This Halloween there are numerous celebrations students can take part in. Now that there are no COVID-19 restrictions in place, events and gatherings will be in full force this spooky season. The University of Manitoba Students’ Union (UMSU) has a few events lined up for students.
The UMSU Malpractice Halloween Social is scheduled to take place Oct. 28 from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. in the multipurpose room on the second floor of University Centre.
UMSU vice-president community engagement Elishia Ratel said that the event will have lots of costumes and decorations, as well as drinks available for purchase and free pizza. Prizes will also be given out to those with the best costumes.
“It’s a great night for students to be able to come together on campus and be able to enjoy a nice Halloween social,” she said.
Ratel said UMSU is also having a karaoke night at VW Social Club from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 25. The five dollar cover charge will go toward the UMSU Holiday Hampers program which provides families in need with food and gifts in December.
The final UMSU Halloween event is a pumpkin carving night being held Thursday, Oct. 27 at 5 p.m. in the same multipurpose room. The five dollar entry fee for the event will pay for a pumpkin, tealight and carving tools. Snacks, pizza and goodie bags will also be provided.
Student groups are also holding Halloween events.
The Commerce Students’ Association is holding its annual Halloween Shocker social at Cowboys Roadhouse and Tavern United Windsor Park on Oct. 29, and has already sold out of tickets.
The Arts Student Body Council is holding its Halloween Social on Oct. 31 at VW Social Club from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Off campus, there are a multitude of Halloween celebrations students can take part in.
A few Winnipeg nightclubs are hosting spooky themed nights over Halloween weekend.
The Village Nightclub is holding a The Purge-themed Halloween celebration on Oct. 28 and 29. Infinity Ultra Lounge & Bar has two Halloween nights set for Oct. 29 and 30. Emo Night returns to Cowboys Oct. 30. La Roca is holding a Halloween costume party on Oct. 28, while Obsidian Ultra Lounge is having a similar event on Oct. 29.
Winnipeg Trolley Company’s Trolley of Terror Tour, a guided tour of some of Winnipeg’s most haunted destinations, is available to book until Oct. 28.
Running till Oct. 30 at Assiniboine Park Zoo, Boo at the Zoo will feature costumed actors, rides, games, food and Halloween displays.
WPG 19+ is hosting a couple events over the weekend at Assiniboia downs. On Oct. 28 and 29, its 19+ Adult Expo and Market featuring vendors, food, tattoos, taboo content, cannabis and other items directed at people aged 19 and over will take place. Burlesque and pole dancing, hypnotism and a spanking seminar are some of the entertainment highlights.On Friday night from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., a Naughty Halloween party will also be held, and will include a costume contest as well as a drag show featuring Farrah Moan and Scarlett Bobo.
St. Vital Centre, Garden City Shopping Centre, Kildonan Place, Grant Park Shopping Centre and Outlet Collection Winnipeg are hosting trick-or-treating events on Oct. 31.
Outdoor interactive horror-themed spaces are also operating during the Halloween season. Six Pines Haunted Attractions, A Maze in Corn, Deer Meadow Farms and Heebie Jeebies are all operating throughout October. Heebie Jeebies owner Tim Muys said that after only being in business for five years, the haunt is expecting nearly 30,000 visitors this year.
After having a couple of difficult years marred by COVID-19 restrictions that forced reduced group sizes and social distancing on the property, Muys said he is elated to see people able to freely enjoy Heebie Jeebies this year.
The 70,000-square-foot property is located one kilometre south of McGillivray boulevard inside the Perimeter Highway, about a 15-minute drive from the U of M.
Heebie Jeebies features four mazes, food trucks, photo ops, bonfires, merchandise vendors and free hot chocolate. Across the entire property, costumed actors roam around scaring visitors.
When asked how scary a night at Heebie Jeebies is, Muys said that each person’s experience varies. He said that specific fears, like clowns or claustrophobia, usually garner a reaction.
“We’re gonna get you at some point,” he said.
“We had a young boy that was 12 years old and got halfway through one of the mazes, he curled up in a ball and we had to carry him out,” Muys added.
“We had another person pass out this year, we’ve had a number of people pee their pants, that happens every year all the time. We’ve had two confirmed cases where people have actually crapped their pants, that we know for certain.”
However, Muys said that Heebie Jeebies provides an experience that the entire family can enjoy, adding that there is “an equal amount of screaming and laughing” among visitors.
