Hauntless Halloween at Holliday Park 2026: What to Know

Last fall, I took my daughter Ellie and her cousin Hadley, then 5 and 6, to Hauntless Halloween at Holliday Park. I knew we have been signing up for a night hike with speaking forest creatures. What I didn’t notice was how a lot of a manufacturing the entire thing can be.

The younger actors from Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre have been the half that impressed me most. They weren’t merely stationed alongside the path in costumes handing out enjoyable details. They had characters, strains and full little performances ready at every cease. By the tip of the night time, Ellie and Hadley have been already speaking about how they needed to be a part of Hauntless Halloween themselves once they have been older.

Related Article: Holliday Park: An Insider’s Guide to 94-Acres of Nature and Fun

Our Hauntless Halloween Hike at Holliday Park

Our tour was scheduled for five:40 p.m., so we arrived somewhat early and spent about quarter-hour exploring the Holliday Park Nature Center earlier than it was time to move outdoors.

Tours go away each 10 minutes, which retains the expertise feeling pretty small. There are solely 18 spots accessible for every tour, and as soon as we have been on the path, we moved collectively from one group of forest creatures to the subsequent.

Our first encounter got here virtually instantly. Two luna moths greeted us and began telling us about their lives. Ellie and Hadley have been somewhat shy at first and principally watched and listened, however they rapidly warmed as much as the concept that, for one night time, the creatures residing in Holliday Park might speak.

Next got here lightning bugs, adopted by extra creatures alongside the path. I bear in mind spiders and bats amongst them, though the character lineup can change from yr to yr.

The Young Actors Make the Experience

Each cease was basically its personal brief efficiency, and this was the place Hauntless Halloween actually labored for us. The scenes lasted lengthy sufficient for the ladies to really be taught one thing about every creature, however not so lengthy that I watched their consideration disappear into the woods.

The actors did a powerful job staying in character and delivering their strains. You might inform these children had practiced. Even with two younger children who have been initially somewhat hesitant to work together, there was lots to observe and hearken to with out anybody placing them on the spot.

The settings modified alongside the way in which, too. Some characters have been ready proper alongside the path, whereas different stops felt extra like little woodland scenes. At some performances there have been chairs the place adults might sit for a couple of minutes. At others, we stood with the group whereas the actors carried out.

It’s Atmospheric, Not Scary

This is certainly extra fall ambiance than Halloween scare. Nobody jumped out from behind a tree, and not one of the performances have been making an attempt to scare anybody.

Our 5:30 p.m. begin meant the solar was simply starting to set, which labored nicely for Ellie and Hadley. As the woods obtained darker, photo voltaic lights and pumpkins marked the path, and every character space had spotlights for the efficiency.

The later excursions in all probability really feel spookier simply since you’re within the woods after darkish. But that’s fall-at-night spooky, not haunted-house spooky.

The leaping spiders did creep me out somewhat, although. That one was a me drawback.

The Hike Is Only Part of Hauntless Halloween

The hike itself took somewhat greater than half-hour and ended at a fireplace pit, the place Holliday Park employees had s’mores trays prepared for everybody. The women grabbed theirs, discovered roasting sticks and obtained proper to work on the marshmallows.

I figured that was the tip of the night time, and actually, it will have been a reasonably good ending. But after we completed our s’mores, we headed again contained in the Nature Center and located much more ready for us.

The women adorned pumpkins, ate popcorn and have been very impressed by the smoking apple cider. It was a enjoyable little bonus after the hike, particularly since I hadn’t realized there can be extra to do as soon as we got here again inside.

Holliday Park’s occasion description lists a campfire, refreshments and actions once more this yr, although the precise snacks and actions could also be totally different from what we had throughout our go to.

Who Is Hauntless Halloween Best For?

Hauntless Halloween is listed as an all-ages occasion, and I can see households with children throughout a spread of ages having fun with it. Based on our go to, although, I feel the candy spot might be older preschoolers via youthful elementary-age children, roughly age 4 via third grade.

At 5 and 6, Ellie and Hadley have been sufficiently old to comply with the performances and be taught one thing from the actors with out feeling like the tutorial elements dragged on. Younger siblings might actually come alongside, and older children who get pleasure from animals, theater or performing could get one thing fully totally different out of it.

All in, we have been there about an hour and quarter-hour. The hike itself is a bit more than half-hour, and the remaining was cut up between the Nature Center earlier than our tour and the s’mores, crafts and snacks after.

Looking for extra methods to fill your fall calendar? Check out our information to fall enjoyable round Indianapolis.

Why Hauntless Halloween Is Worth Adding to Your Fall List

What stood out to me was how nicely Hauntless Halloween balanced the nature-program facet with the enjoyable of watching these younger actors convey the forest creatures to life. Ellie and Hadley have been studying with out it ever actually feeling like a lesson.

The greatest factor I’d inform mother and father is to not wait on tickets. Tours are deliberately small, with solely 18 spots accessible in every 10-minute time slot, and this occasion can promote out rapidly.

And in case your little one has any curiosity in theater, don’t be shocked for those who go away with a future Hauntless Halloween solid member. Apparently that’s what occurred to us.

Hauntless Halloween at Holliday Park

• Where: Holliday Park, 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN 46260
• Thursday, Oct. 22: 5:30–8 p.m.
• Friday, Oct. 23: 5:30–8 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 24: 5–8 p.m.
• Admission: $10 per individual; kids ages 2 and youthful are free. Purchase tickets here. 
• Registration: Advance registration is required. Families choose a particular tour time, with excursions leaving each 10 minutes.
• Good to know: Arrive about 10 minutes earlier than your scheduled tour. Tickets can promote out rapidly, particularly for standard time slots.
• More data: Holliday Park programs and events calendar