FRIGHT AT THE (CITY) MUSEUM OCTOBER EVENTS SCARE UP FUN

St. Louis — Its time for Fright at the Museum, City Museum’s fearfully fun Halloween season events now through October 29, 2023.

Step into a world of spine-tingling wonder at this one-of-a-kind event: Fright at the Museum will amaze, mystify, and thoroughly entertain as guests embark on a journey through a realm of oddities and curiosities that will leave them both thrilled and captivated.

ENTERTAINMENT

Heart-pounding performances will push the boundaries of possibility. Visitors will witness the breathtaking artistry of contortionists as they twist their bodies into unimaginable shapes, blurring the lines between human capability and artistic expression. A mesmerizing display of fire manipulation will leave audiences spellbound as a skilled performer dances with flames in a symphony of light and heat.

Entertainment features: Theater of the Oddities, Doc Terminus’ Odditorium and

Mythical Shift: A Howling Transformation.

EXHIBITS

Special exhibits throughout the museum provide an immersive experience like never before. Dare to venture into the unknown and explore carefully curated exhibits of the bizarre, the enigmatic, and the extraordinary. From artifacts that defy explanation to peculiar specimens that challenge the limits of imagination, Fright at the Museum promises an unforgettable encounter with the unconventional. These special exhibits feature:

Skeleton’s Ball

Mingo Monster Mash

Cemetery Secrets

Insectarium

Web Town

Unfaithful Friends Cemetary

Portrait Passage: Faces of Terror

Lights, Camera, No Action: A Mouse Taxidermy Display

MURDER MYSTERY DINNERS

Dinner Detectives will host murder mystery diners on select Fridays during the season. Guests will solve a hilarious mystery while feasting on a fantastic dinner. Just beware! The culprit is hiding in plain sight somewhere in the room, and guests may find themselves as a Prime Suspect before they know it!

Diners will become sleuths, setting their metaphorical magnifying glasses to the trail of a calculated mystery committed by someone in the room. But beware, as one of the guests will meet an unexpected demise. The creative team will set the stage for an exciting evening of crime investigation, where everyone is a suspect and anyone can be the killer.

Each ticket includes an award-winning murder mystery dinner theatre show, along with buffet style dining, waitstaff gratuity and plenty of surprises in the historic Vault Room.

Dates: Fridays 10/6, 10/27, 11/3 and Saturday 11/18 from 6 to 9 p.m. Tickets includes general admission to the Museum on the day of the event.

FEARSOME FOOD & DRINK

Vampire Bar

Guests can step into the shadows and immerse themselves in the allure of the night where darkness and decadence intertwine. In the Vampire Bar, they can indulge in the mystique of vampire lore in a realm of intoxicating ambiance and tantalizing flavors. Unearth the extraordinary with City Museum’s signature blood bag cocktails, meticulously crafted to satiate the senses. Sip on rich, crimson elixirs that transport celebrants to a world where mortals and immortals coexist.

Coven & Cauldron

Magic, mystery, and a dash of the macabre come to life at Coven & Cauldron – the ultimate witches’ pub experience. From enchanting concoctions to brews, this is where the supernatural and the extraordinary converge. Step into this dimly lit pub and embrace the mystic energy for everyone from curious mortals or a practicing witches.

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW

Grab Your Garters — It’s time for The Rocky Horror Picture Show, October 21 , 7 to 11 p.m.. This spooky season, join Flustered Mustard for an evening screening and shadow cast performance of the world’s favorite interactive movie. The longest-running midnight movie of all time stars Tim Curry as the kinky yet endearing “transsexual from Transylvania,” Dr. Frank N. Furter and

Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick as his hapless guests. The show will take place on the Rooftop, under the dome. Drinks and food will be available for purchase. Doors open at 7 p.m. Seating is available on a first-come first-served basis and guests can bring their own chairs. The event is 18+ and member passes are not accepted at this event. Ticket includes admission to City Museum, access to the Rocky Horror event and a prop bag for extra fun during the screening.

