When the leaves have yet to change here in Dallas, and hot apple cider amiss (since it’s still in the 80’s and low 90’s), it’s hard to remember that fall is here and Halloween is just around the corner. So to get yourself in the fall spirit, I have picked two seasonal items that will help us get in touch with the season.
1. Haunted Houses
The Dallas/Fort Worth Area has a shockingly high number of renowned haunted attractions all in reasonable driving distance from SMU’s campus. So instead of heading to a bar or another themed party this weekend, try out one of these haunted houses.
- Six Flags Fright Fest and Fright by Night, located in Arlington, has both day and night Halloween attractions throughout the month of October. Check out these two sits for information on day and night events.
http://www.sixflags.com/overTexas/events/FrightFest2011.aspx
http://frightfest.sixflags.com/overtexas/attractions/
- Dallas Scare Grounds, near downtown Dallas, has three different themed haunted attractions that range from a haunted graveyard, chamber of horrors, a monster maze, and a festival with live entertainment, food, and games.
http://www.dallasscaregrounds.com/#!
- The Boneyard Haunted House, in Arlington across from Six Flags, has over 50 spooky scenes and is one of the largest haunted houses around. A Halloween festival, freight elevator, and dark mazes and hallways are just a few of the Boneyard’s attractions.
- Cutting Edge Haunted House, located in Fort Worth, is placed inside a meat packing plant from the 1920s. Cutting Edge is known to be one of the scariest Halloween attractions of all in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, with most of its tours set in complete darkness.
http://www.cuttingedgehauntedhouse.com/cutting.cfm?CFID=3258043&CFTOKEN=46166546
2. Pumpkins
Unique to the fall season, pumpkins are not only great as jack-o-lanterns, but for eating and decoration.
- Pumpkin flavored treats are one of my favorite things, and I look forward to each fall when different restaurants incorporate pumpkin into their seasonal items. Café Brazil’s cinnamon pumpkin pancakes with cinnamon butter are one of my all time favorites. This breakfast treat is so delicious on its own that syrup is not a requirement. Central Market also makes an exceptionally scrumptious pumpkin brownie with cream cheese icing that is truly amazing and pumpkin cake balls from Crème de la Cookie are another one of my favorite pumpkin flavored desserts.
- Go check out Autumn at the Arboretum. Through November 23, the Arboretum transforms into a fall haven, with over 50,000 pumpkins and stunning fall flowers in bloom. The Arboretum holds activities such as Cinderella’s Pumpkin Village and Carriage, a Hay Bale Maze, Oktoberfest Garten, and The Tom Thumb Pumpkin Patch where pumpkins can be purchased to take home. Check out their site for times and prices.
http://www.dallasarboretum.org/activities/index.htm
- Purchase a pumpkin (either at the grocery store or the Arboretum) and carve and cook it! Make a night out of it and invite friends over to carve and decorate pumpkins–add some apple cider and watch a Halloween movie while you cook the remaining pumpkin seeds.