Our Top Five: Halloween Destinations in Lubbock

If you’re looking for a low key, fun Halloween attraction this year, visit At’l Do Farms Corn Maze North of Lubbock. The corn maze has been a fall staple on the South Plains for 11 years running, and is a great way for all kinds of groups to enjoy the cool October weather. The maze its self changes each year, with a pattern this year commemorating Lubbock Legend Buddy Holly. The maze isn’t the only attraction at At’l Do Farms. A hayride to Pumpkin Hollow runs from dark to close, pumpkin patches offer a chance for the family to pick a pumpkin, and fire pits can be rented for an evening of roasting marshmallows. The Maze is located ¾ of a mile west of Frankford Avenue on FM 1294. The Maze is open Friday from 5:00pm-9:00pm, Saturday from 10:00am-9:00pm, Sunday from 2:00pm-9:00pm, and on Halloween from 5:00pm- 10:30pm. Admission is $8.00, with 4-year-olds and under free.

If you want a unique place to take your kid trick-or-treating this weekend, go to the Ranching Heritage Center. They’ll be hosting their 5th Annual Heritage Halloween from 4:00pm-7:00pm Friday. The free event is a fun, safe way for little kids to trick-or-treat, and offers a few other activities on the side. Children will make their way through the expansive outdoor area of the center, trick-or-treating at the Historic Buildings scattered among the grounds. Volunteers will be dressed in period clothing. A cakewalk and Halloween crafts will also be available. Finally, you can finish up the evening with a $1 hay ride through the park. The NRHC is located at 3121 Fourth Street.

Several music clubs at Texas Tech University have joined to bring you “Cowboys and Pirates: A Halloween Carnival Ball.” The event offers a fun, free, safe way for Tech students to celebrate this ghoulish holiday. This alcohol free event kicks off Saturday evening at 6:00 with a trick-or-treat for kids, then proceeds at 7:00 with the costume ball. Various student organizations will have booths and perform live demonstrations as a DJ plays music for dancers. There will be prizes for the best costume, so come dressed up. The Halloween Ball will be held in the Matador Room in the Student Union Building and is free with a Tech ID.

The Boys and Girls Club of Lubbock begins a new tradition this year with the Night at the Spook House. This creepy labyrinth offers scares for children ages twelve and under as they navigate through a maze of tunnels, obstacles, and startling surprises. This is a great “haunted house” to take your younger children to because it is absent of gore, and leans more towards the creepy side instead of flat out terrifying. There will be emergency exits throughout the maze in case a child becomes too scared, and the whole maze will be monitored by volunteers. The Spook House is open from 6 to 9pm Friday, Saturday and Monday and costs $5. That’s a pretty good deal for a Halloween scare.

Finally, don’t forget the ever-classic FMX sponsored Nightmare on 19th street. This Halloween attraction has been around for years but always manages to offer new scares. Frequently said to be Lubbock’s scariest Halloween attraction, Nightmare on 19th Street attracts people for miles. This Halloween, you test your bravery in three different themed courses, Dr. Nexum’s Sanitarium, Blood Moon Manor, and the all new City of the Lost. In the City of the Lost, visitors will make their way through an attractions haunted by ancient creatures of Mayan, Roman, and Egyptian decent. The new attraction also features “caves” and a waterfall. Don’t write off the other two attractions just yet; each attraction has been expanded by almost double, offering new twists, turns and courtyards that will keep even a seasoned veteran of the attraction jumping. Make sure you head out to 19th street and take a look at the improvements they’ve made, and get scared in the process. Nightmare on 19th street is located at the Lone Star Event Center at 602 east 19th, and is open from 7:30 to 11:30 Friday and Saturday, and will also be open Monday for Halloween. Admission is $20.