Fall is finally here! This means it’s time for pumpkins, pretty colored leaves falling, warm jackets, and hot cocoa! But it’s also a time of darkening nights with Halloween fast approaching.
As the colder autumn days approach, there will be some fun entertainment and community events going on near Rexburg to help you enjoy this time of year! This means that you don't have to stay pent up in your room just because the weather has cooled down! It’s time to go out and make the most of this time of year.
At American Avenue, we’re here to help you find the best events going on this season. We’ve compiled a list of eight fun activities you can enjoy during this fall and Halloween time! Get ready to enjoy haunted houses, corn mazes, pumpkin fields, and much more!
1. The St. Anthony Sand Dunes
Although colder winter months will be coming up in a few weeks, there are still plenty of autumn outdoor activities to enjoy before it starts snowing. Make sure you visit the St. Anthony Sand Dunes, which covers 10,600 acres of white quartz sand that is clean and changing. The sand dunes are the perfect place to be adventurous and enjoy exhilarating activities this time of year, with great campgrounds for fun outdoor activities. There are many things to do, including sandboarding, four-wheeling, camping, stargazing, and even bonfires, which makes them an ideal location for building beautiful memorable experiences. This is a terrific place to hang out with a group of friends and have a good time this fall.
Time: Open seasonally from April to October. From January 1st through sunrise on May 1st, most of the dunes are closed during the winter for wildlife migration.
Price: $5 per vehicle/per day/$60 season pass
Visit https://www.blm.gov/visit/st-anthony-sand-dunes to find out more
2. U-Pick Red Barn
U-Pick Red Barn is a fun pumpkin patch you can visit this season and it’s also a popular place to go pumpkin picking ahead of Halloween amongst locals! If you want to pick your own pumpkins and have fun in a beautiful old barn, this is the place!
Here's an interesting fact! The barn was established in the 1930s! As little boys, McNeil Walker and Chase Walker started their own pumpkin patch across from the zoo at Tautphaus Park in Idaho Falls. Chase and McNeil then decided to cultivate pumpkins and let tourists pick them. The name U-Pick Red Barn was inspired by the charming red barn and the idea of allowing residents to pick their own pumpkins. The old barn makes for the perfect outing for a fall get-together or outing with friends or family.
Time: Open Monday-Friday from 9:30a.m.-8:00p.m. or Saturdays from 9:00am-8:00pm. Closed Sundays.
Price: If you’re only visiting to pick pumpkins, entrance is free!
Visit https://idahofallspumpkinpatch.com/ to find out more
3. Lava Hot Springs Hot Pools
Although for some it may be too cold for outdoor swimming in autumn, there is always the option to enjoy some warm hot springs! Why not treat yourself or your friends to a relaxing day of unwinding in natural underground springs at Lava Hot Springs while you take in the gorgeous scenery?
These hot springs were founded in 2017 to provide much-needed rest and relaxation to tired travelers. The admission fee is inexpensive and includes access to multiple hot pools. Temperatures range from 102F to 110F. The springs are some of the most popular hot springs in eastern Idaho, ideal for a weekend getaway with a couple of pals.
Time: Monday-Thursday from 9a.m.-10p.m and Fridays & Sundays from 9a.m.-11p.m.
Price: Adults: $11.50 on Monday-Thursday. $14 on Friday-Sunday.
Visit https://www.rexburgonline.com/things-to-do/lava-hot-springs/ to find out more
4. Planet Doom
Are you willing to be frightened for a good cause? We have just the thing for you. Planet Doom is the largest haunted attraction in Eastern Idaho. One of the best aspects of this seasonal attraction is that it raises funds for the Bonneville County D.A.R.E. program. Volunteers offer their time, skills, and resources to the haunt.
This one is not for the faint-hearted though. Throughout the attraction, visitors will explore different rooms, each one well thought out and designed to induce terror into the hearts of every guest. The special effects and pneumatics are superb, and the actors are pretty great too. The haunt takes roughly 45 minutes to complete, not including the indoor queue line/stage area.
