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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Travelers looking for activities that put a little spook in their step this Halloween will find plenty to do in Kansas City. With cemetery tours, haunted houses and creepy family-friendly performances, this metropolitan city knows how to show its visitors a frightfully good time.
The largest and best haunted houses in America
816-842-0320, www.kcbeast.com, www.edgeofhell.com
Kansas City's West Bottoms is home to a large concentration of Kansas City's haunted houses thanks to the large warehouses in this old industrial district. Out-of-towners are blown away by the intense sensory stimulation and cast of hundreds of live performers at the haunted houses including The Edge of Hell, which is Kansas City's oldest haunted house and thought of as one of America's best.
Since its opening in 1991, The Beast has held the title as America's largest haunted house and pioneered the "open format" that keeps its guests wandering the scenes and always a part of the action.
Use all six senses in a haunted Kansas town
1-800-234-1854, www.atchisonkansas.net
Atchison, Kan., known as the most haunted town in Kansas, offers many Halloween-worthy activities in September and October, including haunted trolley and walking tours, tombstone rubbings and psychic readings.
Kansas City's largest Halloween event gets even bigger
816-454-4545, www.worldsoffun.com
Worlds of Fun's Halloween Haunt, weekends Sept. 22-Oct. 31, has grown into the city's largest Halloween event. This year Halloween Haunt is adding two new haunted areas, CarnEvil and BloodShed.
Powell Gardens' Halloween spirit
816-697-2600, www.powellgardens.org
The third annual Scarecrows in the Garden will show off different scarecrow styles, from homespun to spooky, during the whole month of October. Jack-O Lanterns light the way for visitors as they take an eerie, self-guided tour through the 915-acre botanical garden during the Jack-O Lantern Walk on Oct. 21.
Celebrating the Day of the Dead
816-221-2349, www.mattierhodes.org
The Dia De Los Muertos exhibit at the Mattie Rhodes Center teaches visitors about the Mexican Holiday. Composed of altar installations created by artists and families/friends of individuals who have passed away, the exhibit celebrates their lives in a distinctive style.
Look who's coming to dinner
(800) 373-0357, www.kcrenfest.com
The Kansas City Renaissance Festival presents the all new Phantom's Feaste dinner with Count Dracula himself-and this one is not for kids. The creepy six-course dining experience is served each evening, Oct. 18-21 and 25-30.
Trick-or-Treat with 900 animals from around the world
816-513-5700, www.kansascityzoo.org
Kids of all ages will love the Kansas City Zoo's Boo at the Zoo, Oct. 27-28. The event offers everything from craft-making and storytelling at BooVille to the animal-themed candy stations at Trick-or-Treat Village.
History lives on at cemeteries around KC
913-971-5111, www.olatheks.org/visitors/mahaffie
The Olathe Historic Cemetery Tour reveals the graves of some of Olathe's founders as re-enactors bring them to life, Oct. 18-19 & 25-26.
1-888-LAW-KANS, www.visitlawrence.com
Visitors can see where victims of Quantrill's Raid are buried when they take a self-guided tour of the historic Pioneer and Oak Hill cemeteries in Lawrence, Kan.
Ghostly tales
913-684-1724
For those who don't believe in ghosts, the Haunted House Walking Tour of Fort Leavenworth may change their minds. John Reichley presents the stories about the ghosts that call Fort Leavenworth their home. Tours offered Oct. 19-20 & 26-27.
Spirits from the past come alive at Missouri Town 1855
816-503-4860, www.jacksongov.org/rec.shtml
Spirits from the Past, Oct. 26, takes visitors on a walking tour lit only by luminaries, with storytelling, trick-or-treating and a moonlit hayride.
Halloween on the prairie
913-631-2500, www.cityofshawnee.org
Historical Hauntings, Oct. 27 at Shawnee Town, recreates what Halloween was like while living on the prairie. The event features spooky stories, hayrides, trick-or-treating and a costume contest.
Who boasts a ghost?
816-523-5553, www.brooksidekc.com
On Halloween night, the Brookside Trick-or-Treat Street will have children searching the area for ghosts. Brookside shops displaying a ghost in their entryway provide a clue that tasty sweets are waiting inside.
For more information about Kansas City, go to VisitKC.com or call 877-523-5286.
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Photo Credit: Photos Courtesy of the Kansas City Convention
& Visitors Association
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Crown Center Pumpkin Patch
Caption: Crown Center Square hosts many festivals throughout the year like the Halloween Pumpkin Patch.
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Kansas City Renaissance Festival
Caption: The Kansas City Renaissance Festival is held annually on weekends from Labor Day to Columbus Day.
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Kansas City Zoo, lemur
Caption: The Kansas City Zoo features an impressive collection of animals in naturalistic settings.
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Powell Gardens
Caption: Kansas City's botanical garden features 915 acres of beautiful, ever-changing gardens, nature trails, contemporary architecture and year-round events. This image is not available for download.
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Worlds of Fun, Detonator
Caption: Worlds of Fun offers more than 170 acres of wild rides, unique food and live entertainment.
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