Reminder: We need you to post videos of your Spirits on Sproat visit

If you plan to visit Spirits on Sproat soon, or have recently stopped by our haunt, we encourage you to take videos recorded during your visit and upload them to your favorite social media platform. So far, only two people have uploaded videos of their visit, and we could use a lot more to share with our followers and friends.

To make things simpler for you, we're now easing the rules of our Facebook video contest, which awards 2 VIP tickets to Midnight Terror Haunted House in Oak Lawn. Henceforth, our contest is no longer limited to Facebook video postings. You can submit your Spirits on Sproat videos to other popular social media platforms, including Tik-Tok, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. We simply ask you to tag your video using the hashtag #spiritsonsproat, which allows us to more easily find your posted videos. We're also extending our video posting deadline to October 28, 2021. We will review all videos posted through that date using the #spiritsonsproat hashtag, pick the best one, notify the winner, and give them 2 VIP Midnight Terror tickets (a $90 value).

Please post your recorded videos on your favorite social media platform soon so that you meet the contest deadline. Good luck, and happy Halloween season!

Meet Phantasm Phil

You don't stand a ghost of a chance against Phantasm Phil. That's because he's committed to haunting over the long-haul and has a seemingly unlimited supply of ectoplasm. Call Ghostbusters if you want, but they're unlikely to corral this transparent terror. Eager to learn more? Read on.

• Secret shame: Was once spooked by Casper
• Personal heroes: Lord of the Nazgul, the Dementors, Rudy Giuliani
• Voted in high school: Best school spirit, most likely to disappear after graduation

Meet The Jester

Some people call him the space cowboy. Some call him the gangster of love. Others simply call him The Jester, and he's bursting at the seams with grating quips and nefarious clownishness. Here's the 411 on this cartoonish character:

• Nickname: Two-face
• Little-known fact: Once sued the Joker for copyright infringement
• Famous for: Failing to make 15 consecutive kings laugh even once Weapons of choice: Bad puns, rotten rhymes, irritating voice

Meet Corpse Bride

Some people would practically kill to get hitched. Others would die of embarrassment if no one showed up to their wedding. And then there are unfortunate matrimonial wannabes like Corpse Bride, who plans to spend a honeymoon in Hades, minus her beau, who prefers a spouse with a marriage certificate, not a death certificate. Want to know more about Corpse Bride? Consider the following:

• Dirty little secret: Jilted at the altar by five fiancés in a row
• Nickname: Queen goth
• Archenemy: Divorce lawyers everywhere
• Sick of the preacher saying: Till death do you part

Meet Jack 'n the Box

Life is full of surprises, and the same is true of Jack ’n the Box, who likes to pop up on his victims, young and old. You can put a spring in his step by listening to his maniacal laughter. Want to know more about our newest clown? Read on:

• Favorite pastime: Reading children’s pop-up books
• Favorite season: Spring time
• Secret shame: Fired on The Apprentice for having hands much larger than Donald Trump
• Notorious for: Trying to eat Rudolph on the Island of Misfit Toys

Meet Crouchy the clown

When you're 10 feet tall, chances are you're going to have to bend down a bit to effectively scare mere mortals. Such is true of Crouchy the clown, who delights in mortifying visitors at Spirits on Sproat with his hip-swiveling monster motion. More fun facts about Crouchy: 

• Alias: The 10-foot terror
• Favorite song: Chubby Checker’s The Twist
• Known for: His killer smile and swiveling hips
• Little-known fact: Can contort a child into a balloon animal in under five seconds

Meet Slithers

Vermin don't come more king-size than Slithers, a cobra with a whopper of a bite and a mesmerizingly glowing pair of peepers. Here are more fascinating facts about this supersized serpent:

• Alias: Fang face, snake charmer
• Favorite TV show: Cobra Kai
• Personal heroes: Kaa, Medusa, Nagini, Snake Plissken, Roger Stone
• Archenemies: St. Patrick, the mongoose, antivenom, Joe Exotic (the Tiger King)

Enter the 2021 Spirits on Sproat Facebook video contest

Here's another great reason to visit Spirits on Sproat this year: You can win two VIP admission tickets to Midnight Terror Haunted House in Oak Lawn--a $90 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 2021 visit to Spirits on Sproat. 
2. Post it to our Facebook page (at fb.com/spiritsonsproat) by October 24. (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 26 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 this October, please.
• We will contact the chosen winner privately via Facebook around 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!

