Meet Shelob

Do creepy crawlies give you the heebie-jeebies? Then stay away from our front lawn, where this astounding arachnid has camped out for October and refuses to leave--no matter how many exterminators we call out. Eager to learn more about Shelob? Here are some fast facts on this bug biggie:

• Known as: the giant spider from “Return of the King”
• Favorite book: “Charlotte’s Web”
• Claim to fame: Never loses a staring contest
• Secret wish: To eat Frodo for breakfast, Spider-Man for lunch, and The Fly for dinner
• Nickname: Spin doctor, Octomom

Spirits on Sproat named among best Chicagoland yard haunts by Patch

Patch.com just published its 2019 guide to Chicagoland's best yard haunts. Per usual, Spirits on Sproat has made the cut.

Check out the full list by clicking here.

Spirits on Sproat returns from the dead tonight!

Your favorite Halloween house comes alive tonight, from 7-11 p.m. Make plans to visit Spirits on Sproat tonight or any night we're open in October.

To view our 2019 schedule (which has been slightly updated), click here. Hope to scream you soon!

Oak Lawn’s Midnight Terror Haunted House ranked a top 10 haunted attraction by USA Today

The accolades continue to pour in for Midnight Terror Haunted House in Oak Lawn, which opens for its sixth season on September 27. It was recently voted a top 10 haunted attraction in the entire country by readers of USA Today, earning a coveted spot in the newspaper’s “10Best Readers’ Choice 2019” list. Ranking #8 on that list also earns Midnight Terror the distinction of being the fan favorite top haunted attraction in Illinois.

Midnight Terror (5520 W. 111th St.) was first nominated by USA Today editors and haunt experts, landing it on an initial list of 20 haunted attractions published in the summer. The newspaper then invited visitors to vote online for their favorite; strong support from fans helped the Oak Lawn haunt quickly climb up the ranks before polling closed in late August.

“Being recognized as one of the top 10 in the nation in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice 2019 poll is only the beginning,” says Midnight Terror creator/co-owner Justin Cerniuk. “Our goal is to continue on as a group of friends creating absurdity, having fun, and letting the reviews speak for themselves. Supporters appreciate all the effort we put into our haunt to scare them out of their wits, and we are so grateful for this honor they’ve helped bestow upon us.”

In 2018, Midnight Terror rated as the top “Must-See Haunt” in the entire state of Illinois by TheScareFactor.com, based on votes by fans, and was declared the number one haunted house in all of Illinois by Fox 32 Chicago. In past years, it has been highly recommended and ranked by Thrillist, NBC, the Chicago Tribune, Patch.com, Haunted House Chicago, Illinois Haunted Houses, and others.
A big reason Cerniuk and company get so much love—and repeat business—from admirers is their extreme attention to detail and unwavering commitment to create fresh frights for visitors every year.

Unlike many other commercial Halloween attractions, the Midnight Terror crew reinvent their haunt annually: moving walls, completely reconfiguring spaces, and adding new layers of realism to their macabre maze of 60-plus rooms spread out over some 26,000 square feet.

“Our haunt has never been this immersive. This season, we’ve added countless new fine touches, well-timed scares, ultra-detailed props, and strategically positioned light and sound effects,” adds Cerniuk. “Every room’s impeccable detail envelops you into this world we’ve created. We’ve packed so many new surprises into this space to guarantee that visitors will get an unforgettably terrifying sensory experience.”

They can also claim a great value, courtesy of several 2019 promotions:

• Half-price tickets ($12.50 off the $25 general admission with promo code news13) on opening weekend (Sept. 27-29) only when purchased online at midnightterror.com.
• $5 off for students with a school ID every Thursday or Sunday.
• $5 off when you bring in any other haunted house ticket stub.
• Free upgrade to VIP tickets on Sundays for active-duty military and veterans with a valid ID.
• Free trick-or-treating for kids 12 and younger (who are accompanied by an adult) on October 27 from noon to 3 p.m.; this annual tradition is appreciated by area families, whose children are given candy and a fun “lights-on” tour of the haunt by actors appearing in friendly mode.
• Send in the clowns on Nov. 1 and 2 – The haunt is entirely populated by evil circus denizens for one “Clown Takeover” night, with a limited supply of half-price tickets now available (only $12.50 when purchased online).
• Santa scares you silly on Dec. 13-15. Those are the dates when Midnight Terror morphs into “Christmas Fear,” with a limited supply of half-price tickets now available (only $12.50 when purchased online).

This year, Midnight Terror also plans to partner with charitable organizations such as Chicago Youth Programs and Veterans of Foreign Wars. Cerniuk will donate stacks of Midnight Terror admission tickets to each of these charities, which can be used for fundraising efforts.

Midnight Terror Haunted House is located at 5520 W. 111th St., Oak Lawn, Ill., 60453, just east of the intersection of Central Avenue and 111th Street. General admission per person is $24.99; VIP admission per person, which provides faster entry without having to wait in the general admission line, is $34.99. Discounted tickets ($2 off) can be purchased online; regular price tickets can be purchased onsite at the box office.

The attraction is wheelchair accessible and open, rain or shine (waiting area is outdoor/indoor), from: 7-11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays (Sept. 27 and 28 and Oct. 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 25, 26, and Nov. 1 and 2); and from 7-10 p.m. on Sept. 29 and Oct. 6, 13, 17, 20, 24, 27, 30 and 31. Visitors can park for free at the Oak Lawn Metra station parking garage (located at 9525 Tulley Ave.) and take a complimentary round-trip shuttle – with costumed characters aboard to entertain passengers – to the Midnight Terror site. 

For more information, visit midnightterror.com or email midnightterror.info@gmail.com.

Spirits on Sproat reopens Oct. 4 -- check out the 2019 schedule

Halloween is only 65 days away! Dying to learn what dates and times Spirits on Sproat will be open in 2019? Our schedule has just been posted. We'll be open a record 20 evenings this year, including Nov. 1!

Check out all the details, including information on what's new and improved for 2019, by clicking here.

Spirits on Sproat has a new website address

To make things easier for you to remember (and type), your favorite neighborhood home haunt has changed its website URL. Formerly, we were "welovehalloween.blogspot.com." While we still absolutely love Halloween, we weren't in love with that lengthy web address.