Note: To select your date/time slot, you must purchase tickets online in advance.
Time: Every Monday-Friday from 7p.m-10p.m. and Saturday-Sunday from 7p.m-11p.m
Price: General admission for $15 or a Fastpass for $20
Visit https://planetdoomhaunt.com/home to find out more
5. Wild Adventure Corn Maze
Want to enjoy a corn maze in a gorgeous, well-maintained field for a small fee this season? Of course you do! The Wild Adventure Corn Maze is so much more than a maze though. It's acres of entertainment that will help you create memories that will last a lifetime.
Don’t miss out on this one. The adventure is only seven weeks long, so get your tickets before it’s too late!
Time: Every Monday-Thursday 5pm-9pm and Friday-Saturday 12p.m.-11p.m.
Price: $15 for General admission or $8 for Group admission (Must purchase 15+ tickets)
Visit https://wildadventurecornmaze.com/ to find out more
6. The Rexburg Straw Maze & Haunted Forest
If you’re looking for a fun and challenging adventure on the ground, you will love this one. Since its launch in 2007, the Rexburg Straw Maze has been a community staple. The Rexburg Haunted Forest is the scariest area in the Teton region and the best Halloween haunted house with activities that incorporate themes related to everything this spooky season has to offer!
The Straw Maze is made of over 1000 straw bales and is a one-of-a-kind Halloween experience that is more difficult than Corn Mazes and scarier than a haunted house. Nothing can beat the Haunted Straw Maze and Forest for chills and thrills, where you will be surrounded by scary crawlers and frightening monsters, they scream from the high trees and hide in the forests of Rexburg. Buy your tickets to visit The Haunted Straw maze this season with your friends or roommates and get ready for a terrifying night!
Time: Friday & Saturday from 7 p.m. (dark) until midnight.
Price: General admission for $15 or get a Season Pass for $75 for unlimited admittance to the Straw Maze, The Haunted Forest & The Haunted Maze.
Visit https://strawmaze.com/ to find out more
7. The Haunted Mill
The Haunted Mill was opened to the public in 1997, and it has been terrifying friends and family ever since. It's an old flour mill that can be explored every Halloween and is packed with all kinds of monsters and Halloween décor to keep tourists on their toes all night!
Dennis Briggs, the founder of The Haunted Mill, worked for several years to develop a plan to transform this old flour mill into a haunted house for all to enjoy. The haunted mill is impressively and elaborately designed and does a fantastic job incorporating a little bit of everything to bring the great Halloween spirit to Idaho.
Time: Every Thursday-Saturday night from 7:30p.m.-12a.m.
Price: $15 for General admission or $25 for a fast pass
Visit https://www.thehauntedmillinteton.com/ to find out more
8. Lost Souls Attractions /The Virginia Theater:
Have you been to the Virginia Theatre? The theatre was built 100 years ago by a fan of picture films, but its old age is not all that makes this theater creepy. There have been reports of dark shadows, a tiny child dressed in white, a tall man with a beard, and an elderly lady seated in an auditorium chair. People have reported some ghost sightings too. How creepy is that?
Andrew and his wife, Camilla Christensen, develop, build, and operate "The Theater" and "The Hospital" every year for local residents. Their enthusiasm, efforts, and originality ensure that visitors will enjoy a real Halloween experience. If you're looking for an intense, frightening, and thrilling event to do this Halloween, this is where you'll want to go. So buy your tickets now and get ready for a fun night with friends and a spooky evening you’ll always remember!
Time: Mon-Thurs: 7 p.m.-9:30 p.m. or Friday-Saturday: 7 p.m.-11:30p.m.
Price: $10 for General Admission
Visit https://www.lostsoulsattractions.com/ to find out more
We’ve reached the end of our list!
Whether you want to enjoy the lovely and serene ambiance of fall in a barn or the frightening visual themes of Halloween in a haunted house, this time of year has all kinds of activities and there is something for everyone to enjoy here.
We wish you very spooky times and lots of fun this fall!