We recently covered six not-so-scary Halloween haunts for the family, ranging from local ghost tours to a haunted wagon ride. As we enter the spooky season, here is one more kid-friendly Halloween event you ought to know about: Garden After Dark at Red Butte Garden.
According to Red Butte, “From its humble beginning in 1998, Garden After Dark has expanded and changed over the years to become one of Utah’s most-beloved family-friendly Halloween-themed events.”
The 2019 Garden After Dark, themed “Trouble in Oz,” will feature Wizard of Oz-styled games, light displays, crafts and entertainment. While there, you can explore Munchkin Land, get lost in the Scarecrow’s cornfield maze, brave a haunted forest and follow the Yellow Brick Road to the Emerald City. You’ll also get the chance to meet Dorothy and her friends, but be on the lookout for the Wicked Witch of the West.
Tying the theme back to the garden itself, you can help stop the Wicked Witch, who has unleashed an army of plant pests at Red Butte to steal the magic from the Emerald Poppy and take over Oz. (If Dorothy enlists your help, go with it; don’t ruin this for the kids.)
Of course, we’ll be there as well, grabbing a slice or two from The Pizza Bus and trying to track down Glinda for a selfie.
Garden After Dark runs Oct. 17–19 and 24–26 from 6–9 p.m. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, Oct. 1 and are $11 for garden members and $14 for everyone else. The Garden After Dark entrance will be through the Garden Amphitheatre gates. Park near the amphitheater. Visit Red Butte Garden’s website for more details.
More Halloween Events
- Trick-or-Treat Street at the Utah Olympic Oval
- Monster Block Party at Gallivan Center
- Haunted Tales at Murray City Library
Keep your kids safe this Halloween with some advice from the Utah Department of Health.
Read more of our family content in our Kid-friendly blog roll.
