By TRINITY CAREY

Journal Staff Writer

MARQUETTE — Pumpkin carving and roasting seeds, picking the perfect costume and cozying up on the couch to watch Halloween classics are just a few things we look forward to every October. Here are some fun activities near you to add to your spooky season to-do list:

≤ “Face your fears” and visit Howl-O-Scream Haunted House at the Meadowbrook Arena in L’Anse for its 11th year of scares. There’s 25 rooms to travel through, each with a different terrifying theme such as Jeepers Creepers, the old fisherman, a jungle room and a Fear Factor cafe, said event coordinator Polly Schaefer.

“We have jump scares, we’ve got a little bit of acting going on and some gross visuals and animatronics,” Schaefer said. “You’ll definitely be in for a scare.”

While making your way through the rooms you might run into some creepy characters like Pennywise the Clown and Georgie from “IT” or the demonic nun from “The Conjuring.” The event runs from 7 to 10:30 p.m. tonight and Oct. 25 and 26. The one-time-through cost is $8 or $13 for an all-evening pass, which guarantees you at least two times through. The event is a fundraiser for the Meadowbrook Arena.

“If anyone likes haunted houses, ours is one of the best in the U.P. and it supports a great cause,” Schaefer said. For more information, visit Howl-O-Scream Haunted House on Facebook.

≤ New this Halloween is a haunted escape room from Joyful Terror.

“It’s about a house that is extremely possessed and we need your help to exorcise it from The Darkness Within,” said Jordan Russell, owner and operator of Joyful Terror.

The Darkness Within is an immersive haunted experience and psychological thriller. The half-hour experience begins by talking with the priest who will lead you through the house and give you the tools needed to make it out alive. With the scares and theatrics of a haunted house and mind games of an escape room, the event is a great team-building exercise or fun to complete with friends, Russell said. The event runs from 6 to 11 p.m. today and Thursday through Oct. 26 in the historic Gossard Building at 308 Cleveland Ave. in Ishpeming. The Darkness Within is recommended for individuals over the age of 18, but teens 13 through 17 are permitted with parental permission. Tickets are $20 each. For more information, visit joyfulterrorpresents.com.

≤ Looking for a place to find the perfect pumpkin? Visit the Downtown Marquette Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays at the Marquette Commons to pick out locally grown pumpkins, squash and handmade fall decorations. Pick up a pumpkin at Snyders Drug Store in Harvey or the pumpkin patch outside of Econo Foods in Marquette.

≤ Get a head start on Halloween by trick or treating from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 26 in downtown Marquette. Participating businesses located on North Third Street, West Washington Street up to Seventh Street, Front Street, Baraga Avenue and Spring Street and the surrounding area will have “Welcome Trick or Treaters” signs in their windows and be passing out candy.

“It’s a fun way for kids to get out on the weekend to trick or treat and go and walk around downtown and visit some of the stores in the area and maybe go into some stores that they haven’t been in before with their parents and what not. It’s a good opportunity to potentially bring in new shoppers for downtown businesses,” said Tara Laase-McKinney, events and promotions coordinator with the Downtown Development Authority. “I think the businesses really enjoy being able to see all the kids and being able to have a set time set aside is pretty fun for a lot of downtown businesses as well and that they get to participate and dress up on a day that isn’t necessarily the traditional day when they may choose to be at home trick or treating.”

≤ The Hayes Corn Maze, located at 3474 St. Nicholas Road in Rock, offers fall activities for all ages through October. From 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturdays and from 12:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Sundays, visitors can pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch or make their way through the corn and hay maze.

“We have a lot of things we feature,” said owner Lenore Hayes. “We have the space tilt challenge, ball climb challenge, pumpkin bowling, pedal racers, rope maze challenge, and you can certainly pick your own pumpkin and climb hay mountain. We have a country store that sells fall decorating items, Noah’s barnyard bunnies, and we have a hayride.”

Hayes recommends wearing your boots to this fully operating farm and checking the weather report on their website, hayescornmaze.com, before heading out. Find a full list of activities offered at Hayes on its website too. Admission is $9 per person and kids 2 and under are free. Group reservations of 20 or more are welcome Tuesday through Sunday.

“We are the first original ones in the Upper Peninsula that have opened up a corn maze and it was 18 years ago and it’s well established and we offer so much more than any other corn maze,” Hayes said. “People that came to our corn maze when they’re young are now coming not only every year but their bringing their children; that’s pretty cool. Our big thing with Hayes Corn Maze is that making memories is our business.” For more information call 906-359-4825.

Trinity Carey can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 206. Her email address is tcarey@miningjournal.net.