Meet Rockin' Granny

Ever get nostalgic about being a wee one and being coddled to sleep by grandma singing a lullabye? One look at Rockin' Granny will usurp that recollection and leave your skin crawling. Here's the lowdown on Rockin' Granny:

• Babysitting fee: four crow feathers, two eyes of newt, one mortgaged soul
• Secret shame: Put a hex on Simon Cowell after a failed American Idol audition in 2008
• Favorite bedtime story to read: The Babadook

Meet Beatrix and Blair

Men dream about a double date with beautiful twin sisters. But that would quickly turn into a nightmare if Beatrix and Blair were your dates for the evening. Instead of taking them out to dinner, you'd more likely end up as an ingredient in their witchy brew. Let's review what we know about this gruesome twosome:

• Catchphrase: Double double toil and trouble fire burn and cauldron bubble
• Personal heroes: Patty and Selma from The Simpsons
• Favorite haunts: QAnon conventions, Starbucks open mic night
• Dirty little secret: Refuse to admit that the Botox injections aren’t working

Meet Count Morlok

Not all vampires are planted firmly on terra firma. Some are vertically challenged, like Count Morlok, who loves hanging around our haunt in an offbeat way. Here's what we know about this bloodsucker:

• Favorite pastime: Hanging upside down and inquiring about your blood type
• Often mistaken for: A hairless chinchilla with bat wings
• Famous catchphrase: The whole world’s gone topsy-turvy
• Secret shame: Married a morning person named Dawn

Spirits on Sproat 2021 edition a big hit so far

Thanks for the awesome turnout this weekend to kick off our 2021 Spirits on Sproat season. So far, the feedback has been outstanding. Glad so many of you like all the new spooky animatronics and figures on display.

If you've not yet made it out, make plans to visit this coming weekend and experience our bigger/better haunt in person!

It's alive (almost)! Spirits on Sproat opens Friday

Halloween is right around the corner – and so is the start of our Spirits on Sproat schedule. Just a reminder that we officially open in two days, on Friday, October 1, from  7-11 p.m. For our full schedule, click here.

Michael Myers hopes to see you and your family this season. Please remember to bring and use a facemask during your visit, which we may require if COVID numbers increase.

Happy Halloween season everyone!

Midnight Terror Haunted House in Oak Lawn expands dates, rooms, actors, and props in 2021

In 2020, Midnight Terror Haunted House in Oak Lawn proved that a commercial haunted attraction could operate safely and successfully, despite the pandemic—and without compromising on scares. Fans rewarded that commitment to quality by coming out in droves and selling out most dates on the calendar, with no resulting cases of coronavirus reported.

This year, Midnight Terror plans to up the fright factor by going bigger and better than ever for its seventh consecutive season. It will nearly double the number of days on its schedule from last year, operating across a record 22 dates beginning Sept. 24 and ending Oct. 31. Additionally, Chicagoland’s favorite Halloween destination will add more actors, animatronic props, rooms, and special effects to its labyrinth layout, which boasts two connecting haunts under its roof, each with a different theme but both included with a paid ticket.

Visitors will also enjoy covered outdoor and indoor waiting as well as entertainment provided by a DJ, photo opportunities before entering and departing, and online ticket discounts during the first three weeks of operation. And unlike last year, a limited number of same-day on-site tickets will be available to walk-up patrons, while supplies last.

“We’ve improved how our costumed characters interact with the audience by building in more jump scares and surprises, too,” says haunt creator/co-owner Justin Cerniuk. “We’ve redesigned many rooms to evoke a different emotion or reaction, such as claustrophobia, fear of bugs, and smells that trigger terror. Our fan-favorite chainsaw alley that concludes the experience has been reimagined, as well.”

