September 25, 2020

We can see October from here! We can also see Halloween candy and costumes in stores, and decorations outside houses. 

Yep. It’s Spooky Season in Downtown Springfield.

Ready for some scary entertainment? We’ve got options for everyone! Here are four ways to get frightened in our neighborhood.

Dungeons of Doom & Hotel of Terror

Two of Springfield’s oldest and largest haunted houses are right here in our neighborhood! Hotel of Terror (334 North Main Street) was established in 1978. The mission was simple: give kids something safe and fun to do during the Halloween season. What was once a 5-10 minute experience on two floors has grown into a four-story experience with live actors and animatronics that ends with a ride down a 96-foot slide!

And don’t forget about their sister spooky spot, Dungeons of Doom (701 West Wall Street). Admission to these haunted houses is $17 each, or get a combo pass for $30. Check out their website for more information, including Kids Night and coupons!

Haunted History Walking Tours

Put on your comfortable shoes and join History Museum on the Square for Haunted History Walking Tours! You’ll get to know the Queen City’s history and some of the spooky stories connected to it. This one-mile, one-hour tour of Downtown Springfield is full of local history with a haunting twist. It’s also informative and fun, and is appropriate for older children. Reserve your space today!

As an added bonus, the Historic Gillioz Theatre is partnering with the Museum on certain Saturdays for an extended tour! You’ll get a walking tour of the Gillioz and hear more of their ghostly encounters. Regular tours are $15 for History Museum members and $20 for non members. Gillioz tours are an additional $15.

Historic Landers Theatre Haunted Ghost Tours

The Historic Landers Theatre was built in 1909 and it’s got some spooky stories to tell. Join Springfield Little Theatre Oct. 8-10 for Haunted Ghost Tours of the beautiful, 111-year-old building.

Groups of 10 will be escorted through dark hallways and secret spaces that have been hidden from the general public for decades. You’ll experience the real-life encounters that make up the bone-chilling past of the Crown Jewel of the Ozarks. Hour-long tours begin at 6 p.m. and run every 15 minutes until 11. All ages tours run from 6-7 p.m., while the 7-11 p.m. tours are for 21 and over only.  Tickets are $30. There’s also a special $45 tour ticket that comes with a wine tumbler. Visit Springfield Little Theatre’s website to purchase your tickets, or call the box office at 417-869-1334.

Scary Movies at the Gillioz

Visit the Historic Gillioz Theatre on Fridays in October for some classic scary movies! It’s quite a spooky lineup:

• Oct. 2 — Carrie
• Oct. 9 — The Silence of the Lambs
• Oct. 16 — Phantom of the Opera
• Oct. 23 — The Exorcist
• Oct. 30 — The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Tickets are just $10 each and groups will be socially distanced. Other COVID-19 precautions include pre-order concessions, touchless ticketing, sanitizer stations and controlled exits. Visit the Gillioz website to buy your tickets today. Call the box office at 417-863-9491 with any questions.

We’ll see you spooky neighbors soon in Downtown Springfield!