Hauntless Halloween

Hauntless Halloween returns to Holliday Park on Thursday, Oct 22, Friday, Oct 23, and Saturday, Oct 24. It's an all-ages, family-friendly event held at the park's Nature Center, and the organizers describe it as fall atmosphere rather than Halloween scares. If you're looking for something that won't terrify the little ones, this is that.

The evening starts with a hike along candlelit trails, where you'll run into forest creatures who can magically speak for the night. They're played by young actors from the Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre, taking on roles as luna moths, lightning bugs, spiders, and bats, with short performances at each stop along the way. New characters debut every fall, so there's something different to see each year. The hike takes a little more than 30 minutes and ends at a fire pit, where the group gathers for a campfire with s'mores before heading back to the nature center for pumpkin decorating, popcorn, and apple cider. It's a slow, cozy progression from the woods back to the center.

In terms of who it's for, the experience is best suited to older preschoolers through younger elementary-age children—roughly ages 4 through third grade. The whole thing is run by Indy Parks staff, Holliday Park staff, and the actors from Booth Tarkington.

Logistically, tours leave every 10 minutes with only 18 spots per tour, so you'll need to register in advance for a specific timeslot. It runs Thursday and Friday from 5:30 to 8 PM, and Saturday from 5 to 8 PM, at Holliday Park, 6363 Spring Mill Road. Tickets are $10 per person, and children ages 2 and under are free.