Days Off

So much fun, it's frightening

Visit 600 rooms and a winding maze in a spooktacular five-acre haunted house.

By KELLY STEFANI

© St. Petersburg Times, published October 29, 1999

Visit 600 rooms and a winding maze in a spooktacular five-acre haunted house.

See the Fly, the haunted camp site, the incredible shrinking room and the Hangman. Is he dead or is he alive? Watch out! Some things move.

Take several trips through this frightful house, which features three different exits. You might escape the haunted, or you could end up lost forever in the winding "Maze of the Dead" graveyard.

The "Halloween Specialists" haunted house is open from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. today and Saturday at 8991 98th Ave. N, Largo. Admission is free, but donations to benefit All Children's Hospital are appreciated. Call (727) 530-7716.

Frightening but friendly

Don't be frightened by the Grim Reaper, Dracula or any other members of the Terror Troupe. Numerous bay area actors have been "dug up" to haunt you as you slink along the Terror Trails or scare you from their Spooktacular stage show

Friendly ghosts (children under 11) can visit the Boo Bash. Create a great costume and enter the costume contest, or "take me to your mummy" after you show off your skills in the mummy wrap contest. Kids can also tell their favorite spooky tales while they stuff themselves with candy.

Both events begin at 6 p.m. today and Sunday at the Renaissance Festival Site, 400 Central Park Drive, Largo. Trails open at dark. Admission $9.95 adults, $3.95 children, children under four free. Call (727) 586-5423.

Take a Spooky Safari

Imagine how frightening it will be to drop 90 feet, loop and twirl on the Gwazi roller coaster in total darkness. Busch Gardens is transformed into a "Spooky Safari" for two nights of Halloween Family Fun. Take a guided tour through the dark depths of Dr. Livingsdoom's Haunted Jungle Trail. Beware! No one knows what might spring back from the dead on a stroll through the haunted Pumpkin Patch.

Kids will enjoy Captain Kangaroo and magic and illusions in the Stanleyville Theatre. Family Fun Nights take place from 8 p.m. to midnight today and Saturday at 3605 Bougainvillea Ave., Tampa. Tickets are $26.95 advance, $32.95 day of event. Advance tickets may be purchased at the Busch Gardens Guest Relations office or from Ticketmaster. (800) 372-1797.

Peerless Halloween

Take your little ghosts to The Pier, 800 Second Ave. NE, St. Petersburg, for a free Kids Halloween Bash from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday. Children can do safe trick-or-treating throughout The Pier, visit The Pier Aquarium, a haunted house and more. Children can try their luck for prizes in a costume contest and a scavenger hunt. Stop by the Millennium Mansion Halloween House created by Great Explorations, the Hands-on Museum, set up in the rotunda. Call (727) 821-6164.

‘‘Gravely’’ will be among the many characters out on the Stroll of Fright at Zoo Boo ’99 at Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa. [Photo: Lowry Park Zoo]

Whooooo . . . in the zoo

Take a spooky Stroll of Fright through a haunted graveyard at Zoo Boo '99. Take courage as you wind your way through a haunted graveyard and into the Mad Science Room. All eyes will be following you through the Haunted Portrait Hall before you come to a screeching halt in the Shriek Station.

Zoo Boo takes place from 7 to 10 p.m. today through Sunday in Lowry Park Zoo, 7530 N Boulevard, Tampa. Admission $6.75 adults, $4.75 children (members receive $1 discount). Call (813) 935-8552, ext. 208.

Also in the Lowry Park area, the Tampa Recreation Department will hold a free Halloween celebration from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the Lowry Park Band Shell, Sligh Avenue and N Boulevard. Events include spooky games, scary storytelling, puppetry, magic shows, costume contests and more. Call (813) 274-8615.

Pets party, too

It's a dogs-only day on the other side of the bay. Dinger's Dog Bakery will hold a Howl-oween Costume Contest for dogs at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Selby Five Points Park, on the corner of First and Pineapple streets, Sarasota. Awards will be given for spookiest, funniest, littlest, biggest, most creative, most reluctant to participate and more. Call (877) 687-3287

Scaring up Stompers

Ghouls of all ages and sizes will jump and jive the night away at the U92 Oldies Dance Halloween Stomp IV. Come as a frightful creature and enter the ghostly costume contest or just dance the night away to the live sounds of Joni and the T-Birds. This spooktacular event takes place from 8 p.m. to midnight today at the Coliseum, 535 Fourth Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Tickets $11 advance, $13 at the door. Call (727) 892-5202.

