AP Features, October 8th, 2007
Here are some popular Halloween destinations around the country and what they have to offer this year.
Key West, Fla., is holding its annual Fantasy Fest 2007 Oct. 19-28 with a "Gnomes, Toads & White Rabbit Tea Parties" theme. The event includes costume contests and balls, street fairs and a parade.
Organizers are encouraging participants to get inspiration for their costumes from fairy tales, myths and "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." The 10-day program kicks off with a coronation ball, Oct. 19, 6-10 p.m., while the Captain Morgan Fantasy Fest Parade through Key West's historic downtown takes place Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. Details at 800-527-8539 or http://www.fla-keys.com.
In New Orleans, you'll find Haunted History Tours, chronicling ghosts, vampires, voodoos and cemeteries, day or night, $20, 504-861-2727. The Witching Hour Ball, celebrated by Anne Rice's Vampire Lestat Fan Club, takes place Oct. 26 at The Howlin' Wolf, 907 S. Peters St. And, of course, the Voodoo Music Experience will draw fans from around the country to hear music from a variety of genres, Oct. 26-28. Details for these and other events at http://www.nola.com/haunted/.
New York City's annual Halloween parade is not the place to be if you hate crowds. The massive event unfolds beginning at 7 p.m. on Oct. 31, on Sixth Avenue from Spring Street to 21st Street, and lasts until around 11 p.m. Hundreds of giant puppets, 53 bands and thousands of New Yorkers in costume take part while an estimated 2 million watch from the avenue. Details at http://www.halloween-nyc.com/index.php.
In Las Vegas, you'll find some of your favorite attractions transformed by the spirit of Halloween. The Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay becomes a haunted undersea world with creepy tunnels and creaking doors. Madame Tussauds' Chamber of Horrors is even more horrifying than usual with a "Nightmare on Elm Street, Friday the 13th" theme. Circus Circus becomes the Fright Dome, with scare zones, haunted houses and freak shows. And special events range from a Haunted Vegas Tour to the Voodoo Lounge's "Mingle and Mayhem" costume party. Details at http://www.vegas.com/halloween.
