Monroe Lake’s Ghostly Gathering weekend at the Paynetown State Recreation Area mixes drop-in Halloween crafts, games and campground trick-or-treating with the Halloween Legends Luminary Trail, a walk through the dark woods that explains the origins of Halloween traditions. Kids can turn wood slices into ghost, pumpkin and monster ornaments, build a “poison” bottle, play pumpkin bowling and tarantula toss, and make nature collages. The luminary trail returns the following Friday.
Everything is included with the park entrance fee. Children younger than 16 must be with an adult on the luminary trail, which starts at the overflow parking area trailhead, and families should bring a flashlight.
2026 Dates:
- Friday, October 23, 2026 | 7 to 9 p.m. | Halloween Legends Luminary Trail (last entry 8:30 p.m.)
- Saturday, October 24, 2026 | 12:30 to 2 p.m. | Halloween Ornaments and “Poison” Bottle Factory at the Activity Center
- Saturday, October 24, 2026 | 3 to 4:30 p.m. | Halloween Games at the campground playground
- Saturday, October 24, 2026 | 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. | Trick-or-Treating and Campsite Decorating Contest in the campground
- Sunday, October 25, 2026 | 10 to 11:30 a.m. | Creepy Collages at the campground playground
- Friday, October 30, 2026 | 7 to 9 p.m. | Halloween Legends Luminary Trail (last entry 8:30 p.m.)