Scare up some fun We've searched for the scariest, most fun-filled events of the season. Take a look -- if you dare. Family fun by day, grown-ups howl at night Here is Saturday's schedule of Guavaween events for families in the daytime, and adults in the evening. The Ghosts of Guavaween past It's been arty, irreverent, drunken, unprofitable, rowdy, and sometimes violent. What will Mama Guava bring in 1999? Ybor stumbled upon Guavaween Modeled upon Mardi Gras, Guavaween's roots run deep in Ybor. The taming of Guavaween Organizers didn't want the party to lose its distinct flavor, but say something had to be done to calm things down.

Circus of Death

A skeleton ringmaster takes you through a "Three-Ring Circus of Death" from 6:30 to 9 p.m. today and Saturday at the Rigsby Recreation Center, 605 Second St. N, Safety Harbor. Feel your way through the black room. Be careful not to be stung by killer bees or biten by a black widow spider. Pay attention when entering the "Mummies Tomb." Some are alive, and some are dead. You figure it out. Then, try your fates at choosing the right door for your escape in the "Doors of Death."

Admission $3. Call (727) 724-1545.

Shivers in Ybor

One MEAN dog (he's really an 8-foot werewolf) guards this Gothic graveyard. If you escape him, you still might meet your maker in the 20-foot Vortex Tunnel or get mauled by leaping corpses. Spirits of the after-world "become one with your fears" as you pass through this "labyrinth of terror."

The Darkness haunted house is open from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. tonight and 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at the corner of Seventh Avenue and 20th Street, Ybor City.

Admission $12 adults, $9 children. Call (813) 241-8400.

Who's that masked lady?

Celebrate Halloween with a soothing evening at a formal ball to fight cystic fibrosis. The “Night of the Phantom” Masquerade Ball takes place at 7 p.m. today at Ruth Eckerd Hall, 1111 McMullen-Booth Road, Clearwater. Tickets $25 advance, $35 at the door. Call (813) 286-0266.

Haunting organ strain

Creepy organ music always preceded Vincent Price and his terrors in early horror flicks. Enjoy Pipescreams, a free concert of pipe organ music for Halloween, at 7:30 p.m. today at First Presbyterian Church, 455 Scotland St., Dunedin. Program includes Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, A Diet of Worms, Scherzo for a White Rabbit and A Frolic for Organ. Call (727) 733-2318.

These ghouls are gentle

Take the entire family for a walk through the Haunted Woods of Hillsborough River State Park, on U.S. 301 between Tampa and Zephyrhills. These spooks are tame. They don’t want to give children nightmares. Youngsters can visit the Little Spooky House, catch a ride on a mule-drawn hayride or play games. Cost, $4 for Haunted Woods Walk and Spooky House, $2 hayride and 25 cents for games. Call (813) 987-6771.

Party a la Argentina

The Asociacion Argentina de la Bahia de Tampa will hold a family Halloween dance from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday at Caballeros de Colon, 3204 Cypress St., Tampa. In addition to dancing, Argentinian food and non-alcoholic beverages there will be a costume contest for adults and children 12 and under. Call (727) 527-6555.

Fall Fun Night

Older children and teens might enjoy the Halloween Laser Show with songs including The Monster Mash, Ghost Busters, Spooky, Purple People Eater and Stayin’ Alive. Stick around after the show when a Star Trek officer (really he’s a science professor) takes you on a journey through the stars in the Fall Fun Planetarium Show. Both shows are part of the Fall Fun Night from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday at the Science Center of Pinellas County, 7701 22nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Admission to laser show $2, planetarium show $1. Call (727) 384-0027.

Swinging spirit

Add some swing to your traditional Halloween celebration with Dixieland sounds of Freddie Fields Dixieland Band and Jim Clarke from 7 to 10 p.m. Sunday at Hillandale Civic Center, 6333 Langston Ave., New Port Richey. Admission $5. Call (727) 842-1485.

