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Last fall, I took my daughter Ellie and her cousin Hadley, then 5 and 6, to Hauntless Halloween at Holliday Park. I knew we were signing up for an evening hike with talking forest creatures. What I didn't realize was how much of a production the whole thing would be. The young actors from Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre were the part that impressed me most. They weren't simply stationed along the trail in costumes handing out fun facts. They had characters, lines and full little performances prepared at each stop. By the end of the night, Ellie and Hadley were already talking about how they wanted to be part of Hauntless Halloween themselves when they were older. Related Article: Holliday Park: An Insider’s Guide to 94-Acres of Nature and Fun Our Hauntless Halloween Hike at Holliday Park Our tour was scheduled for 5:40 p.m., so we arrived a little early and spent about 15 minutes exploring the Holliday Park Nature Center before it was time to head outside. Tours leave every 10 minutes, which keeps the experience feeling fairly small. There are only 18 spots available for each tour, and once we were on the trail, we moved together from one group of forest creatures to the next. Our first encounter came almost immediately. Two luna moths greeted us and started telling us about their lives. Ellie and Hadley were a little shy at first and mostly watched and listened, but they quickly warmed up to the idea that, for one night, the creatures living in Holliday Park could talk. Next came lightning bugs, followed by more creatures along the trail. I remember spiders and bats among them, although the character lineup can change from year to year. The Young Actors Make the Experience Each stop was essentially its own short performance, and this was where Hauntless Halloween really worked for us. The scenes lasted long enough for the girls to actually learn something about each creature, but not so long that I watched their attention disappear into the woods. The actors did an impressive job staying in character and delivering their lines. You could tell these kids had practiced. Even with two young kids who were initially a little hesitant to interact, there was plenty to watch and listen to without anyone putting them on the spot. The settings changed along the way, too. Some characters were waiting right along the trail, while other stops felt more like little woodland scenes. At some performances there were chairs where adults could sit for a few minutes. At others, we stood with the group while the actors performed. It's Atmospheric, Not Scary This is definitely more fall atmosphere than Halloween scare. Nobody jumped out from behind a tree, and none of the performances were trying to scare anyone. Our 5:30 p.m. start meant the sun was just beginning to set, which worked well for Ellie and Hadley. As the woods got darker, solar lights and pumpkins marked the trail, and each character area had spotlights for the performance. The later tours probably feel spookier just because you're in the woods after dark. But that's fall-at-night spooky, not haunted-house spooky. The jumping spiders did creep me out a little, though. That one was a me problem. The Hike Is Only Part of Hauntless Halloween The hike itself took a little more than 30 minutes and ended at a fire pit, where Holliday Park staff had s'mores trays ready for everyone. The girls grabbed theirs, found roasting sticks and got right to work on the marshmallows. I figured that was the end of the night, and honestly, it would have been a pretty good ending. But after we finished our s'mores, we headed back inside the Nature Center and found even more waiting for us. The girls decorated pumpkins, ate popcorn and were very impressed by the smoking apple cider. It was a fun little bonus after the hike, especially since I hadn't realized there would be more to do once we came back inside. Holliday Park's event description lists a campfire, refreshments and activities again this year, though the exact snacks and activities may be different from what we had during our visit. Who Is Hauntless Halloween Best For? Hauntless Halloween is listed as an all-ages event, and I can see families with kids across a range of ages enjoying it. Based on our visit, though, I think the sweet spot is probably older preschoolers through younger elementary-age kids, roughly age 4 through third grade. At 5 and 6, Ellie and Hadley were old enough to follow the performances and learn something from the actors without feeling like the educational parts dragged on. Younger siblings could certainly come along, and older kids who enjoy animals, theater or performing may get something completely different out of it. All in, we were there about an hour and 15 minutes. The hike itself is a little more than 30 minutes, and the rest was split between the Nature Center before our tour and the s'mores, crafts and snacks after. Looking for more ways to fill your fall calendar? Check out our guide to fall fun around Indianapolis. Why Hauntless Halloween Is Worth Adding to Your Fall List What stood out to me was how well Hauntless Halloween balanced the nature-program side with the fun of watching these young actors bring the forest creatures to life. Ellie and Hadley were learning without it ever really feeling like a lesson. The biggest thing I'd tell parents is not to wait on tickets. Tours are intentionally small, with only 18 spots available in each 10-minute time slot, and this event can sell out quickly. And if your child has any interest in theater, don't be surprised if you leave with a future Hauntless Halloween cast member. Apparently that's what happened to us. Hauntless Halloween at Holliday Park Where: Holliday Park, 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN 46260 Thursday, Oct. 22: 5:30–8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23: 5:30–8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24: 5–8 p.m. Admission: $10 per person; children ages 2 and younger are free. Purchase tickets here. Registration: Advance registration is required. Families select a specific tour time, with tours leaving every 10 minutes. Good to know: Arrive about 10 minutes before your scheduled tour. Tickets can sell out quickly, especially for popular time slots. More information: Holliday Park programs and events calendar

Hike

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