Enjoy Halloween fun in Nebraska state parks in October

September 24, 2021 shawna richter-ryerson

LINCOLN, Neb. — State park areas are wonderful places to celebrate Halloween in Nebraska. Many of them have family-friendly activities on weekends in October. This year is no exception.

Aside from Halloween-themed events at parks, enthusiasts of history and crafts will find activities to enjoy in October.

See what opportunities for adventure you can find. Learn more at YourNebraskaParks100.org.

A park entry permit is required of each vehicle entering a state park area.

Living History Scheduled Oct. 2-3 at Fort Atkinson SHP

LINCOLN, Neb. – Life at an 1820s military post will be depicted at Living History Weekend at Fort Atkinson State Historical Park on Oct. 2-3.

From 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Oct. 2 and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 3, visitors will be able to glimpse the activities that would have taken place at this outpost. Trades such as blacksmithing, carpentry, coopering, tin smithing, and more will be demonstrated throughout both days. Period crafts such as spinning, weaving and quilting also will be highlighted.

Fort Atkinson SHP, the first military post west of the Missouri River, is seven blocks east of U.S. Highway 75 near Fort Calhoun. Admittance to the Harold W. Andersen Visitor Center is $2 for adults and $1 for children ages 3-12.

Contact the park for more information at 402-468-5611 or ngpc.fort.atkinson@nebraska.gov.

Enjoy stories, stars and s’mores at Buffalo Bill SRA

LINCOLN, Neb. – Come listen to Native American stories from Oglala Lakota tribe members to learn about their traditions, hunting, fishing and use of the land from 6-8 p.m. Oct. 2 at Buffalo Bill Ranch State Recreation Area.

At 6:30 p.m., families can enjoy making s’mores and crafting rain sticks. Wrap up the evening by enjoying some stargazing.

For more details, visit the calendar event listing at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov. RSVP to the event is preferred.

Indian Cave SP to host 26th Haunted Hollow

LINCOLN, Neb. – Bring the family to Indian Cave State Park for three weekends of Halloween-themed fun in October with the 26th Annual Haunted Hollow.

Haunted hayrack rides, trick-or-treating, outdoor movies, scavenger hunt, pumpkin rolling, craft market and campground-decorating contest are all on tap to keep everyone entertained Oct. 8-9, Oct. 15-16 and Oct. 22-23.

For more details, visit the calendar event listing at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov.

Enjoy River Valley Artisans and Craft Market Oct. 9-10 at Mahoney SP

LINCOLN, Neb. – Start your Christmas shopping early at the River Valley Artisans and Craft Market on Oct. 9-10 at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park. Browse through handmade arts and craft items in the new Crete Carrier Riverview Lodge.

Vendors will have fluid and fused-glass art, crochet towels and animals, wooden trays, natural hand lotions, goat milk soap, home décor, signs and more.

Hours for the show are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 9 and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 10.

For more details, visit the calendar event listing at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov.

Ponca SP will host Hallowfest Oct. 9, Oct. 16

LINCOLN, Neb. – Enjoy the season of Halloween at Ponca State Park by coming to the 23rd Annual Hallowfest on Oct. 9 and Oct. 16.

Activities include crafts, pumpkin-rolling contest, pumpkin-carving contest, haunted drive and campground-decorating contest.

Call the park at 402-755-2284 to register for the haunted drive, which is $25 per vehicle.

Johnson Lake Halloween Haunt set for Oct. 9

LINCOLN, Neb. – Johnson Lake State Recreation Area will host pumpkin painting and a campsite-decorating contest Oct. 9. The Johnson Lake Halloween Haunt will take place from 1-7 p.m.

The pumpkin painting will take place from 1-3 p.m. at Area C. Campsite decoration judging will begin at 5 p.m. at the main campground. Prizes will be given for the top two finishers.