Perhaps most significantly, one of Midnight Terror’s two haunt themes has been updated. Formerly known as Black Oak Grove, it’s now known as Willow’s Nightmare, adding a new chapter to the continuing terrifying narrative of Willow, a wraithlike female haunted and possessed by evil beings. The other haunt, Factory of Malum, is 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.

If you miss out on any of the fun in September and October, you can try to claim tickets to Midnight Terror’s popular annual Clown Takeover dates, Nov. 5 and 6, when the haunt is completely populated by evil circus dwellers (tickets start at $28).

To cater to families and the easily frightened, Midnight Terror will conduct daytime scenic tours from 1 to 3 p.m. on Oct. 30 and 31 for a reduced price ($20 per ticket). This allows groups of all ages to walk through the haunt with the lights and special effects on. On these dates, children are encouraged to arrive wearing Halloween costumes but must be accompanied by an adult.

Midnight Terror has been voted a top 10 haunted attraction in the entire country by readers of USA Today, rated as a 2020 top 10 haunt by TheScareFactor.com, declared the number one haunted house in all of Illinois by Fox 32 Chicago, and highly recommended by Thrillist, NBC, the Chicago Tribune, Patch.com, Haunted House Chicago, Illinois Haunted Houses, and others.

Cerniuk says his haunt will carefully follow updated coronavirus safety protocols and guidelines issued by local and state authorities. Check

Midnight Terror’s posted COVID-19 policies for the latest updates and details on precautions being taken.

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 starts at $28 online and $30 at the onsite ticket booth; VIP admission per person, which provides faster entry without having to wait in the general admission line, is $45. Or you can purchase immediate admission ($60 per person), which guarantees instant entry into the haunt.

Visitors can park for free on-site. The attraction is wheelchair accessible and open, rain or shine, from:
7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Sept. 24 and 25, Oct. 1, 2, 8, 9, and 31
7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sept. 26, and Oct. 3, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24, 27, and 28, and Nov. 5 and 6
7 p.m. to midnight Oct. 15, 16, 22, 23, 29, and 30

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

Spirits on Sproat Halloween display returns in one month

Eager for some good news in 2021? Perk up, Halloween fans: Your favorite Halloween house will reopen for a new season in only one month, on Friday, Oct. 1.

For Spirits on Sproat's 18th season, we've decided to focus mostly on monstrous animatronics--you know, the kind that move, talk, growl, howl, laugh maniacally, and give you nightmares. Check out several new animated figures we're adding this year, which will bring our total number of props to nearly 100 (!). And while you're here, don't forget to be on the lookout for Michael Myers and Jason Vorhees creeping around.

Our 2021 schedule, which can be viewed here, calls for us to be open 19 days in October (weather permitting). Take time out next month--and a few minutes away from possible White Sox playoff games (go Sox!)--to come visit our expanded display (featured twice on Svengoolie's TV show), which is shaping up to be our biggest and best ever.

Please bring a mask, just in case. Depending on the COVID numbers at the time, and local rules/guidelines, we may require all Spirits on Sproat visitors to wear a mask to prevent spread of the coronavirus, as we did last year. (Thanks for being such good sports about that in 2020.)

It's time to get your Halloween on! See you next month...

Our thanks for a great Halloween season--and here's our official 2020 video

Well, the 2020 Halloween season at Spirits on Sproat is now in the books. And what a great October it was--despite the lingering coronavirus and some downright frigid weather for autumn. 

We want to thank you for coming out (in record numbers!) and supporting our haunt. We also appreciate how respectful everyone was about wearing masks and socially distancing during your visit.

We're already gearing up for another great season in 2021 (Halloween is only 364 days away, after all). Please stay safe and healthy. And whenever you're feeling blue, remember how much fun you and yours had this October at Spirits on Sproat!