So starting today, our site is officially spiritsonsproat.com. It made sense to us, and hope it does to you, too.

You can still access our website using either web address.

That's all we have to report. Our monsters are still in winter hibernation and won't be showing their faces for another seven-and-a-half months. But at least this little bit of news whets the appetite for Halloween fun to come later in 2019!

That's a wrap, says the mummy...

Thanks to all for another fantastic year at Spirits on Sproat: The Gallery of the Dead. We had (and scared) more visitors than any year prior, and we appreciate all our fans, young and old, for making it all worthwhile. Another October (and Halloween) has come and gone, but we'll be raring to go in 2019 with more new figures and frights. See you back in 11 months!

Only 5 nights left to experience Spirits on Sproat!

And then there were 5...there are only 5 nights remaining on the Spirits on Sproat calendar. Come see us any night between now and Oct. 31--if you dare!

Hours: Oct. 27 and 31: 7-11 p.m.; Oct. 28, 29, 30: 7-10 p.m.

Remember: Spirits on Sproat is open tonight

Just a reminder that Spirits on Sproat: The Gallery of the Dead is open tonight, Monday, Oct. 29, and will remain open every night through Halloween. If weeknights are more convenient for you, stop by any night this week. Hours are 7-10 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays, 7-11 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Oct. 31.

Reminder: post your Spirits on Sproat video on Facebook and win prizes

It's not too late to enter the Spirits on Sproat 2018 Facebook Video Contest. Visit our haunt by Oct. 26, take a video of your visit, post it on our Facebook page, and you could win two VIP tickets to Midnight Terror Haunted House! Read the full details here.

Spirits on Sproat now open every night thru Halloween

Welcome to uninterrupted Halloween fun! Spirits on Sproat is now open every night through Halloween--from Oct. 19 through 31. Here's our detailed remaining schedule:

• Oct. 19-20: open 7-11 p.m.
• Oct. 21-25: open 7-10 p.m.
• Oct. 26-27: open 7-11 p.m.
• Oct. 28-30: open 7-10 p.m.
• Oct. 31: open 7-11 p.m.

Put another way, we're open 7-11 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Halloween, and from 7-10 p.m. all other days. Come on out and experience all the terror-ific excitement before October ends!

Meet Pennywise (from the "It" movie)

What's that, you say? There are two Pennywise clowns at Spirits on Sproat? That's quite perceptive of you. Yes, you're seeing double, but that's not the alcohol talking--we really do have two different "It" clowns on display here. This one pictured is from the 2017 film (the other is from the 1990 TV miniseries). Bet you also didn't know these fun facts about our fiendish prankster:

• Nicknames: Pound foolish, balloon goon, Wonder bread, Baldy McDonald
• Voted in high school: No. 1 class clown
• Secret shame: That’s his real nose 
• Little-known fact: Banana peels instantly turn black before he slips on them

Meet Maleficent

Next to the evil queen from Snow White and the wicked stepmother from Cinderella, there's no fairy tale female baddie quite as sinister as this soulless sister, famous for being the foil to Sleeping Beauty. Here's the 411 on Maleficent:

• Nickname: Dragon breath
• Favorite book: “Gardening With Thorns: Who Needs Flowers Anyway?”
• Favorite song: “Spinning Wheel” by Blood Sweat and Tears
• Pet peeve: Not being invited to birthday parties

Meet the Slender Man

Tall, dark and handsome this guy is not. Okay, well, he's got the tall part down. And most of his getup is on the black side. But when it comes to mugs, this dude's about as expressionless and nondescript as a Michael Myers mask worn backwards. Here's what else we know about this tall drink of water:

• Also known as: Poker face, Funkyfingers, Freddy formalwear
• Pet peeves: Subcompact cars and the tiny house movement
• Secret wish: that there was a big and tall men’s shop on every corner
• Dirty little secret: Drafted as the starting center for the Lakers but cut for complete lack of hustle

Meet Darth Vader

Everybody's favorite sci-fi villain deserves a spot in our horror hall of fame. After all, he's got a costume blacker than the Prince of Darkness', he serves an evil emperor who looks like he's in need of a good exorcism, and he's not exactly the man of your dreams when he's unmasked. Consider these other facts:

• Secret shame: His kids once had the hots for each other
• Pet peeve: When people push his buttons
• Favorite wrestling move: the invisible chokehold
• Dirty little secret: Wishes his lightsaber was as big as Obi-Wan’s

Meet The Nun

She's not going to be winning any beauty contests, and her sense of fashion is pretty bland. But this sister--also known as Valak--really knows how to steal the show, as evidenced in "The Conjuring 2" and her own spinoff movie. Eager to learn more? Read on:

• Pet peeve: Can’t find a good dentist down in hell
• Voted in high school: Most likely to die a virgin
• Favorite book: “How I Kicked the Habit”
• Title of her autobiography: “From Convent to Conjuring: The Valak Memoirs”

Enter the Spirits on Sproat 2018 Facebook video contest and win Midnight Terror tickets

Here's another great reason to visit Spirits on Sproat: you can win two VIP admission tickets to Midnight Terror Haunted House in Oak Lawn--a $70 value and a great opportunity to experience Chicagoland's best commercial haunted attraction without having to wait in a long line!

Here's what you need to do:

1. Take video during your 2018 visit to Spirits on Sproat. 
2. Post it to our Facebook page (at fb.com/spiritsonsproat) by October 26. (We'd also love for you to share photos taken during your visit, so post those, too.) 
3. Like us on Facebook.
4. Share your posted video on your own Facebook timeline. Make sure the post is public.

We'll judge the best video and award the winner the two tickets. The winner can pick up from Michael Myers himself (the one walking around at Spirits on Sproat) between October 27 and Halloween night.

A few tips on taking and submitting videos:

• We prefer horizontal video over vertical video (it fills up and looks better on the screen)
• We especially love footage of our live scarers (like Michael Myers and Jason) creeping up and scaring people.
• Please aim for a reasonable video length; not too short (at least 30 seconds) or too long (not longer than 3 minutes) please.
• Do not post video recorded in past years. Only post fresh video recorded between Oct. 1 and Oct. 26, 2018, please.
• We will contact the chosen winner privately via Facebook on October 27, 2018, to arrange pickup of the tickets. Prepare to show a valid ID when you pick up the tickets.

