Of all the holidays, Halloween may be the best example of an American fusion of beliefs, rituals, traditions, and cultures, brought together from both religious and pagan ideas. And, to be fair, for the kids it’s really all about the candy.  October 31 marks the observation of Halloween the evening before All Hallows Day or All Saints Day, on November 1. In the 1920s and 30s partakers of Halloween traditions added in pranks and tricks as part of their Halloween experience. The earliest known print of the words “Trick or Treat” occurred in 1934, in a Portland, Oregon newspaper. The paper ran an article about how Halloween pranks kept local police officers on their toes. Whether your favorite part of Halloween is the tricks, the treats, or the costumes, this Halloween is sure to look different as our community continues to life during a pandemic.

It’s been roughly seven months since we all started to quarantine, and that has meant the cancellation of many social events. During these strange and possibly lonely times, it’s very important to take care of your mental health. It’s important to acknowledge social needs that we may be neglecting during the pandemic, especially during a time when we would normally be going out to spend time with others. It can be difficult to spend so much time indoors without as many chances to socialize.

Even though there aren’t as many events going on in Bozeman as usual, there’s still lots of safe fun to be had this October! Here’s a list of fun fall and Halloween events to attend this year:

Run for Your Life
Virtual Fundraiser- https://www.bozemanhelpcenter.org/run-for-your-life.html/
Oct. 31st Anytime before 4 PM
5K $15 early bird and $20 after 10/12
Kid’s 1K $10
Virtual Halloween 5k and 1k Kid’s Run/Walk to support the Help Center’s suicide prevention program, including a 24/7 crisis line. Pick your own course and run or walk anytime on the 31st before 4 PM. Costume contest will happen online with great prizes!
       New this year for the whole month of October: 211 Mental Health Challenge. The Help Center’s goal is to collectively log 211 activities that support your mental health, the Help Center and suicide prevention!

Montana Corn Maze
4605 W Cameron Bridge Rd,
Manhattan, MT
By reservation only - Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays 10am-8pm
Guests on the farm will be limited due to COVID-19 restrictions. Safe and sanitary activities include a 5-acre maze full of fun, frustration, and triumph, 3 different levels of maze challenges, Barrel train for kids, Trikes for adults and older kids, and a wagon ride to and from the maze. Head to: www.montanacornmaze.com to reserve your spot and purchase tickets. $7 Ages 4+, Free - ages 3 and under

Bozeman Paranormal Society Ghost Tours - Sunset Hills Cemetery
register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/118343333095
Oct. 16th 9 PM, Oct. 17th 4:30 PM and 9 PM, Oct. 18th 4:30 PM
Come enjoy a spooky, safe evening at the annual tour of Sunset Hills Cemetery. Meet in the front of the cemetery at the Lindley Park entrance. Hand sanitizer and masks will be provided but you are encouraged to bring your own. Learn how to ghost hunt in the cemetery with the help of our guides. Throughout the month, Bozeman Paranormal Society will also be having a cemetery day trip to Anaconda, UFO viewing at Hyalite and online ghost stories! Visit https://www.facebook.com/BozemanParanormal/ for more event info.

Musuem of the Rockies Chilling Campfire Tours
Museum of the Rockies 600 West Kagy Blvd
Oct. 17, 23 and 24 6:00-8:45 PM
Come for an outdoor live show that incorporates storytelling and sculpture to bring the darker history and folklore of Montana to life. Each tour is approximately 45-minutes in length and is led by a Spirit Guide who will take you to five stops along the route. By the flicker of firelight, you never know what your eyes might see! Tours of 16 people will depart in 15-minute intervals. Face masks or appropriate face coverings are required. Register at https://museumoftherockies.org/education/adults/cct/ MOR Members: $8/child, $12/adult.  Public: $10/child, $14/adult
Ages 7 and up only

Whitehall Fall Festival
Whitehall Community Center 1 N Division
Oct. 23,24 & 30,31    FRI 7-11PM SAT 6-11PM
Spend the day in Whitehall trick-or-treating at local businesses! Kids should dress in their Halloween best for our costume contest. The COC is hosting a Pumpkin Carving Contest, and bakers out there can enter a pie in a Silent Auction Pie Fundraiser to for local charities. A haunted house, hay maze and screams galore await. Finally, finish out the night with BINGO called out by our veterans. All Ages. Make RESERVATIONS for time slots on our website www.screamscometruemt.com Tickets will be sold at the door as well, but only to fill in the empty time slots as available. So we are pushing to MAKE RESERVATIONS NOW!

Montana Science Center Family Science Day: Spooky Science
Montana Science Center 2744 W. Main St.
Oct. 31st 10 AM-12 PM
Preregistration is not required, but capacity is limited. Join us for a spooky good time on Halloween! Wear your costume for an extra sweet treat! All Ages. Cost: $9 for ages 3+ and Free for ages 2 & under
https://www.facebook.com/events/666304007315854/?active_tab=about

Downtown Bozeman Trick or Treat CANCELED
Oct. 30th 4 PM-6 PM
Make your way downtown for a safe way to enjoy traditional trick or treating in beautiful Downtown Bozeman. Over 150 businesses will be welcoming kids and families with candy and decorations!  Cost: Free

Madison River Ranch Pumpkin Patch
5255 Madison Rd, Three Forks
Pumpkin Patch Oct 10-11 11am-4pm
Head to the Madison River Ranch for Hayrides, a pick your own pumpkin patch, food and beverage vendors and much more!
Cost: $10/car. Age: all ages

Madison River Ranch Monster Mash
5255 Madison Rd, Three Forks
Monster Mash Oct 10-11 6-10pm
It’s a Graveyard Smash! Live music by the Dusty Pockets, Food and Bev Vendors, Costume Contests, Prizes and more.
Cost: $20 per person

Here are some other fun things to keep you occupied if you don’t feel safe attending bigger events:

Go for a walk around your neighborhood
Even just stretching your legs and breathing in some fresh air can do wonders for your emotional and physical health. Make it your mission to walk somewhere you’ve never been before, explore new neighborhoods and unfamiliar surroundings. Of course, be sure to do so with a mask on or while socially distancing.

Read a book
Sometimes you need a break from whatever is going on in the world. Finding a book that really interests you can transport you to another place, at least for a little while.

Keep in touch with your friends and family online
Haven’t called your family or friends in a while? Let them know you’re thinking about them and share your experiences. It can be helpful to just voice how you’re feeling and what you’re going through.

Decorate/transform your living space
Sometimes a little change in scenery can help you feel a lot better when you’re spending so much time indoors. Especially with holidays like Halloween and Thanksgiving coming up, it can be fun to take the time to decorate your space.

Try yoga or meditation
Doing yoga is good a way to relax your body and mind. It allows you to focus on a particular task when things around you might seem hectic. Taking a moment to just meditate and breathe can really help calm your mind.

Volunteer to help others
If you’re able to donate your time right now, it can be really gratifying to help others. And it can strengthen the sense of community you may feel lacking right now.

Here are the events that are NOT happening this year:

• Bozeman Hay Bale Maze
• Belgrade Trick or Treat Street
• Anderson School Haunted House
• Gallatin Valley Mall Trick or Treat
• Montana MADE Fair