Middlebury College is located in a beautiful autumnal environment. Amidst the peaks of the mountains and turning leaves, Midd students bustle through rolling hills to class, practice and meals, but on Halloween and the days leading up to the holiday, what can Middlebury students do to celebrate? From scary to sporty to beautiful, here are The Campus’ recommendations as we go into Halloweekend.
1. Scarefest Vergennes
On Oct. 29 and 30, The Vergennes Opera House, located at 120 Main Street in Vergennes, will be screening a double feature of horror movies and hosting a Halloween dance party. At 6:30 p.m. this Friday, the opera house will be showing Mickey Keating’s Darling followed by Robert Mockler’s Like Me. At 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, the movie shown will be The Ranger and will be followed by a Halloween dance party. A costume contest will then be judged by a secret guest, with prizes given to the best-dressed participants. Vaccination cards and masks will be required, and all proceeds from the event will benefit the Vergennes Pavilion Project. Find tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/scarefest-vergennes-tickets-164922661119?aff=odeimcmailchimp&mc_cid=68e9ede6b2&mc_eid=cf51015169
2. Spooky Sunday Halloween Run
Hosted by MiddRuns members Michael Ellis ’22 and Anabelle Wyman ’24.5, this Halloween Run meets at 3 p.m. at ADK Circle and will go for three to five miles. Runners are asked to come in a costume they’re able to move in and should be prepared to run to spooky locations on Middlebury’s campus… As with all runs, time and pace are flexible. Come in a costume and ready for a spooky (fun) time. Sign up is here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1MAtNhAXo-2KSlg4z3YyexuT8q4zinaoP2rmVAi3AT40/edit#gid=2050788334
3. Hike Snake Mountain
As an article by Photo Editor Charlie Deichman-Caswell explains, Snake Mountain has a long and spooky history. Making the trip in time for Halloween after reading Charlie’s article could add an element of Halloween mystery and make an already beautiful hike that much better. The mountain is less than a 20-minute drive from campus, and the hike loop stretches 4.1 miles, for an approximate hike time of two hours.
4. Darkness Falls Tour
On Thursday from 7 p.m. to 8:15 p.m, or on Friday from 8 p.m. to 9:15 p.m., join Thea Lewis, the author of Haunted Inns and Ghostly Getaways of Vermont, for a trip through the heart of Burlington. This event is recognized as one of New England’s best haunted walks by Yankee Magazine, and tickets cost 20 dollars. The walking tour introduces participants to infamous persons of Burlington and mysterious haunts throughout the city. Find more information here: https://sevendaystickets.com/events/queen-city-ghostwalk-darkness-falls-tour-10-28-2021.
5. Halloween in Winooski
Located a few minutes away from Burlington, Winkooski’s Halloween event will include over 100 jack-o-lanterns lit up in a display as well as a community pumpkin carving competition. The event will take place at 123 Barlow Street. There will be Lighting of the Jack-o-Lantern displays Friday, Saturday and Sunday at sunset, around 5:45 pm. For more information visit http://downtownwinooski.org/halloween/, and email meredith@downtownwinooski.org if you plan to come in a group of more than four people.
6.Hathaway Farm and Corn Maze
In Rutland, about an hour’s drive from campus, is Hathaway Farm — fit for an afternoon Halloween jaunt with its 13-acre corn maze. There is also a miniature version of the maze and a petting zoo available to those looking for a shorter sojourn in the town. This weekend will be the last of the season for Hathaway Farm. Saturday night will be the farm’s final Moonlight Madness, an opportunity to run the maze at night. A wagon train to the pumpkin patch will also be running this weekend, and tickets are available here https://www.hathawayfarm.com/corn-maze-tickets/ .
7. Douglas Orchards Spooktacular
This beautiful family-owned orchard grows a variety of fall fruits. This Saturday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., for 10 dollars, visitors can listen to live music by The Plumb Bobs, taste hard cider, experience a night of pumpkin treats and warm up around a bonfire. This is a good option for upperclassmen who are looking to celebrate Halloween and autumn off campus.
Julia Pepper '24 (she/her) is the Senior Local Editor.
She previously served as a Local Editor. She is a Psychology major and French minor. This past spring she studied in Paris. She spent the summer interning at home in New York City, putting her journalistic cold calling skills to use at her internship doing outreach with senior citizens. In her free time she enjoys reading and petting cats.