Bewitching beat

The German-American Society will dance to Cathy's Lorelei Band from 6 to 11 p.m. Saturday at their meeting hall, 8090 66th St. N, Pinellas Park. Admission $5, $2 club members. Call (727) 596-7581

A Halloween Costume Polka Party and Dinner/Dance to music by Mario takes place from 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday at 4616 Darlington Road, Holiday. Admission $11, $9 members. Call (727) 934-4594.

The Polish-American Society will hold a Halloween Costume Party and Dinner/Dance with music by the B-Sharps from 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday at 1343 Beach Drive SE, St. Petersburg. Admission $5 dinner, $5 dance. Call (727) 894-9908 or (727) 344-2033.

Finally, the Polish Center of John Paul II will hold a Halloween costume dinner/dance with music by Irene Wierzbicki's group at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at 1521 Saturn Ave. N, Clearwater. Admission $15, $12.50 members. Call (727) 298-8609.

Nauti but nice

For something a bit fancier, try the Nauti-Night Masquerade. This event features three live bands, food and bar service from premiere area chefs, costume contests and a charity sale. Nauti-fun takes place from 8 p.m. to midnight tonight at the Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa. Admission $40 members, $50 non-members. Proceeds benefit veterinary care programs at the Florida Aquarium. Call (813) 273-4568.

An even more formal event is the "Millennium Magic" Masquerade Ball with black-tie or formal costume wear welcome. Champagne reception with space-style music by Breezin' begins at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Tampa Convention Center, 333 S Franklin St., Tampa. Dinner and dancing until midnight follows. Tickets $150 per person. Proceeds benefit the Crisis Center of Hillsborough County. Call (813) 238-8411.

City Hall spookiness

If you're worried about where you're children are going to do trick-or-treating and if they'll bring home safe treats, take them searching for candy from 6 to 9 p.m. today at Largo City Hall, 225 First Ave. SW, Largo. Children can go door-to-door within the city building and then show off their costume in the costume parade. Parents can also purchase a wristband to admit their child to a Spooktacular Carnival. Admission to trick-or-treating and costume parade free. Carnival wristband $4 per child. Call (727) 587-6720.

Freakers Ball

An adults-only Halloween Bash is at 8 tonight at Skipper's Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road, Tampa. Pull together the weirdest, most far-out costume that you can dream up and head to the Freakers Ball with live music by the "Spooky" Swingin' Mooks. Admission $7. Call (813) 971-0666.

Zappaween and more

Celebrate Halloween with jamming '70s funk fusion beginning at 8 p.m. Saturday in Jannus Landing, downtown St. Petersburg. Music and madness will co-exist in total harmony when Bogus Pomp presents Zappaween, a two-hour tribute to the words and music of Frank Zappa. Tickets $15 at the door. Call (727) 906-0811.

And Bubbaween, too

As if Bubba the Love Sponge isn't scary enough, add Barry Williams (Greg from the Brady Bunch), Chris Jericho (WWF), Randy Savage (WCW) and Brad Culpepper (Tampa Bay Buccaneers). Now that's scary! It's also Bubbaween. Join the fun at 6 a.m. today at Storman's Palace, 2675 Ulmerton Road, Clearwater. Call (727) 571-2222.Blues in the night

Wear a costume and enjoy the high-energy performance of the Tampa Bay Women's Blues Revue. This 10-member all women's group features jazz, rhythm and blues, classic rock, swing, pop and gospel. The fun starts at 8 p.m. today at the Gulfport Casino, 5500 Shore Blvd. S, Gulfport. Tickets $15. Call (727) 893-1070.

Haunting encounters

Tour a 13-room, creepy-crawly filled haunted Victorian mansion in the Foreboden Haunted House from 6:30 to 9 p.m. today, noon to 9 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday in the Pinellas Park Side, U.S. 19 N and Park Boulevard, Pinellas Park. Plenty of actors will roam the hallways dressed to scare, but youngsters need not beware. Mansion tours will be scaled to suit individual audiences. Admission $4 adults, $2 ages 11 and under. Proceeds benefit the Girls Inc. of Pinellas. Call (727) 544-6230, ext. 114.