As a fond farewell, enjoy our official 2020 video below, which serves as a greatest hits of sorts from the past month.
 

And then there were three...

 Only 3 days remain in which to visit Spirits on Sproat. We'll be open 7-10 p.m. on Oct. 29, then from 7-11 p.m. on October 30 and 31. Don't miss your chance to say goodbye to Michael and Jason before Halloween season 2020 ends!

Spirits on Sproat now open every night through Halloween

 Reminder: Spirits on Sproat is now open every night through Halloween: Monday through Thursday from 7-10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday (Halloween) from 7-11 p.m. Come on out and celebrate Halloween week in scary style!

Reminder: Our Facebook video contest deadline for submissions is Oct. 26

Time is running out to submit videos of your 2020 visit to Spirits on Sproat. The deadline for you to post your videos to our Facebook page is 11:59 p.m., Monday, October 26. We'll judge all the submitted videos, and the winner we pick will win 2 free VIP tickets to Midnight Terror Haunted House. 

So don't forget to post those videos (and your photos, too)!

For full details, click here.

Spirits on Sproat featured in Chicago Tribune article

Your favorite Halloween display is one of several Chicagoland yard haunts featured in a new article published by the Chicago Tribune this week, available here. Check it out! 

Meet Tarman

Being covered in black goo is a fate worse than death. Just ask Tarman, our ebony-slimed new denizen among the undead at Spirits on Sproat. Curious to learn more about this creepy corpse? Read on.

• Famous for: His appearance in Return of the Living Dead
• Favorite food: Cerebral cortex smothered in onions and Grey Poupon
• Favorite songs: Melt With You, Radioactive, If I Only Had a Brain Dirty little secret: Hasn’t had a shower in 43 years

Meet Hornswaggle Pete

The high seas aren't the only place where you're bound to run into a scalawag of a pirate. Trek over to Spirits on Sproat and say hello to Hornswaggle Pete, who is chock-full of witticisms and treasures of trash talk. Here's what we know about this boneheaded character:

• Also known as: Captain Crook, Patchface, the shiftiest pirate ghost west of the Caspian Sea
• Hates: When people ask him to say “Shiver me timbers”
• Nickname for his wooden leg: Mr. Stiffy
• Voted in high school: Most likely to find buried treasure in a garbage dump

Enter the Spirits on Sproat 2020 Facebook video contest and win admission to Midnight Terror

Here's another great reason to visit Spirits on Sproat: you can win two VIP admission vouchers to Midnight Terror Haunted House in Oak Lawn--an $80 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 2020 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 VIP admission vouchers. The winner can pick up from Michael Myers or Jason Vorhees (the ones walking around at Spirits on Sproat) between October 27 and Halloween night. Note that the vouchers can be used on Oct. 28, 29, 30, or 31.

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, 2020, please.
• We will contact the chosen winner privately via Facebook on October 27, 2020, to arrange pickup of the tickets. Prepare to show a valid ID when you pick up the tickets.

Good luck, and happy Halloween season!

Get your Spirits on Sproat poster before they're all gone

Last year, we quickly sold out of our limited run of Spirits on Sproat T-shirts (sorry, no more available until perhaps next year). But after many requests, we've created a new batch of SOS merch: a limited supply of brand-new Spirits on Sproat posters available for sale to our haunt visitors.

These 22" x 28" semi-glossy full-color posters, suitable for framing, feature many of the popular horror icons and characters you know and love from our display. Each poster is only $15, but we only have a handful left. So next time you visit Spirits on Sproat (click here for our dates/times of operation), ask Michael Myers or Jason if you can purchase one of these collectibles.