Good luck, and happy Halloween season!

Meet Rosemary and her baby

There's nothing like the bond between a mother and her newborn child--except when that infant turns out to be Beelzebub Jr. Here's more about this famous pair:

• Secret shame: Giving birth to the spawn of Satan, cutting her hair with a Flowbee
• Favorite book: “Cut out the Middleman: DIY Circumcisions”
• Most hated limerick: “First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the devil in a baby carriage”

Spirits on Sproat kicks off 2018 season tonight

Spirits on Sproat: The Gallery of the Dead, officially opens tonight, Oct. 5, between 7 and 11 p.m. The forecast calls for rainy weather all weekend, so bring your umbrellas. So long as there aren't heavy rains and.or very strong winds, we will remain open. Please visit http://welovehalloween.blogspot.com/p/spirits-on-sproat-2012-schedule.html to view our full October schedule.

Halloween season is here! And our haunt is ready and waiting for you...

Oak Lawn’s Midnight Terror Haunted House voted #1 “must-see haunt” in Illinois by fans

Midnight Terror Haunted House in Oak Lawn, which opens for its fifth season on September 28, was recently ranked the top “Must-See Haunt” in the entire state of Illinois by TheScareFactor.com, based on votes by fans. Midnight Terror beat out many other well-known Chicagoland-area commercial haunts in earning this honor.

Now in its third straight year at its larger location (5520 W. 111^th St.), Midnight Terror Haunted House is riding a wave of increasing popularity, visitor acclaim, and strong word-of-mouth. Visitor counts have increased exponentially every year since the haunt relocated to its current site in 2016. Positive ratings online and via social media have certainly helped, and the site has been ranked in top 10 lists from the Chicago Tribune, Fox News, Haunted House Chicago, Illinois Haunted House and more. Creator/co-owner Justin Cerniuk attributes this success to several factors.

“We don’t rely on big animatronics. We work hard with our actors to give customers the best possible show,” says Cerniuk. “Our actors are given creative freedom versus having to follow a rigid script, which allows them to scare better. Plus, we provide haunt actor training all year long, not just a few days before we open.”

Secondly, he notes that the industry norm is to merely update a few rooms in a haunt during the offseason. “But we’ve spent the past 10 months designing a whole new layout, with all new rooms and every costumed character re-envisioned.”

Additionally, Cerniuk says he runs Midnight Terror as a family, not a corporation. “We build every aspect of the show as a group of friends who share the same passion and vision of the haunt industry,” he adds, noting that he and his managers also don costumes and scare along with the crew, which keeps morale high.

What’s more, every year Midnight Terror offers a great array of value-added promotions and discounts. In 2018, visitors can claim: 

·         Half-price tickets ($12.50 general admission) when purchased online at midnightterror.com and on opening weekend (Sept. 28-30).

·         $5 off for students with a school ID every Thursday or Sunday.

·         $5 off when you bring in any other haunted house ticket stub.

·         $5 off for military personal with a valid ID.

·         Free souvenir (Midnight Terror button, sticker or headband) when you take a picture at the on-site photo booth.

·         The clowns take over on Nov. 3 – The haunt is entirely populated by evil circus denizens for one “Clown Takeover” night, with a limited supply of half-price tickets now available (only $10 when purchased online).

·         Santa goes psycho on Dec. 14-16. That’s when Midnight Terror transforms into “Christmas Fear,” with a limited supply of half-price tickets now available (only $10 when purchased online).

·         Take a photo of you and a Midnight Terror actor stalking the waiting line, share the image on social media in October (using hashtag #MidnightTerror), and you may win two free tickets to Christmas Fear (Dec. 14-16).

The haunt has earned considerable goodwill in the community, too. Midnight Terror partners with different charities every year and rewards its patrons. New for 2018:

·         For every ticket bought on-site on Sundays, $1 will be donated to the Wounded Warrior Project.

·         Free trick-or-treating for kids 12 and younger (who are accompanied by an adult) on October 31 from 3:30-5:30 p.m.; this annual tradition is appreciated by area families, whose children are given candy and a fun “lights-on” tour of the haunt by actors appearing in friendly mode.

Lastly, Midnight Terror’s scares truly satisfy. Visitor reviews continually hit on a prevailing theme: the fright factor at this haunt is exceptionally high.

“We pride ourselves on designing a uniquely terrifying and creatively horrific haunted house experience that keeps the crowds coming back for more,” says Cerniuk. He notes that Midnight Terror benefits from more than 60 rooms, over 100 actors, and 26,000-plus square feet. “The Midnight Terror production crew custom make every one of our props and sets. And our state-of-the-art animatronic, CGI, lighting, and sound effects are comparable to those used in a big-budget Hollywood horror movie.”

Midnight Terror Haunted House is located at 5520 W. 111^th St., Oak Lawn, Ill., 60453, just east of the intersection of Central Avenue and 111^th Street. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office on site: regular admission per person is $25 at the door (discounts may be available online); VIP admission per person, which provides faster entry without having to wait in the general admission line, is $35 at the door. The attraction is wheelchair accessible and open, rain or shine (an indoor waiting area is provided), from: 7-10 p.m. on Sept. 30 and Oct. 7, 14, 18, 21, 25, 28, 30 and 31; and from 7-11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays (Sept. 28 and 29; Oct. 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, and 27; and Nov. 3). Visitors can park for free at the Oak Lawn Metra station parking garage (located at 9525 Tulley Ave.) and take a complimentary round-trip shuttle – with costumed characters aboard to entertain passengers – to the Midnight Terror site.

For more information, visit midnightterror.com or email midnightterror.info@gmail.com.

Spirits on Sproat back from the dead on October 5

Your favorite Halloween haunt is returning from the grave for another season. Spirits on Sproat: The Gallery of the Dead will reopen on Friday, October 5 and welcome visitors for 19 days this October.

To view the 2018 dates, hours and details, click here.

We're open Oct. 30, too

Just a reminder that Spirits on Sproat is open tonight, Monday, Oct. 30, from 7-10 p.m.

We are, of course, also open on Halloween from 7-11 p.m.

