Something spooky this way comes

It’s that time of year again: When ghoulies and ghosties rise up to interact with the living, and the fear of diabetes hangs like a pall over every family household. Whether you like your Halloween scares terrifyingly unhinged, or just a little bit ookie and spooky, there’s something for every taste this holiday season. So, don ye now your creepiest apparel and get out there for a frightfully good time. We’ve got a few suggestions.

Who knew 14 years ago, when a publicity stunt for a dance performance taking place in the newly resurrected Rio Grande Theatre would one day become one of the mainstays of the fall season? What started out as a small event drawing around 100 people dressed as the walking dead now draws thousands on the Saturday before Halloween, to make the Las Cruces Zombie Walk one of the creepiest parades/events the city has to offer, with music, vendors, games, contests and more.

“Last year we had about 6,000 people on the Plaza. I don’t think it can hold much more than that, so it will probably be about the same this year,” said Zombie Walk planner Russ Smith. “We like to have a little something for everybody, so get there early at five for amusements and rides. Sign up starts at 6 p.m., the walk starts at 7 p.m. and after that we’ve got entertainment on the stage until 10 p.m.”

The Las Cruces Zombie Walk is back for another shamble down Main Street from 6-10 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Plaza de Las Cruces, 100 N. Main St. in Las Cruces. Info: 575-640-8283

The terror continues at the Haunted Insane Asylum, offering tours not for the faint of heart at the historic Doña Ana Courthouse, 251 W. Amador St. The stately building is transformed into an infamous asylum, known for housing criminally insane patients until it closed its doors in 1937. Legend has it that the long dead patients and their twisted captors still roam the dark and foreboding halls to this day!

“This is probably the only haunted house taking place in a haunted jail complex that we know of in New Mexico,” said event organizer David Crider. “We’ve had some things happen with our staff, so it’s always interesting to see if the real ghosts will come out to talk to people. The rest are actors, but you never know who you’ll run into.”

The event is suitable for ages 12 and up. You can check it out for yourself by signing up for one of the 20-minute time slots between 7 and 11 p.m., Saturday, October 26. Info: 877-808-6877

If you like your Halloween experiences a little less visceral and a lot more vicarious, there’s something for you, too! Make your way to back to the historic Doña Ana Courthouse from 7-9:30 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 27, and Nov. 2, for Spooky Stories Told by Firelight, as three professional storytellers weave haunting tales of ghosts, wraiths, skinwalkers and more around a crackling campfire in the prison yard. Info: 877-808-6877

“I’ll be telling some of the stories around the courthouse and its ghosts,” said Crider, who also organized this event. “We’ve had paranormal investigators here and they’ve found all kinds of things they can’t explain. I’ll be talking about those. We’ll also have a Native American storyteller and a Celtic storyteller, so we have a wide range of ghost stories.”

Later in the week, drop by the Rio Grande Theatre, 211 N. Main St., for the Halloween-themed Wrap’d, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30. Film Las Cruces changes things up a bit from their regular monthly format to present spooky short films made by local filmmakers, up on the big screen. Info: 575-541-2290

But let’s say you like your Halloween experiences more family friendly, to keep the little creatures happy. There are several events taking place Saturday, Oct. 26, including the DACC Halloween Fest at 11 a.m.-1 p.m., at the DACC East Mesa Campus, 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd. (Info: 575-527-7500), or the Borderlands Ballet Halloween Bash at 4 p.m., at the Las Cruces School of Dance and Music, 1309 N. Main St. (Info: 505-652-0204), or the 2^nd Annual Trunk or Treat and Haunted House, from 5-8 p.m., at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 518 Alameda Blvd. (Info: 575-526-6333).  If you’re doing it right, you can get all three in for a Halloween trifecta of treats.

For even more suggestions, check out the Coming Up Calendar in this issue of the Bulletin, or online at LasCrucesBulletin.com. Happy haunting!