Take a gander at what this eye-popping poster looks like, below

Meet the Grady twins

They say trouble comes in twos. And that's certainly true with these twin terrors, the Grady sisters, who haunt The Overlook Hotel and the thoughts of Danny Torrence. You don't need "the shining" to be able to view these twins. Simply visit Spirits on Sproat. But beware of the following facts:

• Known for: Haunting the Overlook Hotel
• Shameful secret: Daddy always gets mad when they ax a question
• Pet peeve: Danny Torrence never shows up for playdates
• Favorite limerick: “There was an old woman who lived in room 237…”

Meet Clavicle

It's hard to look up to a skeleton. After all, he doesn't even have any flesh on the bones. But if you visit Spirits on Sproat, you'll definitely have to look up to our skeleton Clavicle – that's because he's about 15 feet high. Here's the dossier on Clavicle:

• Also known as: The biggest friggin’ skeleton ever
• Catch-phrase: “I’ve got a bone to pick with you”
• Dirty little secret: Likes to walk around with no clothes on
• Tired of hearing his mom say: “You’ve got to put some meat on those bones”

Spirits on Sproat opens tonight

The big day is finally here – Spirits on Sproat officially opens our 2020 season tonight, from 7 PM to 11 PM. Stop by our front and back yard haunt and get in that Halloween mood.

Just be sure to remember to wear a mask or face covering and practice 6 feet of social distancing during your visit.

Prepare to wear a mask and socially distance when you visit Spirits on Sproat this year

Heads up, fans of Spirits on Sproat. You'll be required to wear either a facemask, Halloween mask, or both (so long as your nose and mouth are covered) if you plan to visit our yard display this season. Please do not forget to bring one of these with you for each person in your group.

We also expect you to appropriately social distance while on our property (meaning maintain 6 feet of separation between you and people not in your group). Additionally, we are not allowed to have more than 50 visitors at one time in our backyard or front yard; if too many people start congregating in either the front or back yard, we may ask you to disperse, wait out front, or come back at another time.

We don't want anyone getting sick or taking unnecessary risks while visiting Spirits on Sproat this year. We also don't want local authorities to shut us down because a few people didn't want to play by the rules. So please be prepared to follow these rules, which we are required to comply with by the state of Illinois and the village of Oak Lawn. Thanks to all for your cooperation, patience, and understanding. Let's make it a fun, safe, and healthy Halloween season!

PS – Don't forget that we officially open on October 2. You can view our full schedule here.

Your favorite Halloween house returns October 2

Great news, Halloween fans – Spirits on Sproat plans to return in less than four weeks! We officially open on October 2 and will have several new props and figures on display this year. For the full 2020 schedule, click here.

Note, however, that we've instituted rules to protect against the coronavirus:

• Any visitors to our home haunt will be required to wear a face mask or Halloween mask (or both, so long as your mouth and nose are covered). 
• We can also only allow crowds no larger than 50 people. 
• Please maintain social distancing of at least 6 feet away from other visitors, too. 
• Be aware that our dates and times of operation this year are subject to change due to the pandemic (if, for example, the state of Illinois rolls back to phase 3, we may be forced to close the backyard portion of our haunt). Check our website and Facebook page for the latest updates to the schedule.

Wrapping up a monster season

Thanks to everyone who came out and visited Spirits on Sproat this year. We battled cold temps, snow, rain and wind, but we managed to remain open every date of our 2019 calendar.

Enjoy the offseason and the upcoming holidays, but make your plans to return to our haunt next fall. Michael Myers will be waiting for you!

Plan your Spirits on Sproat final visit around the weather

The weather forecast is calling for a lot of rain, snow, and cold temperatures between Wednesday and Thursday. We hope that won't keep you from visiting our haunt over its final 4 days. The good news is that Spirits on Sproat will remain open as scheduled Oct. 29 through Nov. 1, no matter the weather.

If you have concerns about not being able to visit on a night of inclement weather, try coming out Tuesday night (tonight) and/or Friday night (our last open night), when the forecast calls for dry conditions.

Hope to see you one last time at Spirits on Sproat this season!

Spirits on Sproat 2019 official video

Carl Batzel getting a congratulatory handshake from Michael Myers

Check out the official Spirits on Sproat 2019 video below, shot, edited and uploaded by visitor/fan Carl Batzel, who won this year's SOS Facebook Video Award!