Come on out for your final chances to visit everyone's favorite home haunt!

Spirits on Sproat featured in new Chicago Tribune/Daily Southtown article

The Chicago Tribune/Daily Southtown has just published an article by reporter Mike Nolan that offers a roundup of area home haunts worth visiting.

Spirits on Sproat  and its owner are featured in the story, which you can read by visiting www.tinyurl.com/2017hauntsct. 

Spirits on Sproat open thru Halloween; Facebook video contest extended

Spirits on Sproat: The Gallery of the Dead is now open every night through Halloween. Hours are 7-10 p.m. Oct. 26, 29 and 30; and 7-11 p.m. Oct. 27, 28 and 31. Come on out...if you dare!

Also, we're extending the deadline on our Facebook video contest to 11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28. We encourage you to post videos and photos taken at our display; the person who posts a video we choose as the best will receive two free VIP tickets to Midnight Terror Haunted House in Oak Lawn--a $70 value. The winner will be announced the afternoon of Oct. 29, and this person can pick up the tickets from our haunt and use them on Oct. 29, 30 or 31. So keep posting those videos and photos!

Spirits on Sproat gets Svengoolie's attention

Three figures on display at Spirits on Sproat are getting their 15 minutes of fame, courtesy of Svengoolie, Chicagoland's very own TV horror host. The three characters are Elvira, Svengoolie himself, and the London After Midnight vampire (famous as the logo of Creature Features on channel 9 back in the 1970s).

First, Sven has chosen a photo of the threesome for his "Photo of the month" in his October newsletter, pictured below. (To subscribe to Svengoolie's free e-newsletter, by the way, visit svengoolie.com, scroll down to the middle of the page, and you'll see an option to enter your email address and subscribe.)

Second, Sven has promised us that he will feature this same photograph on his TV program sometime in November. He doesn't yet know which date, so you'll have to tune in any Saturday night in November (7-9 p.m. central on MeTV) around 8:30 p.m. to catch it.

Thanks, Sven, for the terror-ific TLC!

Spirits on Sproat now open every night thru Halloween

Spirits on Sproat is now open for 11 straight nights, from October 20 to October 31.

Hours are 7-11 p.m. on Oct. 20, 21, 27, 28 and 31; open 7-10 p.m. all other remaining nights in October.

There's still time to meet Michael Myers and all the other horror all-stars you love from your favorite scary movies, TV shows and stories.

When you visit, be sure to play our two scavenger hunt games (look for signage) and take photos and videos that we hope you'll post on our Facebook page. You could win 2 VIP tickets to Midnight Terror Haunted House if you post your content by October 26! (Visit here for details).

Spook spotlight: Elvira, Mistress of the Dark

Svengoolie maybe Chicago's most beloved TV horror host, but arguably the most famous one nationwide is the curvaceous creature feature hostess Elvira, better known as" Mistress of the Dark." Here's the dossier on this dominatrix queen of the B movies:

• Nickname: Late night TV horror hostess with the mostest
• Little-known fact: A vampire that bit her died of silicone poisoning
• Graduated from: The school of hard knockers with a major in bad puns
• Motto: Slay ’em with cleavage, not a cleaver

Spook spotlight: Alfred Hitchcock

There have been many memorable film directors in history – Steven Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino, Orson Welles, etc. but the most famous and arguably the best of them all is none other than Alfred Hitchcock, director of such masterpieces as Psycho, North by Northwest, The Birds, and others. Want to know more about this heavyweight champion filmmaker? Read on…

• Known as: The master of suspense and the most famous movie director in history
• Phobias: Heights, birds, policemen, breaking another director’s chair
• Catch phrases: “Good evening,” “Make the audience suffer as much as possible,” “Take a cold shower.”
• Words that sum him up: Psycho, Vertigo, Rear Window, cameo, fatso 

Spook spotlight: Beetlejuice

If you're a fan of comedies and horror films, you've likely seen Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice" from the late 1980s. While this famous character doesn't appear in the film for long, he steals every scene he's in. Here are some of the reasons why:

• Catch-phrases: “It’s showtime!” “I’m the ghost with the most,” “Let’s turn on the juice and see what shakes loose.”
• Suffers from: Tooth rot, flesh-eating bacteria, diarrhea of the mouth
• Little-known fact: If you say his name 4 times, he’ll use more 4-letter words
• Nickname: Scars and stripes

Spook spotlight: the London After Midnight vampire

Here's a gruesome ghoul you may not be acquainted with – it's the unnamed vampire character from one of the most famous lost films of all time: London after Midnight, a 1927 silent movie starring the master of disguises Lon Chaney Sr. The terrifying visage of Chaney in this role was the stuff of nightmares for many a monster movie fan and inspired filmmakers and writers like Stephen King. Here's what we know about this obscure cur:

• Played by: Lon Chaney in the lost 1927 silent movie
• Known for: Being the face of Channel 9’s “Creature Features” in the 1970s
• Aliases: The man in the beaver hat, piranha-mouth, Bulging-eyes-Bob
• Sick of his mother telling him: It’s not polite to point

Guide to other area yard displays and home haunts

Oak Lawn Patch recently published a roundup article listing visit-worthy home haunts and yard displays throughout the south suburbs of Chicago. Spirits on Sproat made the list, as well as several others you may want to check out.

To see the article/list, click here.

Spook spotlight: Scarycrow

Most farmer's scarecrows are the cute and cuddly type, with a patchwork quilt face and a stitched-on grin of friendliness. But this maize mannequin is monstrously morose if not downright zombiefied. Crows and humans alike – you've been warned. Here are more fun facts about Scarycrow:

• Sick of: The dry cleaner’s excuse for why the bird dropping stains can’t come out
• Catch-phrase: “That’s the last straw”
• Little-known fact: Auditioned for “The Wizard of Oz,” but lost the part after changing the lyrics to “If I Could Only Eat Some Brains”
• Known for: Corny jokes, stuffing himself at mealtime, always picking the short straw

Enter the Spirits on Sproat Facebook video contest

Here's another great reason to visit Spirits on Sproat: you can win two VIP admission tickets to Midnight Terror Haunted House in Oak Lawn--a $70 value and a great opportunity to experience Chicagoland's best commercial haunted attraction without having to wait in a long line!

