The pandemic has canceled many events for 2020, but there’s one time of the year where it’s not uncommon to see people wearing masks. As Halloween creeps up, even COVID-19 can’t take away the spooky season.
“What's more normal than a good haunted Halloween?” George Jones, owner of Corpse Grove Wicked Playground, said.
The thrill levels are expected to be off the charts this year at the haunted trail in Chapel Hill. It’s the fourth year for Corpse Grove and Jones says his crew has been working to expand the scariest attractions from years past.
"We've ramped it up quite a bit," he explained. "It's over a half a mile long, it's a good little walk, but there's a scare around every corner."
To ensure a spooky experience without any health spooks related to the pandemic, there are new guidelines for the trail.
“We put in place where we limit the number of groups that go in at a certain time so there's plenty of space between everybody,” Jones said. “We do ask everybody wears a mask that comes out, and all our actors will be in masks and we'll be going through and sanitizing after each group."
Corpse Grove: Wicked Playground will be open for the month of October. Jones doesn’t recommend kids under 12 to visit the haunted attraction.
"We don't recommend it for the young ones, but hey, parents, you know your children, you think they can handle it great," Jones said.
There are other spooky events happening around East Texas like the Haunted Walking Tour of Tyler, which has been so popular Alexis Jones decided to expand it to surrounding cities. A haunted tour will happen in the city of Mineola Saturday, Sept. 18, an overnight ghost hunt in Chapel Hill Saturday, Sept. 26, and back to Tyler for another tour Saturday, Oct. 3.
Jones says the details for his daughters haunted tours can be found on her Facebook page Interesting Arts or his website toursoftyler.com.
More Halloween events across East Texas:
- RC Comics Kilgore Ghost Hunt - During the month of October, starting Oct. 2 at 9 p.m. Must be 12 years or older to attend. $10 per person, reserve a spot at RC Comics’ Geektopia or inbox the Facebook page. Walk-ups are welcome.
- Rose City Queenz Fall Festival - Oct. 17 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. located at 200 W. Queen St. in Tyler. Masks are mandatory and will also be provided. Free food, entertainment, games and activities for adults and kids
- Trunk-Or-Treat in Kilgore - Oct. 28 from 6-7 p.m. at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church.
- ETX Locals Monthly Car Show & Trunk Or Treat Hosted by BHC - Oct. 30 at Hampton Inn & Suites Tyler-South from 5-8:30 p.m.
- Trunk or Treat Athens - Oct. 31 at Released Free Church 5:30-7:30 p.m.
- Fall Festival, Trunk or Treat Big Sandy - Sit ‘Em Down Cowboy Church 6-9 p.m.
- Grand Saline’s Trunk or Treat/Goody Trail - Downtown from 5-7 p.m.
- Trunk or Treat Winona- First United Methodist Church 6-8 p.m.