This giveaway is now closed. Congrats to the winner, Jenny!
How do you feel about haunted houses at Halloween? I’ve always been firmly planted on the side of “No thanks.” An early experience as a child with someone jumping out at me is to blame, and I’ve never really overcome the fear. (I also don’t do horror flicks. I enjoy my nightmare-free sleeps, thank you very much.)
It wasn’t until I first visited the annual haunted house at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis that I realized “haunted house” and “emotional trauma” didn’t necessarily have to go hand-in-hand. Every year The Children’s Museum Guild works feverishly to create a themed haunted house within The Children’s Museum. It is the museum’s largest fundraiser, and the Guild’s love for this project is evident in their attention to detail.
This year is an especially important and exciting year, as it marks the 50th Anniversary of The Children’s Museum Guild’s Haunted House! In celebration, the theme this year is Time Warp: 50 Years of Fear. You can explore 50 years of pop culture through a creepy 3D lens. In addition, the museum is hosting a special exhibit to celebrate the anniversary. Hollywood Haunts features unique artifacts from film and TV, including Scooby Doo’s Mystery Machine, costumes from the Addams Family, and a Chilled Monkey Brains head from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. (Note: this exhibit requires a museum admission ticket. Admission to the museum is not included in the Haunted House ticket.)
My own personal Time Warp: this oldie but goodie of a past visit to the Haunted House!
As in everything The Children Museum does, they continue to keep the child in mind … even within the spookiness of a haunted house. Knowing that not everyone wants to pee themselves with fear, The Children’s Museum offers special Lights-on Hours. This is our Halloween tradition year after year, from the time Elena was 4. Yes, there are still spooky things to see, but with the lights on they keep the Halloween spirit but lose the fright factor. It helps that volunteers in each room are there to greet children enthusiastically and give them a small treat.
For those who are ready for some serious scaring, the museum hosts Frightening Hours with the lights off. And new this year, for the really brave souls, are Xtreme Scream! hours on Friday nights. Elena really wants to try going through with the lights off this year … who wants to take her for me?! Not sure which one is right for your family? This infographic will help.
The Children’s Museum Guild’s Haunted House opens Thursday, October 10 and runs through Halloween. Times for the Lights-On, Frightening and Xtreme Scream Hours, as well as ticket information, can be found on the museum’s website. Special combo tickets can be purchased that include savings when you purchase both museum and haunted house tickets together.
The Children’s Museum hosted a special media preview of Time Warp: 50 Years of Fear this week, but my duties at a certain organizational store kept me from attending. The Children’s Museum was kind enough to offer me 4 tickets to give away though! Here’s what you need to do to enter:
- Leave a comment telling me about your own memory from The Children’s Museum Haunted House in years past. (If you’ve never been, share what you’re looking forward to seeing instead.)
- For additional entries, tweet and/or share this giveaway on Twitter and/or Facebook. Leave a comment below telling me you did so. Please note, a tweet or Facebook share counts as one entry. If you choose to do both, leave 2 separate comments so both of your shares count as an entry!
The giveaway will end at 11:59 pm EST on Saturday, October 12, 2013. Winner will be notified via email and have 24 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen. Winner will receive 4 tickets to The Children’s Museum Guild’s Time Warp Haunted House. Good luck and thanks for reading!
If you’d like to increase your chances of winning, additional giveaways are being held on the following blogs:
- Mom For Less (ends 10/11)
- Hoosier Party Girl (ends 10/14)
- Indy With Kids (ends 10/13)
- Katie Un(Scripted) (ends 10/13)
Kelly says
I feel like my chances are good… 🙂
We’ve been to the Haunted House a couple of times, but we didn’t go last year. The kids would probably really like it this year. Last time we went Katelyn was a little freaked out, but I bet Ryan would love it. 🙂
Kelly says
I shared on FB.
Emily says
I remember the first time I went through with the lights off. I was so proud of myself! I can’t wait til my girls are ready!
Emily says
Shared via tweet!
Leonora Morales says
My own memory from the Children’s Museum Haunted house was about 10 years ago and I remembered that me as an adult that I was scared to death. It was fun for me and my 5 kids. My kids laughed at me being scared and I remember all of us just having fun.
Leonora Morales says
I left a comment, I tweeted, and I shared on facebook!! I want to win!!
Ashley Knott says
It has been a couple of years since we traveled through the Haunted House at the Children’s Museum. The last time we went the kids first adored the head in the water cooler… I think this is what also sent them running out the door. Let’s hope age has softened them and they are ready for another try! 🙂
Ashley Knott says
I shared on facebook! 🙂
Shenna Ferry says
Our family loves the ‘lights on’ times you provide for children who may scare easily. Not only does it benefit smaller children, but it also benefits kids on the Autism spectrum. This opportunity allows our two children who are Autistic to experience and enjoy this spooky time of year. Keep up the great work!
Alina Hahn says
I have never been but am looking forward to the lights on hours where I can take my 3 yo son with me. I love haunted houses and not many are appropriate for the little ones so the lights on hours are a great idea.
Alina Hahn says
Shared on twitter https://twitter.com/alinarenee/status/387781574193713152
Jenny says
I remember going as a little girl with girl scouts. Haven’t been in years! Would love to introduce my little ones to this Indy treasure!
Alina Hahn says
Shared on fb under Westin Alina Hahn
Jenny says
Shared on FB and Twitter
Leanne Franke says
One of my favorite memories of all was at the Children’s Museum Haunted House. Our children were about 6 and 8. Our youngest was a little leary of the whole haunted house thing and clung close to us during most of the time. That is until near the end, a ‘chainsaw man’ was warming up his chain saw and saw me pull back and scream. Well that was all it took, he ran after ME through the rest of the house with me screaming bloody murder and the kids following laughing so hard at their Mom screaming and running. He even chased me around the parking lot much to the amusement of several others watching. Then he went over to the kids and gave them a ‘hi 5’. They bring this story up every Halloween. Fun times…..
Eternal Lizdom says
I’ve never been. I’m a weenie. And my kids are weenies. But my daughter loved going through the Haunted Mansion at Disney World with Dad this past summer (my son couldn’t do it). So I think she’s ready…
Eternal Lizdom says
Posted on FB
Eternal Lizdom says
Tweeted
Beth Brown says
As a child we never went and so imagine my anticipation to take my own children! So my memory there is watching their faces and expressions as little ones, going through and experiencing their first Haunted House. They are young enough still that this is still their one and only Haunted House they have been too!
Solducky says
We’ve never been! Seeing the Mystery Machine would be neat.