Here's what you need to do:

1. Take video during your 2017 visit to Spirits on Sproat. 
2. Post it to our Facebook page (at fb.com/spiritsonsproat) by October 26. (We'd also love for you to share photos taken during your visit, so post those, too.) 
3. Like us on Facebook.
4. Share your posted video on your own Facebook timeline. Make sure the post is public.

We'll judge the best video and award the winner the two tickets, which they can pick up from Michael Myers himself between October 27 and Halloween night.

A few tips on taking and submitting videos:

• We prefer horizontal video over vertical video (it fills up and looks better on the screen)
• We especially love footage of our live scarers (like Michael Myers and Jason) creeping up and scaring people.
• Please aim for a reasonable video length; not too short (at least 30 seconds) or too long (not longer than 3 minutes) please.
• Do not post video recorded in past years. Only post fresh video recorded between Oct. 1 and Oct. 24, 2017, please.
• We will contact the chosen winner privately via Facebook on October 25 to arrange pickup of the tickets. Prepare to show a valid ID when you pick up the tickets.

Good luck, and happy Halloween season!

Spook spotlight: Oogie Boogie

If there was one character that definitely bugged Jack Skellington and Santa Claus in "The Nightmare Before Christmas," it was Oogie Boogie, the walking knapsack with the creepy grin who played with loaded dice and glowed a neon green. Here's what else we've learned about this denizen of the dark:

• Pet peeves: Santa Claus, the sack race, Orkin refusing to issue him a refund
• Often mistaken for: Spongebob’s friend Patrick, the Michelin Man’s evil twin brother, the Pillsbury Doughboy on acid
• Secret shames: Uses loaded dice, has a burlap fetish, gets high off glow-in-the-dark paint fumes

List of other area home haunts now available

Curious to learn about other decorated yard displays to visit this Halloween season besides Spirits on Sproat? The 2017 Chicagoland Home Haunts list is now available for viewing and downloading by visiting tinyurl.com/homehaunt17.

Make your plans to tour each of these spook-tacular home displays this October!

Spirits on Sproat opens tonight

Spirits on Sproat: The Gallery of the Dead kicks off its 13th season when it reopens tonight, October 1, from 7-10 p.m. We have many new surprises in store for you, including new figures to see and a chance for you to win two VIP tickets to nearby Midnight Terror Haunted House (a $70 value).

For our full schedule and directions, click here.

Hope to see you tonight and any other night we're open in October!

All-new scares planned for Oak Lawn’s Midnight Terror Haunted House in 2017

Demonically possessed workers keep the engines
of fear running at The Factory of Malum.

Demonic workers await your arrival at The Factory of Malum,
one of two haunts included with your admission at
Midnight Terror Haunted House in Oak Lawn.

Last year, Midnight Terror Haunted House thrilled visitors by moving to a bigger, better location in Oak Lawn. This year, they’ve reinvented that extra space into a “fear-for-all” playground of fright for a more uniquely nightmarish experience.
Determined to give paying customers fresh thrills in 2017, Midnight Terror creator/co-owner Justin Cerniuk and his crew spent the offseason redesigning more than 85 percent of the haunt. But they did more than expand the size of many of the sets, improve the props and wardrobe, and fine-tune the animatronic, CGI, lighting and sound effects. They also “unleashed the monsters.” Translation: the creepy characters lurking around every corner now have the freedom to frighten you in their own creative way.
“Many haunted attractions choreograph their actors too rigidly, making them to do and say the same things and robotically remain within a limited zone. That can get boring and predictable,” says Cerniuk. “We’re letting many of our scarers customize their characters and be more spontaneous and unpredictable. We’ve created more secret spaces for them to hide in and given them a wider territory in which to terrify.”
Rest assured that the golden rule of haunting remains in effect: the hired help isn’t allowed to touch paying customers, and vice versa. That doesn’t mean Midnight Terror’s scream team won’t touch a nerve, however.
“We’re emphasizing more old-school startle effects and jump scares this year. Attendees will appreciate the level of detail in our sets and the impressive theatricality on display. But it’s the sudden shocks that will leave the strongest impression. Prepare to be thoroughly scared,” says Cerniuk, an ex-Marine and Oak Lawn native who launched Midnight Terror in 2014.
“In the military, they call an overwhelming display of force ‘shock and awe.’ Here, we use a different phrase for the same effect—‘shock and saw,’” he says. “They use stealth bombers, we use chainsaws.”
It’s this commitment to horror excellence that’s earned Midnight Terror high praise; in 2016, the attraction was awarded third-place honors for best haunt by IllinoisHauntedHouse.com and was named a top 13 haunt by HauntedHouseChicago.com.
A ticket to Midnight Terror provides admission to two haunted houses in one location. The first is Black Oak Grove, where the ghostly Willow and her cult of possessed followers roam like wraiths throughout the village. Follow their eerie trail as you wind through a cannibalistic butcher shop, a spine-chilling school, a jail where the inhumane inmates are in charge, a disquieting library, and other town fixtures. The second part of your journey leads through the Factory of Malum, named after a demonic overlord who has enslaved an army of monstrous minions hell-bent on preventing you from making it out of their industrial complex of creatures alive.
“We’ve created a unique mythology and series of characters that drive the backstory behind these two haunts. Every year, we add a new chapter to this ongoing narrative,” Cerniuk explains. “But you don’t need to be aware of this to come and enjoy Midnight Terror.”
Here’s what patrons can expect in 2017:

This follower of Willow is among the evil
inhabitants of Black Oak Grove,
one of two haunts included with your
admission at Midnight Terror Haunted
House in Oak Lawn.

• A 35-minute walk-through (on average) across two haunted houses
• More than 60 rooms and over 100 actors spread across 26,000+ square feet
• The House of Lilly—a brand-new paranormal escape room (optional for an extra fee)
• Free entertainment for guests waiting in line – such as DJs, stilt walkers and street drummers
• A gift shop where Midnight Terror shirts, hoodies, hats and other apparel as well as Halloween-themed merchandise can be purchased.

