunters International did an episode here where their team of experts came to believe that paranormal activity was at foot.
Plus, spookiness aside, once you've had your fill of fear you can tuck into their Thirsty Beaver Tavern where cold beer and a photo with the dead awaits -- if you are into that sort of thing (like I am).
Due to the popularity of this attraction, pre-purchasing tickets (which you can do here) is highly recommended.
So get out there this week, bring your friends, and try to keep your wits about you. These three experiences will keep you entertained and get your heart racing.
Only in The Peg chronicles the adventures of the Peg family–Missus, Mister and Lil' Peg - as they discover everything there is to see and do in Winnipeg. Follow them on Twitter at @tourismwpg or visit them on Facebook. For even more info on Winnipeg, visit www.tourismwinnipeg.com.
Subscribe to our monthly e-newsletter to stay in the loop on the latest information, contests, and upcoming events!