Ranch Life Saturdays at Rock Creek Station SHP

LINCOLN, Neb. — Travel back in time to the mid-1800s during living history Saturdays at Rock Creek Station State Historical Park in southeast Nebraska.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 16, reenactors will bring history to life with period dress, interpretations and demonstrations.

The historical park — one of the Pony Express stations — is on 350 acres of prairie, its creek bottom timber-studded. Deep ruts carved into the earth by wagons traveling the Oregon and California trails remain plainly visible.

The historical park also contains the reconstructed Pony Express barn, bunk house and several cabins, viewable from the 6 miles of hiking and nature trails.

Learn more about the park at outdoornebraska.gov/rockcreekstation. Learn more about the event in the listing at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov.

Pink Pumpkin Walk is Oct. 16 at Indian Cave State Park

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Pink Pumpkin Walk, a walk for cancer survivors and in memory of loved ones, will be at 11 a.m. Oct. 16 at Indian Cave State Park. It also helps support October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Call 402-883-2115 to register and order a personalized pink pumpkin in memory of a loved one, for those who have beat cancer and those currently fighting it. $10 registration is due by Oct. 9. Proceeds go to Southeast Nebraska Memorial Cancer Garden.

For more details, visit the calendar event listing at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov.

Halloween is Brewing with Fun at Mahoney SP set for Oct. 16

LINCOLN, Neb. – Show your Halloween spirit Oct. 16 with Halloween is Brewing with Fun at Eugene T. Mahoney State Park. There will be contests for campsite decorating, pumpkin carving, bonfires and a scavenger hunt.

All events take place at Owen Marina from 1:30 to 6 p.m. The event kicks off with a children’s Halloween costume parade.

To see the day’s full schedule, visit the calendar event listing at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov.

Branched Oak SRA to host Spooktacular on Oct. 16

LINCOLN, Neb. – Spend a day with the family Oct. 16 enjoying Spooktacular at Branched Oak State Recreation Area.

Middle Oak Creek Campground will host this event, which will include a pumpkin-rolling contest, pumpkin carving, costume contest, campsite decorating, trick-or-treating and haunted hayrack ride.

For more details, visit the calendar event listing at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov.

Enjoy Halloween campsite decorating, trick-or-treating at Fremont Lakes SRA

LINCOLN, Neb. – Get into the Halloween spirit at Fremont Lakes State Recreation Area on Oct. 16 with family-friendly activities.

Campers may decorate their campsites in a Halloween theme. Then, from 5-7 p.m., children may trick-or-treat in the campground with the decoration judging takes place.

For more information, call the park at 402-727-2922.

Calamus Pumpkin Carvers Event set for Oct. 23

LINCOLN, Neb. – It is all about pumpkins at Calamus State Recreation Area on Oct. 23.

The Calamus Pumpkin Carvers Event, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m., will include pumpkin carving, games with prizes, downhill pumpkin rolling derby, food, campsite decorating, haunted houses, trick-or-treating and lighted pumpkin displays.

For more details, visit the event listing in the calendar at calendar.outdoornebraska.gov.

Roosevelt presentation set for Oct. 23 at Platte River State Park

LINCOLN, Neb. – Join professional interpreters of Theodore Roosevelt and his youngest son, Quentin, as they tell the tales of the Old West on Oct. 23 at Platte River State Park in celebration of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission’s state parks centennial.

The presentation, which is open to the public, will take place at 6 p.m. at the park’s amphitheater. Freewill offerings will be accepted.

Joe Wiegand (Theodore Roosevelt) and Austin Artz (Quentin Roosevelt) have traveled across the world as Roosevelt performers and have acted in History Channel documentaries.

Enders Reservoir SRA to host Haunted Camping Oct. 30-31

LINCOLN, Neb. – Enjoy family-friendly fun with Haunted Camping at Enders Reservoir State Recreation Area on Oct. 30-31.

This event will take place in Area A, where there will be a haunted trail, games, pumpkin-carving contest, and costume contests for adults, children and pets. There also will be camper and campsite-decorating contests. Camping fees apply.

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