Attendees can also claim valuable promotions, including:

• $2 off each ticket when purchased online at midnightterror.com
• Half off regular admission on opening weekend, September 28, 29, 30 and Oct. 1 when purchased online
• $5 off for students with a school ID every Thursday or Sunday
• “Lights-on” trick or treating on October 31 from 3:30-5:30 p.m., when kids 12 and younger can walk through, free of charge, with the lights on and wave to the actors, who will be in friendly mode and giving out candy.

Midnight Terror Haunted House is located at 5520 W. 111th St., Oak Lawn, Ill., 60453, just east of the intersection of Central Avenue and 111th Street. Tickets can be purchased online or at the box office on site: regular admission per person is $25 at the door or $23 online; VIP admission per person, which provides faster entry without having to wait in the general admission line, is $35 at the door or $33 online. The attraction is wheelchair accessible and open, rain or shine (a covered waiting area is provided), from: 7-10 p.m. on Sept. 28, Oct. 1, 5, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 26, 29, 30, and 31; and from 7-11 p.m. on Sept. 29 and 30, Oct. 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, and 28. Visitors can park for free at the Oak Lawn Metra station parking garage (located at 9525 Tulley Ave.) and take a complimentary round-trip shuttle – with costumed characters aboard to entertain passengers – to the Midnight Terror site.
For more information, visit www.midnightterror.com or email midnightterror.info@gmail.com. 

We now have a Facebook page

Spirits on Sproat now has its own Facebook page that you can like and follow at facebook.com/spiritsonsproat. Every announcement we post at welovehalloween.blogspot.com will now also be identically posted on our Facebook page.

What's more, we encourage you to post photos and videos, taken during your visit to Spirits on Sproat this October, to our Facebook page. We'll be announcing a best video contest and prize soon.

Stay tuned for more news and updates about Spirits on Sproat coming soon!

Spirits on Sproat returns on October 1

Spirits on Sproat: The Gallery of the Dead, your favorite neighborhood Halloween haunt, will reopen with all-new chills and thrills as well as fan-favorite props and characters on Sunday, October 1 from 7-10 p.m.

We're preparing our biggest and best season yet of terrifying fun designed to scare the yell out of visitors, so make your plans to visit this October. Michael Myers and his crew of creatures will be waiting for you.

To view our 2017 schedule, click here.

Creepy clowns converge on Midnight Terror Haunted House in Oak Lawn on Nov. 4-5

The Ringleader serves as the master of scare-a-monies
at Midnight Terror's Clown Takeover.

Throughout 2016, creepy clown sightings have dominated the news. Now, sinister circus exiles everywhere have descended on Midnight Terror Haunted House in Oak Lawn, which will present a special two-day-only “Clown Takeover” haunt on Friday, November 4, and Saturday, November 5, from 7-11 p.m.

Midnight Terror, which wraps up its third annual Halloween-themed attraction on October 31, has decided to extend its season by hosting these two encore dates. But it isn’t simply reopening its doors and repeating what it offered in October – the haunt will be completely redesigned with all-new characters, costumes, props and themes that play upon our innate fear of clowns.

“This will be an entirely new and unique haunted house totally different from what we offered in October,” says Justin Cerniuk, Midnight Terror creator/co-owner and Oak Lawn native. “We will have over 100 clown characters, each with a one-of-a-kind personality, costume, and backstory. Visitors will be treated to a lot of shocks and surprises as they rediscover Midnight Terror in a whole different way from what they previously experienced.”

Here’s the scary scenario Cerniuk conceived: The unnerving clowns spotted across Chicagoland this year have been kidnapped by Boss Clown and his greasepaint-faced minions and brought back to Midnight Terror Haunted House. There, the unleashed clowns wreak havoc and force everyone they come in contact with to join their evil jester ranks. The brave souls who venture into Clown Takeover territory will encounter a myriad of monstrous mimes, putrid pranksters, fiendish fools, big-red-nosed brutes, and cartoonishly colored cut-ups eager to cut you up, including The Ringleader, Dynamite Dave, the Balloon Buster, The Twins, and Boss Clown himself. Attendees can even choose to have a free quick-change “clown makeover” (while supplies last). For more clues about what to expect and to view a promotional video that introduces the characters, visit MidnightTerror.com; for special discounts and promotions to this event, visit Midnight Terror’s Facebook page at Facebook.com/midnightterrorhauntedhouse.

“Tickets are bound to go quickly because this is such a limited engagement event, so you’ll need to act fast if you want to be among the lucky few to experience our Clown Takeover,” says Cerniuk, who adds that the encore dates provide an extra opportunity to attend Midnight Terror for Cubs fans who didn’t want to miss any playoffs games (the World Series wraps up by November 2).

Highlights of the Clown Takeover edition of Midnight Terror include:
• A 30-minute walk-through (on average) across two indoor haunted houses
• More than 60 rooms to explore
• Over 100 actors
• Over 50 props custom made for Midnight Terror, Hollywood-style CGI effects, a cutting-edge lighting system, and a state-of-the-art sound system
• Free entertainment for guests waiting in line – among them street drummers, stilt walkers and DJs.

Midnight Terror Haunted House is located at 5520 W. 111th St., Oak Lawn, Ill., 60453, just east of the intersection of Central Avenue and 111th Street. Tickets can be purchased online at or at the box office on site: regular admission per person is $25 at the door or $23 online; VIP admission per person, which provides faster entry without having to wait in the general admission line, is $35 at the door or $31 online. The attraction is wheelchair accessible and open, rain or shine (a covered waiting area is provided), from 7-11 p.m. on November 4 and 5 only. Visitors can park for free at the Oak Lawn Metra station parking garage (located at 9525 Tulley Ave.) and take a complimentary round-trip shuttle – with costumed characters aboard to entertain passengers – to the Midnight Terror site. For more information, visit midnightterror.com or email midnightterror.info@gmail.com.

Spirits on Sproat earns Golden Chainsaw for second year in a row

For the second year in a row, Spirits on Sproat: The Gallery of the Dead has received a Golden Chainsaw Hall of Fame rating from The Horror Tourers, a group of well-traveled fans who critique home haunts and commercial Halloween attractions. We are honored to be awarded this rare and prestigious designation.

It's not too late to see the display for yourself – we're open every night now through Halloween. Thanks to The Horror Tourers for their kind commentary, which you can view below.

