Hot Springs Halloween

If you are in or near Hot Springs Halloween weekend, several options for celebrating await you, but beware there may be witches or zombies. On any holiday we know how to celebrate, but on Halloween we pull out all the stops starting with the International Horror Film Festival Oct. 23-26 at Central Theatre in Downtown Hot Springs. The second annual Festival brings together filmmakers, fans and horror fanatics for four days full of films including insidious indie films, blood spattered scream queens and movie monsters. For more information go to HotSpringsHorrorFilmFestival.com.

Other notable Halloween events in Hot Springs include:

7^th Annual Haunt Springs Trick or Treat for Children – from 4-7 p.m. Oct. 30 in Downtown Hot Springs from Ridge St. to Whittington Ave. Downtown businesses will hand out candy and treats. Costume contest takes place at the Parking Deck on Exchange Street at 4:30 for strollers to 6 year olds, at 5:30 for 7-12 years old and at 6:30 for 13-17 year olds. For more information go to hauntsprings.org.

Haunted Springs – Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at the Masonic Lodge on Albert Pike Rd. includes speakers, workshops, documentaries, psychic gallery and vendors. The event features speakers with authentic and documented paranormal cases from the area. Also includes a ghost hunt and costume contest. For more information go to hauntedsprings.net.

Halloween at Oaklawn – 6-10 p.m. Oct. 31 at Oaklawn Racing and Gaming includes a costume contest with a $1,000 prize. The event also includes prize drawings and drink specials.

Murder and Macabre Mystery Dinner Theater Presents The Night of the Dead Living – 6:30 p.m. dinner and 7:30 p.m. show time at the Porterhouse Restaurant in Downtown Hot Springs. Participants are asked to dress in their favorite Zombie attire. The event includes fun, food, dancing and some pretty weird characters. Call 501.262.4521 for reservations.

“Magic Screams” – 4-11 p.m. on Saturdays, 4-9 p.m. Sundays and 4-11 p.m. on Halloween night through Nov. 2 at Magic Springs & Crystal Falls. The event includes two haunted houses, a children’s house, trick or treat trail, Fright Flicks Terror Trail and several of the rides in the Park. For more information go to magicsprings.com.

Our local Halloween event at Diamondhead is the annual Halloween Trunk or Treat from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. at the Clubhouse parking lot. The event includes Diamondhead residents who decorate their trunks and fill them with candy to hand out to children on Halloween. Prizes are awarded for best costume and the best decorated trunk. It is a safe and fun way to celebrate the holiday. At Diamondhead we enjoy celebrating all of the holidays with our neighbors and especially Halloween. Diamondhead is a safe, gated community with lots of amenities and gorgeous fall scenery throughout the area and on Lake Catherine. For more information on Hot Springs or to schedule a tour of Diamondhead, give us a call at 501.520.9201 or 501.262.9310. We’d love to show you around.