Mike Taylor and his son, Ethan Taylor, of Fort
Calhoun carve a pumpkin at Ponca State Park's
Hallowfest in 2017.
F
or more than two decades, Ponca State Park's
Hallowfest has thrilled guests of all ages. The park
modeled its event after Indian Cave State Park's festival,
starting out with just one weekend of haunted hayrack
rides in 1998 and expanding its offerings to two weekends
full of Halloween activities. This fall festival has become a
tradition for families, many of whom begin booking their
cabins and campsites a year in advance.
Hallowfest 2020 falls on Oct. 10 and 17. Guests may
begin making reservations for the haunted ride on Oct. 5
at 8 a.m., but be forewarned, tickets usually sell out within
an hour. This popular 40-minute tour gives parkgoers the
experience of Ponca State Park after dark, but with the
added element of spooky scenes and surprises. Although
there is no age limit, parents should use their discretion in
bringing children under 10 years old. (See page 47 sidebar
for changes due to COVID-19.)
Daytime attractions are fun for the whole family,
and they require no reservations. During a typical year,
activities may include take-and-go crafts, fortune telling,
maze, yard games, pumpkin carving, pumpkin rolling,
"creepy crawly" animal programs and more. Guests and
their pets are encouraged to come in costume.
The campground-decorating contest is another favorite
activity at Hallowfest. Take a stroll near the cabins and
campsites, and you'll quickly see how much parkgoers love
this holiday. Interestingly, the park owes the creation of
this contest to its guests.
"We are unsure of when this fun began," said Lynn
Mellick, event coordinator at Ponca State Park.{ "Guests
took it upon themselves to decorate their campsites, and
they also began trick-or-treating in the campgrounds." In
2012, the contest became an official part of Hallowfest,
with prizes awarded to best-decorated campsites and
cabins.
Kick off your holiday season by celebrating Halloween at
Ponca State Park. Come enjoy the fall colors, and immerse
yourself in the autumn season and all this time of year has
to offer. For more information and/or to make reservations,
contact Ponca State Park at (402) 755-2284.
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October 2020 • Nebraskaland 39
