With a chill in the air and spooky decorations everywhere, Johnson County is preparing a for Halloween weekend filled with local events.
To have your event included, email the details to news@warrensburgstarjournal.com.
Spooktacular
Warrensburg Main Street is bringing a new look to Halloween this year with the Downtown Spooktacular from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 30, around the Johnson County Courthouse square.
Instead of the traditional trick or treat with businesses on the Friday prior to Halloween, Warrensburg Main Street will be hosting a mini fall event called the Downtown Spooktacular.
The event is free and will consist of hayrides, pumpkin painting, eating contests, activities, games and candy. Many of the activities and games will be hosted by local organizations and businesses.
A costume contest will begin at 11 a.m. on the steps of the Johnson Courthouse. The contest is free to participate in and requires no prior registration.
Age categories are 0-3, 4-12, 13-18 and pets. Each category will be rewarded an overall winner, spookiest costume and cutest costume. Contestants will need to gather at the courthouse by 11 a.m. to be considered.
After many discussions with business owners and community members, Warrensburg Main Street decided to revamp the locally known Downtown Trick-or-Treat by adding more interactive fall activities for children to enjoy while collecting candy.
“We wanted to bring a new look to a local favorite event to help create more memories with families in the community,” Events Coordinator Jamie DeBacker said in a news release. “We have still invited businesses to join us around the courthouse but we also hope that families will bring their children downtown for this event, then shop and eat in Downtown afterwards.”
This event is planned by Warrensburg Main Street’s Promotions Committee.
For more information about community events or helping with future events, contact 660-429-3988 or visit warrensburgmainstreet.org.
Freaks Fair
Freaks Fair, 126 SW 400th Road, Warrensburg, is back for another Halloween Season and will be open from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. Oct. 22, 23, 29, 30, and 31.
Tickets are $10 per person for entrance to three different Scare Zones: The Deadliest Show on Earth, Heretic House, and Killbilly Compound.
A family-friendly carnival will be hosted inside Twin Oaks Event Center during the time of the haunted attraction.
All ages are welcome. There is free parking in front of Twin Oaks Event Center.
For more information, visit www.freaksfair.com.
Festival of Freaks
Twin Oaks Event Center, 126 SW 400th Road, Warrensburg, will host food, games, prizes, a haunted house and tarot card readings from 7 p.m. to midnight Oct. 22, 23, 29, and 30.
Grover Park Baptist Church Fall Festival
Grover Park Baptist Church, 409 N. Mitchell St., Warrensburg, will host a Fall Festival from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 31 in the church parking lot to celebrate the fall harvest with food, music and activities.
The free, family-friendly event includes hot dogs, hot chocolate and popcorn, pumpkin bowling, tic-tac-toe, bean bag toss, create a pumpkin, hayrides, a bug buffet, live animals, photo opportunities, and live music.
There will be a kids’ costume contest at 4:30, 5 and 5:30 p.m. A girl and a boy will receive a prize each time.
The event will also feature a trunk-or-treat. Vehicles will be decorated and participants will be handing out candy.
Northside Trunk or Treat
Northside Christian Church, 500 N. Ridgeview Dr., Warrensburg, will host a trunk-or-treat at 6 p.m. Oct. 29.
In addition, there will be several inflatables for the kids to enjoy along with tons of games and candy.
Visitors can park in the south parking lot and follow the signs to the church’s north lot where the event will be hosted.
Ghouls Night Out
Survival House will host Ghouls Night Out from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 29 on the Johnson County Fairgrounds.
Twister Sports Trunk or Treat
Join Twister Sports, 240 NW state Route 13, Warrensburg, for its annual Trunk or Treat from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 29.
Kids have an opportunity to dress up in their costumes and collect a candy stash in a safe, family-friendly environment.
Twister has bus transportation to avoid the wait for the parking lot. Parking is allowed at Hawthorne Plaza near Zaxby's. The Twister bus will be making rounds to bring guests from there to Twisters and back.
Admission to trick or treat is free but visitors are encouraged to bring a canned food item upon entry to help the Warrensburg Food Pantry.
If your business would like to sponsor a trunk, visit www.twistersports.com/vendor.
Missouri Veterans Home Drive-Thru Pumpkin Stroll
The Missouri Veterans Home, 1300 Veterans Road, Warrensburg, will host a Drive-Thru Pumpkin Stroll from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 29.
Visitors should enter from Pride Avenue on the west side of the building and watch for traffic instructions.
This is a free family-friendly event that is open to the public. Visitors should remain in their car. Goody bags will be available for all in attendance. Tune into 106.7 FM during your stroll to hear Halloween tunes.
HR will also be on-site to talk with visitors about job opportunities.
Chili Cook-off
For those needing a meal to warm up in between Halloween festivities, stop by First United Methodist Church of Warrensburg, 141 E. Gay St., Warrensburg, for a Chili Cook-off hosted by Boy Scout Troop 400 from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 30.
Chili entries should arrive between 4 to 4:30 p.m. Each person who enters a large pot of chili will receive four free tickets. Advanced tickets are $8 and tickets are $10 at the door. Awards will be announced at 6:45 p.m.
For more information, contact Melissa Ashley at 816-813-9359.
