The season of spookiness in Fort Wayne is upon the city. Two weeks before Halloween, Fort Wayne offers events for those too old to trick-or-treat, but who still want to partake in frightful fun. Fright Night, Haunted Tours of downtown, and a scary silent film are among the events that will make this October memorable for Fort Wayne residents and visitors.
Fright Night: a Fort Wayne tradition
Arguably the most popular event is the Fright Night Zombie Walk. Billed as a “family-friendly” activity, area radio stations have sponsored some of the activities for Fright Night. From 1 p.m. until 5:30 p.m., participants can have fun at Zombie Central, which this year is Indiana Michigan Power Central Plaza. According to Classic Hits 101.7’s website, there will be a Wheel of Misfortune, where kids can win prizes.
But the dreaded wheel is not the only bit of fun. The Fright Night kick-off will also feature a Photo Booth (Boooooth) sponsored by Flagstaff Bank, a Zombie Brain Eating Contest (don’t worry, it’s cake). Then, at 5:30, zombies of all ages can participate in the annual zombie walk around downtown Fort Wayne.
Alternative radio station, 102.3, and WANE 15 (TV), are hosting a music stage at Zombie Central. There will also be a ring toss, thanks to Avenues Recovery; Peterman Brothers and T-Mobile will offer prizes, and Artlink will provide figure drawing, and more. To find out about the myriad activities, see http://www.visitfortwayne.com.
Haunted Tours: spooky learning experiences
For interested in history, particularly Fort Wayne history, there is no shortage of material. The darker aspects of Fort Wayne’s past offer rich opportunities for storytellers and historians to bring the city’s yesteryear narratives to life.
ARCh, the city’s historical architecture conservation group, will sponsor Haunted Bus Tours and Murder, Mystery and Mayhem Walking Tours. The tours will take place at scheduled intervals from 6 p.m. Saturday until 1 a.m. on Sunday. There are different price points for children and adults, but would-be attendees should be aware that some material is decidedly dark and not suitable for all audiences. See https://archfw.org
Fright Night: the Embassy and beyond
The Embassy Theatre will present “Phantom of the Opera,” the 1929 version starring Lon Chaney. Dennis James will accompany the film on the history Grande Page pipe organ. For tickets and other information, visit: http://www.embassytheatre.org
Other downtown businesses, such as Sweets on Main, The Bradley, and the Allen County Public Library will have a variety of events that will get participants into a spooky mindset. From ice cream sundaes, to scary, but age-appropriate movies, there is something for everyone in Fort Wayne this October. Visit http://www.acpl.lib.in.us.
