By Josh Staloch
Correspondent
To say that the landscape of Northeast Wisconsin lends itself to this time of the year is obviously a tremendous understatement.
Even here in the state’s third-largest city, residents of Green Bay and its surrounding areas don’t have to drive more than a few minutes to find spectacular fall scenery.
With summer leaving and fall moving in to ease us into another cold winter, folks in Brown County have plenty of options for one last big outdoor hurrah during the Halloween season before its time to break out the heavy parkas.
First, the a look at the family friendly events in the area:
Scenic View Landscapes and Garden Center
Located on Elmwood Road in Suamico, Scenic View Landscapes and Garden Center has a wide variety of seasonal decorative items available from pumpkins and gourds to dried corn stalks.
Scenic View, open from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sundays, is offering popcorn and wagon rides to its visitors in October.
The Great Pumpkin Train
The National Railroad Museum in Ashwaubenon is hosting two days of family Halloween fun this October as The Great Pumpkin Train will be running from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday Oct. 8th and again on Saturday Oct. 15. Admission is $17 (children under 2 get in free) and includes a ride on the train to a pumpkin patch, where everyone gets to select a pumpkin to bring home. Once back at the museum, guests can explore the exhibits, trick-or-treat or enjoy live entertainment like crafting stations and balloon animals.
Vickery Village Fall Bash
Vickery Village in Suamico will host a Fall Bash on Saturday, Oct. 22. The event will include live music, food and drinks, a market featuring the works of local artists and bakers, trick-or-treating and other kids’ activities. The festivities will run from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., with a costume parade taking place at noon.
Blaser’s Acres
The Fall Pumpkin Festival is underway at Blaser’s Acres, located at 2556 School Lane in Suamico, and the list of activities being offered is long.
From a bounce house to hay rides to a petting zoo to carmel apples and one of the area’s best corn mazes, there’s just a lot of fall being offered at Blaser’s Acres.
The Fall Pumpkin Festival is happening seven days a week from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. through Oct. 30.
Dogs are welcome, on a leash, during the week but not on weekends.
Harvest Hill
Located at N9339 French Road in Seymour, Harvest Hill Family Farm is open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and features a 12-acre corn maze, a petting zoo, pumpkin painting and other fall activities.
There are no admission fees to play on the grounds and interact with the animals.
Misty Ridge Orchard
Located at N5126 Advent Road in De Pere, the picturesque Misty Ridge Orchard offers fall decorations, a corn maze and a whole lot of delicious-ness.
The selection of gourds and pumpkins is vibrant and unique, and they offer a wide variety of apples from Honey Crisp to Zestar and Crimson Crisp.
Also on the list of seasonal yummies offered are fresh cider and apple pie.
The orchard is open Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
And now, for something a little more terrifying:
Green Bay Fear
Presented by the Beja Shriners, Green Bay Fear gets more ghastly as the years go by.
Mr. Jingles, the clown with a terrifying stare and a chainsaw at the ready, is back and he’s not looking any friendlier than he has in past years.
Take a walk through his Funhouse and try not to scream a few times – let us know how it goes.
Howling Hallow, a rambling path through the forest on the grounds of Green Bay Fear, is, as usual, fraught with things that are likely to keep one awake for a few nights afterward and Shawano Manor will once again be stacked with oddities and psychotic bits for patrons to try not to look too closely at.
Located on Taylor Street in Howard, Green Bay Fear is open for screams 7-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays in October.
Green Bay Fear will host an event for younger kids in the light of day, when bloody ghoulish-ness is less likely, from 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 15 and again on Oct. 29.
Terror on the Fox
Located on South Broadway near the National Railroad Meuseum in Ashwaubenon, Terror on the Fox is back for another October of frightful fun.
A Wisconsin Halloween tradition for more than 20 years, Terror on the Fox has perfected the art of the scare by going the extra mile with their attractions and presentation.
The Terror Train is back, taking passengers on a haunted ride along the Fox River and The Bloodrite and Daywalker attractions promise to be particularly gruesome.
Terror on the Fox is open from 7-11 p.m. on Fridays, 7 p.m. midnight on Saturdays and from 7-10 p.m. on Sundays through October.
General admission tickets are $24.99.
And now for a walk on the wild side
Bog Witch’s Ball
The Tarlton Theater on Walnut and Broadway and Dark Arts Circus present the Bog Witch’s Ball on Saturday, Oct. 22.
The event will showcase the area’s best in live alternative entertainment with burlesque, drag artists, aerialists and circus performers.
Tricks and treats will be abundant and there will be a Halloween costume contest, fortune tellers and purveyors of all sorts of oddities on hand.
Doors open at 8 p.m., and the show begins at 9 p.m. Tickets are $13.