By Kelly Youngblood
The Farmer City Haunted Forest returns for a second year to offer spooky sights, fun frights, and good, old-fashioned Halloween fun.
The main feature of this FREE, all-ages event is a hayrack wagon ride through the Salt Creek Area 21 Campsite at South Park in Farmer City.
The 20-minute ride will take participants through the campsite where volunteers have set up a variety of Halloween scenes including carved pumpkins, ghost children, a shipwreck, phantom ghosts, skeletons, and much more.
The event will be held on Friday Oct. 27 from 6-11 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 28 from 3-11 p.m. Typical Halloween scares will take place from 6-11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night. A family-friendly matinee will be held on Saturday from 3-6 p.m.
A costume contest will be held during matinee hours with prizes awarded for different categories including children, adults, and pets.
Additional activities will include beanbag tosses and photo opportunities. During matinee hours, children are welcome to play at the playground on site. Food vendors will be available both days of the event.
Scott Testory, a local resident, came up with the idea of a haunted forest as a fun way to bring the community together. It then became “the cooperative effort of many people last year” to create the event.
The Farmer City Haunted Forest is sponsored by the Farmer City Chamber of Commerce. The cost is free but donations are accepted.
No walking is allowed through the campsites and parking is allowed in designated areas only. Restrooms are available on site.
For more information about the Farmer City Haunted Forest, go to the event’s Facebook page.
For more SCARY Halloween fun in Champaign-Urbana, check out our Fright Guide.
For more family- friendly Halloween fun, see our Champaign-Urbana Area Halloween Fun Guide.