Haunted Conservatory

The Haunted Conservatory takes over the Garfield Park Conservatory on Thursday, October 29, and Friday, October 30, from 5:30 to 9 PM. For these two nights, the conservatory dresses its tropical plants for Halloween and opens its doors for a walk-through that turns the usual greenery into something a bit more spooky. It's a short run—only two evenings—so if you want to go, you'll need to pick one of those dates.

The evening is split into two halves, which makes it a lot easier to decide when to show up. The first stretch, from 5:30 to 7 PM, is billed as the 'Less Haunted Conservatory.' There are no scarers during this window, and it's a welcome for little ones in costume, so it's the one to aim for if you're bringing kids who might get a bit overwhelmed by the spooky stuff. Once 7 PM hits, the mood shifts. From 7 to 9 PM, scary music, decorations, and ghouls take over, and that stretch is recommended for ages 8 and up. If you're looking for the full Halloween experience, that's your window.

One thing to keep in mind before you head in: the walk-through makes use of strobe lights and artificial fog, so if either of those is a problem for you, it's good to know ahead of time. Admission is $6 per person, paid at the door by cash or card, and children aged 2 and under enter free. There's no pre-registration needed, so you can just show up when you're ready. The conservatory is at 2505 Conservatory Drive in Indianapolis.