And make your plans to come out and visit Spirits on Sproat before Halloween season is over; remember, we're open every night through Nov. 1 (7-10 p.m. Oct. 27-30, 7-11 p.m. Oct. 31 and Nov. 1).

Reminder: Post your Spirits on Sproat video before Sunday

Last call: If you want to win 2 Midnight Terror Haunted House tickets, you'll need to post to our Facebook page any video you took of your 2019 visit to Midnight Terror by Saturday night, Oct. 26.

The winner will be chosen and contacted by Oct. 27. Full details on what you need to do can be found here.

Spirits on Sproat now open every night through Nov. 1

Beginning tonight, Spirits on Sproat will be open every night through November 1. That adds up to 14 nights of Halloween fun left!

Here are our hours for the remainder of our schedule:

• Oct. 18, 19, 25, 26, and 31, and Nov 1 (Friday, Saturdays and Halloween): 7-11 p.m.
• Oct. 20, 21, 23, 24, 27, 28, 29, and 30 (Sundays and weeknights): 7-10 p.m.
• Reminder: Yes, this year we ARE open Friday, Nov. 1 (7-11 p.m.) for a one-time-only encore date.

Meet Samara

Some girls are born TV stars. Others are just simply born out of the TV--literally. That pretty much sizes up Samara, the antidote to our short-attention-span viewing society. Don't touch that dial; stick around to learn more about this small screen scream queen:

• Famous for: Emerging from a TV screen in “The Ring”; being the fastest-eliminated contestant on “The Bachelor”
• Pet peeve: Hearing dumb bystanders say “wow—I don’t even need 3-D glasses anymore!”
• Sick of hearing her mom say: “If you sit too close to the people, you’ll ruin your eyesight.”

Meet Fluffy the Crate Monster

What's better than a Jack-in-the-box? How about a monster-in-the-box with daggers for teeth and deadly claws waiting to pull you into his cozy little wooden confines? Introducing Fluffy, the unforgettable apelike werewolf-thing from the movie "Creepshow." Here's what we know about this nightmarish beast:

• Aliases: the Creepshow critter, beast in a box, the hateful freight
• Favorite song: Pop Goes the Weasel
• Dirty little secret: Suffers from severe claustrophobia
• Little-known fact: He qualifies for Amazon Prime 2-day shipping

Enter the Spirits on Sproat 2019 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 2019 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, 2019, please.
• We will contact the chosen winner privately via Facebook on October 27-28, 2019, 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 Slimer

He's been called the green ghost. But everyone else knows him as Slimer, the hungry ectoplasmic entity from "Ghostbusters." Here's the breakdown on this boo buddy:

• Secret shame: Was the first entity successfully captured by the Ghostbusters 
• Suffers from: Nocturnal ectoplasm emissions
• Sick of his mother telling him: Clean that plate, young man
• Pet peeve: Being called a giant snot rocket

Meet Babyface

No, it's not the famous R&B singer. It's the chubby-cheeked homicidal maniac from the "Happy Death Day" movies, and he (or is it she?) is dying to give you the late birthday gift you've been dying for--your very own slit throat! Want to learn more about this very human monster? Read on...

• Also known as: Gerber baby food’s new mascot
• Little-known fact: Can fling a soiled diaper with deadly accuracy
• Turn-ons: Spankings, baby talk, and public breastfeeding 
• Secret shame: Can buy a Bowie knife at Walmart but gets carded at every liquor store

Meet Sam

They say big things come in small packages. That's certainly true of Sam, the wee wonder who enjoys suckers (and making suckers out of anyone who breaks the rules of Halloween). A quick look at the confidential file on this little monster reveals some interesting facts:

• Known as: Samhain, the tiny terror featured in the film “Trick ’r Treat”
• Claim to fame: Devours Halloween candy in record time despite wearing a bag on his head
• Often mistaken for: An escaped convict midget (it must be the orange jumpsuit)
• Weapon of choice: A needle and thread, which comes in handy when his head splits open

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.