Spook spotlight: Meet the Bride of Chucky

Good things come in small packages, it's been said. But bad girls come in ultra-petite sizes sometimes, as is the case with the Bride of Chucky, who looks like she could fit into a diaper as easily as she could a sexy halter top. Here's what we know about her:
• Also known as: Tiffany, dollface, devil in a toddler’s dress
• Dirty little secret: She married Chucky for his money and plans to strangle him as soon as she lands a morning TV talk show deal
• Pet peeve: When Chucky forgets to put the potty chair seat down
• Favorite book: “Little Women”

Spook spotlight: Meet Vincent Price

Boris Karloff may be considered the most famous horror actor in Hollywood history, but many would argue that the crown really goes to Vincent Price, who made his bones playing creepy characters and countless fright films. Here's what we know about Mr. Price:
• Favorite TV show: “The Price is Right”
• Weapon of choice: His sharply trimmed mustache
• Often seen at: The House of Wax, The House of Usher, The House on Haunted Hill, The House of Boos
• Secret shame: Broke his pelvis while trying to moonwalk during his rap in Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”

Spook spotlight: Meet Sally

It's not easy being a mad scientist's plaything or the patchwork girlfriend to a bald-headed albino with multiple personality disorder. But Sally sallies forth and rises above the fray (and the frayed fabric, too) as the queen of Halloweentown. Here are 4 fun facts about Sally:
• Favorite song: “Rag Doll” by Aerosmith
• Secret talent: She keeps Jack Skellington in stitches
• Weapons of choice: Deadly nightshade, a needle and thread, sexy detachable gams
• Personal heroes: Raggedy Ann, Lucille Ball, the Bride of Frankenstein

Spook spotlight: Jack Skellington

He may be tall and wiry, but Jack Skellington is fat in the head with fun plans for Halloweentown. He likes to sing, dance, play Santa Claus, and spend time with Sally, among other pastimes. Jack is also known for the following:
• Aliases: The King of Halloween, Bone Daddy, baseball head
• Suffers from: Anorexia, multiple personality disorder, lazy Hollywood agents who can’t get him a movie sequel
• Little-known fact: Once sued Billy Corgan for copying his look
• Least-favorite holiday town:  Canadian Boxing Day Town

Spook spotlight: Slappy

Even a dummy knows that the most feared character in the Goosebumps series is Slappy, the pint-sized villain with a Napoleon complex who wants to make the world grovel at his feet – which is a pretty low place to be. Fascinating facts about Slappy include:
• Favorite book: “World Domination for Dummies”
• Personal heroes: Charlie McCarthy, Howdy Doody, George W. Bush
• Phobias: Termites, fireplaces, monocles, bony knees
• Little-known fact: Has scared millions of children but is afraid to ask Annabelle for a date

Spook spotlight: The Flying Monkey

They say humans descended from the apes. If that's true, where's our wings? That's a question you may want to ask the Flying Monkey, who's always ready to do the evil bidding of the Wicked Witch of the West. Want to learn more?
• Known for: Capturing Dorothy, guarding the witch’s castle, making it rain ape dookie on stupid humans below
• Hates: Organ grinders, Jane Goodall, “Shock the Monkey,” “Bedtime for Bonzo”
• Favorite food: Liquefied witch

Spook spotlight: the evil witch from Snow White

They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But after eating an apple from the Witch from Snow White, you won't need a doctor – you'll need an undertaker. She bears a basket of bad luck and a mirror full of malevolence. Steer clear and be mindful of these facts:
• Nickname: Miss October
• Weapon of choice: Toadstools, eye of Newt Gingrich
• Dirty little secret: Prefers battery-operated broomsticks
• Favorite performer: Stevie Nicks

Spook spotlight: Pennywise the clown

Bozo was America's favorite TV clown for many moons. But Pennywise, the evil sewer dweller from Stephen King's "It," snatched the top clown crown from consumer consciousness in the early 1990s and never let go. The dossier on Pennywise reads as follows:
• Nicknames: Pound foolish, balloon goon, Wonder bread, Baldy McDonald
• Voted in high school: No. 1 class clown
• Secret shame: That’s his real nose
• Little-known fact: Banana peels instantly turn black before he slips on them

Spook spotlight: Meet the Wicked Witch of the West

She's the green-skinned goddess who's made us melt since young childhood – the black-clad broomstick-riding badass who has minions of flying monkeys and Winkies at her command. She's the Wicked Witch of the West, and she won't stop until she gets those ruby slippers. Consider these facts:
• Bet you didn’t know: She likes to dunk her Munchkins in coffee
• High-tech pastime: Skyping in the sky using cloud-based messages like “Surrender Dorothy”
• Secret wish: That somebody would drop a house on those lazy, good-for-nothing flying monkeys

List of Chicagoland Halloween haunts now posted

Spirits on Sproat isn't the only Halloween-themed property worth visiting this October. Want a list of Chicago-area Halloween yard displays as well as paid haunted attractions? The 2016 list of Chicagoland Home Haunts is now ready for viewing/downloading. Click here to access it.

Spirits on Sproat ready for prime time this Saturday

Your favorite Halloween haunt, Spirits on Sproat: The Gallery of the Dead, will reopen to the public for its 13th season this Saturday, October 1, from 7-11 PM. We've got lots of new characters and surprises for you to discover, so make plans to visit this weekend, or any of our open dates in October (click here for full schedule).

Midnight Terror Haunted House moves to massive new location in Oak Lawn

Things can get messy in the Black Oak Grove butcher shop.

When it comes to fun Halloween scares, the bigger the better – which explains why Midnight Terror Haunted House in Oak Lawn has relocated to a mammoth new site for its third season. Visitors to this year’s edition of Oak Lawn’s first ever commercial haunted attraction can expect an incredible value: two all-new haunted houses for the price of one at a prime indoor location that, compared to last year, offers more than four times the space and a walk-through duration that’s approximately three times longer.

Never content to rest on his laurels or repeat himself, Midnight Terror creator/co-owner and Oak Lawn native Justin Cerniuk wasn’t satisfied with the size or expansion potential of his previous location in the village. That was the 6,000-square-foot Beatty Lumber warehouse property, which hosted the haunt in 2014 and 2015 but was razed over the summer. He and co-owners Robert Page and Maciej Kulawiak found the ideal digs in which to dig up the undead and expand Cerniuk’s ambitious nightmare vision: a former fabrics factory at 5520 W. 111th St., just 3.3 miles south of Midnight Terror’s last address and boasting 26,000 square feet.

