MONROE LAKE – The annual Ghostly Gathering Halloween celebration at Monroe Lake is set to return Friday, October 28th through Sunday, October 30th. All activities take place at Paynetown State Recreation Area and are open to both campers and day visitors.
The weekend is filled with different activities for all ages to enjoy. Take a look at what you can expect during the spooky event:
Weekend Events
- Halloween Riddle Hunt …begins at 3 p.m. on Friday and ends at 4 p.m. on Sunday.
- The first riddle will be posted on the BACK SIDE OF THE CAMPGROUND GATEHOUSE at 3 p.m. on Friday; you may begin your riddle hunt anytime after that. Solve the first riddle successfully and it will lead you to a second riddle, which will lead you to a third riddle, and so on… Complete the entire riddle hunt before 4 p.m. on Sunday for an entry into the drawing to win a 2023 Indiana State Parks Annual Entrance Pass and other prizes!
Friday, Oct. 28
- Camping with Ghosts from 1 to 5 p.m., Activity Center
- DROP BY Friday afternoon to read a couple of tales of ghosts that may haunt Indiana State Parks and make a fluttering ghost craft.
- Roll-A-Jack-O-Lantern from 4:30 to 6 p.m., Campground Playground
- DROP BY to roll the dice and draw a jack-o-lantern.
- Mad Scientist Demos at 7:30 p.m., Activity Center, Amphitheater
- Please arrive on time. The naturalist has gone a little crazy. This mad scientist will be making pumpkin foam, shooting off ghost rockets, creating dancing ghosts, and inflating a mysterious monster.
Saturday, Oct. 29
- Tombstone Scramble from 9:30 to 11 a.m., Campground Playground
- DROP BY to unscramble the names on tombstones in the miniature faux-graveyard – win a small prize if you get them all.
- Creepy, Crawly Crafts from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., Activity Center Shelter
- DROP BY to make a few creepy, crawly crafts for Halloween! Children under age 13 should be accompanied by an adult helper (thanks!). Pumpkin Drop Obstacle Race from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.,
- Campground Playground
- DROP BY to go head-to-head against fellow visitors to see who can complete a simple obstacle course the fastest! The catch? You have to do it without dropping your pumpkin!
- Trick-or-Treating from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Campground (A-Loops)
- Children (in age and spirit!) are invited to wander the Campground this evening in search of delicious treats! Please be cautious of vehicles on the roads; for safety reasons, at least one adult should accompany each group of children. Campers are encouraged to support this event by handing out candy at their campsites! If you are participating, please sit in a visible spot near the road.
- Campsite Decorating Contest Judging from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
- Every decorated campsite is automatically entered into the contest. Each CAMPSITE receives ONE VOTING BALLOT upon check-in for the weekend. Walk the Campground between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, pick your favorite decorated campsite, and turn your ballot into the Campground Gate by 10 p.m. Prizes will go to the two campsites that receive the most votes, plus a third “staff choice” winner. The winning campsites will be posted at the Campground Gatehouse by noon Sunday and on the Facebook event page by 5 p.m. Sunday. Prizes will be distributed via mail to the registered name/address listed for each winning campsite.
- Dark Stories of the Night Sky at 8:30 p.m., Deer Run Shelter & Field
- Gather in a dark field to listen to the darker side of astronomical lore… tales of the stars and constellations that feature demons, curses, monstrous animals, and more. Pick up a cup of hot cider from the shelter and then follow the luminaries to the program location, where you can gaze upwards at the night sky while listening to the stories. Please arrive about 10 minutes early to pick up your cider, walk over to the program location, and get settled before the program begins. No seating is available, bring your chairs or a blanket to sit on. Parking is available at Deer Run Shelter, as well as the overflow parking lot on the north side of the road intersection.
Sunday, Oct. 30
- Frankenstein Mason Jar from 10 to 11:30 a.m., Campground Playground
- DROP BY to turn an old mason jar into a fun Frankenstein for your Halloween décor!
- Build an Insect Hibernation Box from 1 to 4 p.m., Activity Center
- DROP BY this afternoon to construct a wooden hibernation box that can be placed in your yard at home to support native insects! Paints will also be available, if you want to decorate your finished hibernation box. Supplies are limited; first-come first-served. Cost is $5 per kit (exact cash or check only).
