You may have attended Naper Settlement’s All Hallows Eve and Howlin’ at the Moon in the past, but you’ve never experienced Screams from the Unknown Haunted or the Día De Los Muertos attraction, both of which are new this year.
The former will have patrons walking through dark corridors where the scares are designed to frighten even the most fearless of souls, Settlement spokeswoman Denise Wilt said.
Not meant for children or those who avoid thrills and chills, “It is an 800-square-foot outdoor haunted experience,” Wilt said. “Guests will walk through dark corridors of the unknown. It’s kind of a gruesome haunt; it’s not for the faint of heart. There are surprises around every corner.”
The Dia de los Muertos attraction will be at both events as well. Meant to celebrate the Mexican Day of the Dead traditions, there will be an educational component that teaches people about the holiday and its meaning, Wilt said.
“Visitors will see life-size alebrijes, which are a type of Mexican folk art,” she said. “There will be an ofrenda, which is an altar and people can learn about the different elements (that are on display). There will be giant calaveras, which are skulls. And there will Mexican folkloric dance by Ballet Folklorico.”
Local artist Salvador Jimenez Flores will be on hand to make Dia De Los Muertos art prints using a tortilla press.
Here is more information about the Settlement’s two big Halloween events in Naperville.
All Hallows Eve
An annual tradition for many years, All Hallows Eve will be held from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 18-19, at the 523 S. Webster St. museum campus. Other than the “Screams” attraction, it is designed for for families with children 16 or younger and features Halloween-themed activities, art and performances, Wilt said.
“New this year at All Hallows Eve, we’re actually going to allow guests to wear costumes,” she said. “This is the first year we are allowing costumes and we’re going to have a Dress for the Dead costume contest. And we have a ton of returning attractions at All Hallows Eve we’re really excited for, like fire dancers, alien autopsy, a magic show and all those fun outdoor attractions as well.”
The costume contest with cash prizes will be held both nights.
A 10-foot-tall gargoyle sculpture created by nationally recognized Naperville artist Paul Kuhn will be on hand for people looking for a good photo location.
“He made a giant werewolf for us last year … that will also be back,” Wilt said.
Alice in Wonderland’s Un-Birthday Party presented by Intrinsic Arts is another new attraction. It’s a pop-up art gallery in a geodesic dome.
“There are going to be a lot of returning fan-favorite attractions at All Hallows Eve as well,” Wilt said, including black light canvas painting, a caricaturist, a photo booth, axe throwing, laser tag and a zombie maze.
And of course, there will be local food vendors on hand.
All Hallows Eve has moved away from darker Halloween-themed shows into more family-friendly territory all held outside, Wilt said.
“Part of that was because we determined it was a little bit unsafe to have all these skits inside our buildings because we have a lot of artifacts,” she said. “That’s why a lot of this now is outdoors.”
The cost is $20 per person, with an extra $5 fee to enter the Screams from the Unknown Haunted attraction.
Howlin’ at the Moon
Howlin’ at the Moon will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25-26. Open to anyone 21 or older, the event features performances, live music, a costume contest, food and a BOOze bar, Wilt said.
“What we’re really excited about is we have a fantastic musical lineup this year at Howlin’ at the Moon,” she said.
The headliner on Oct. 25, a band named Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, will take the stage at 8 p.m. They are a four-piece funk jam band from Maryland that has seven studio albums under their belts.
Opening for them is Chicago party band Rod Tuffcurls and The Bench Press at 5:15 p.m.
Grammy-nominated bluegrass artist Sierra Hull is headlining at 8 p.m. Oct. 26 with opening act Allie and The Night Krals going on at 5:15 p.m.
The BOOze Bar will include beer, tequila, seltzer and wine. Drinks are $7, cash only.
“We have a few returning attractions from previous years. There will be fire dancers; they’re always a big hit,” Wilt said. “We’ll have an acts of danger show, axe throwing and a costume contest.”
Cash prizes of up to $500 will be awarded for the winners in the costume contest, which includes categories for individuals and groups.
“Take the family to All Hallows Eve, but leave the kids at home for Howlin’ at the Moon,” Wilt said. “We have so much going on at these events. We have a lot of interactive experiences and it’s a fun way to have a night out and celebrate Halloween with the community.”
Howlin’ also costs $20 per person, with an extra $5 fee to enter the Screams from the Unknown Haunted attraction.
For more information on either event, call 630-420-6010 or go to NaperSettlement.org/AllHallowsEve and NaperSettlement.org/Howlin.
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