“We hit the mother lode when we found this warehouse, which offers so much more room than our previous site,” says Cerniuk, an ex-Marine who served in Iraq and Afghanistan during combat operations there. “I’ve always dreamed of staging a really large, immersive haunted attraction. Now I can – one with a completely unique mythology, wide cast of characters, and ultra-detailed sets and props that combine to create an unforgettably frightening experience. This is going to be above and beyond any other paid haunted house you’ve ever visited.”

Meet Tool – head foreman of the Factory of Malum.

For those who dare to pass beyond Midnight Terror’s portals, here’s the inventive setup fiendishly concocted by Cerniuk and his skeleton crew: The small provincial settlement of Black Oak Grove (in reality the earliest known moniker for what eventually became the village of Oak Lawn) has become Ground Zero for a battle between the forces of good and evil. The once-thriving community has turned into a hellish landscape populated by Stalkers and FearCorps monstrosities lurking around every corner. The only path forward requires following the mark of Willow, a wraithlike female entity searching restlessly for her disappeared father, a factory owner named Sledge. Those who survive the horror of Black Oak Grove must venture through the Factory of Malum, named after the demonic overlord who has enslaved Sledge and his minions within an industrial labyrinth that manufactures your worst fears.

To make these demonic visions come to life, Cerniuk had to start from scratch. So he created a fresh and original storyline driven by an ensemble cast of creatures – each with its own personality, devilishly detailed design, and custom costume. (The story arc is detailed within Willow’s diary entries and brief webisode video segments posted at midnightterror.com.) The reinvented haunt’s mazelike walls were intricately hand-fabricated. Additionally, every nook and cranny along the maze was enhanced with elaborate props, set pieces and fright furniture. They add awe-inspiring color, texture, depth and realism to the environment and make for distinctively themed rooms, passageways and scare stations.

“The level of fine detail in the architecture, wallscapes, props, costumes and makeup, combined with our carefully timed scares and surprises, is impressive. It’s totally unlike any other haunted house,” says Cerniuk, who this year expects to well exceed the 15,000 visitors who attended Midnight Terror in 2015. “For example, we’ve created an enormous replica of an old town main street, featuring a butcher shop, school, library, jail, and mechanic shop, plus a 13-foot high waterfall.”

Highlights of the 2016 version of Midnight Terror include:
• A 30-minute walk-through (on average) across two haunted houses – Black Oak Grove and the Factory of Malum
• More than 60 rooms – double last year’s number
• Over 100 actors – at least 30 more than 2015
• Over 50 props custom made for Midnight Terror, Hollywood-style CGI effects, a cutting-edge lighting system, and a state-of-the-art sound system
• The guidance of skilled haunt industry professionals, among them veteran actor trainer/scare choreographer John Shankel, makeup manager Bonnie Bones, and scenery artist Barbie Hood
• A gift shop where Midnight Terror shirts, hoodies, hats and other apparel as well as Halloween-themed merchandise can be purchased
• Free entertainment for guests waiting in line – among them street drummers, stilt walkers and DJs.

What’s more, attendees can take advantage of valuable promotions, such as:
• $2 off each ticket when purchased online at midnightterror.com
• Half off regular admission on opening night, September 29
• $5 off regular admission on Thursdays in October if you bring an item for a military veteran (a list of acceptable items is posted at midnightterror.com)
• Ladies get $10 off on October 6
• Students with a school ID get $5 off on October 9
• Family Day on October 30 between 3 and 5 p.m., when kids age 12 and younger can walk through, free of charge, with the lights on and wave to the actors, who will be in friendly mode.

Cerniuk is also excited about off-season possibilities at the new location.

“Beginning early next year, we plan to offer laser tag in the same space as well as bookings for private parties,” he says.

Midnight Terror Haunted House is located at 5520 W. 111th St., Oak Lawn, Ill., 60453, just east of the intersection of Central Avenue and 111th Street. Tickets can be purchased online at or at the box office on site: regular admission per person is $25 at the door or $23 online; VIP admission per person, which provides faster entry without having to wait in the general admission line, is $35 at the door or $33 online. The attraction is wheelchair accessible and open, rain or shine (a covered waiting area is provided), from: 7-10 p.m. on Sept. 29, Oct. 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, and Nov. 4 and 5; and from 7-11 p.m. on Sept. 30, Oct. 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29, 30 and 31. Visitors can park for free at the Oak Lawn Metra station parking garage (located at 9525 Tulley Ave.) and take a complimentary round-trip shuttle – with costumed characters aboard to entertain passengers – to the Midnight Terror site. For more information, visit midnightterror.com or email midnightterror.info@gmail.com.

Spirits on Sproat October 2016 schedule now posted

Eager to learn exactly when Spirits on Sproat: The Gallery of the Dead is open for visitors this October? We've locked in our calendar and it's ready for viewing by clicking here.

The spirits return on Oct. 1

Your favorite Halloween house is readying for a killer comeback. Mark down Saturday, Oct. 1, 2016 on your calendar--that's the night Spirits on Sproat: The Gallery of the Dead comes back from the dead. This year, we will debut more new props than ever before and expand our dates of operation to a record 19 nights in October (weather permitting), most notably a string of 11 consecutive evenings when we'll be open (Oct. 21-31).

We now have over 50 famous monsters and horror icons from your favorite scary movies waiting to be discovered; joining our ranks for 2016 will be several newly made classic creeps as well as mini miscreants that gave you the willies as a wee little kid (hint-hint).

The Halloween season is right around the corner--can your nerves handle the fright? Make plans to visit Spirits on Sproat and find out! Check back to this site between now and October for more updates and our official schedule.

Spirits on Sproat's Svengoolie spotlighted by the real McCoy

Halloween may be long gone on the calendar, but it's still fresh on the mind of Svengoolie, TV's favorite horror host. He featured our Spirits on Sproat life-size Svengoolie figure on his program last evening during a Christmas season broadcast. Click the video below to view.