ABOUT CITY MUSEUM

Explore the unexpected. City Museum is a 100-year-old warehouse in downtown St. Louis in which artists have repurposed the pieces of old cities to build miles of tunnels, slides, climbers, bridges, and castles. There are secret passages and grand galleries. Playgrounds and ball pits. A circus and a train. A rooftop school bus and a Ferris wheel. City Museum is an ever-evolving, always-thrilling, artist-built playground.

WHEN YOU VISIT

City Museum is located at 750 N. 16th St., St. Louis, MO 63103. City Museum is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays during October except for Monday, October 9, Indigenous Peoples Day. The attraction is open at 10 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. CIty Museum stays open until 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays during October.

www.citymuseum.org; 314-231-2489; @citymuseum

HAUNTED GARAGE HORROR FESTIVAL OCTOBER 5-7 AT THE HI-POINTE THEATRE

ST. LOUIS, MO / August 24, 2023 – Shift Films and the Haunted Garage Podcast are back with their 3rd Annual Haunted Garage Horror Festival taking place October 5-7 at the historic Hi-Pointe Theatre, located at 1005 McCausland Avenue in St. Louis.

Tickets range from $10 Pit Stop Passes for specific events to an all-access weekend pass for $100. Find ticket details and prices at FilmFreeway or at the Hi-Pointe box office.

The event kicks off Thursday, October 5 with a horror-themed cocktail meet-and-greet with festival guests and a classic car Trunk-or-Treat event for families benefitting Stray Rescue of St. Louis.

Producers and festival creators Franki Cambeletta, Jeremy King, Travis Brown and Lily Schenck are excited to bring both local and national filmmakers together in the third year of the acclaimed Haunted Garage Horror Festival. “We are excited to work with the Hi-Pointe Theatre this year on bringing a world-class horror fest to St. Louis,” says Cambeletta. “We will be awarding Golden Piston Awards for categories such as Best Short, Best Feature Film, Best of Fest, Best Student Film, Best Cinematography, Best Screenplay and the Film with Most Grit.” 

In addition to the horror micro-shorts, shorts, and features, horror experts in the field will participate in “Dead Talks” over the three-day festival such as Professor Athena Aktipis, founder of Zombie Media; last year’s “Best of Fest” winners Aaron Irons and Josh Croft; and Director Patrick Rea will talk about how to get your film distributed. Dr. Coltan Scrivner, a leading expert on the psychology of horror and morbid curiosity, will also present over the weekend with more guests to be announced.

For more information and a full itinerary and film schedule, visit www.hauntedgaragehorrorfest.com.  

SELFIE EXPRESS OPENS AT ST. LOUIS UNION STATION

WHAT: It’s opening week for the newest attraction at St. Louis Union Station, St. Louis’ family entertainment destination. Called Selfie Express, this is an interactive train-themed selfie experience filled with photo illusions.

The new attraction is train themed to honor the historic 1894 terminal at Union Station, once the biggest and busiest in the nation with 32 tracks serving 22 railroads. Visitors should bring their phones or cameras to capture all the fun. This walk-through experience may delight, amuse or go right off the rails.

WHERE: Located indoors at St. Louis Union Station, 201 S. 18th Street. St. Louis, MO 63103, Selfie Express is on the first floor near the St. Louis Aquarium entrance. Parking is available in the south lot, entered from 18th Street at Poplar Street.

HOW: How does this work? Guests enter an old-fashioned train ticket lobby and move into the first of a series of 11 rooms filled with sets designed to create illusions in selfies and other cell phone/camera pictures.

Rooms range from a mirrored infinity view with flashing rail crossing lights to a train caboose that turns passengers into giant and small figures. Another scene transports visitors from real-life color to old-time black and white. A train dining car’s guests appear to hang flipped upside down from their seats.

Visitors can run from an oncoming train engine over a rickety trompe l’oeil painted bridge. Scenes filled with giant passenger luggage, optically fascinating clocks and even the Gateway Arch are part of the experience. Visitors can leave their shadows on the wall in one of the sets and make cute rainbow-colored shadow figures in another. Railroad fans will enjoy a room filled with model train engines and cars.

DETAILS: Admission to Selfie Express is $10. Tickets may be purchased in money-saving combinations with admission to the Aquarium, St. Louis Wheel, Carousel, Mirror Maze, Mini Golf, and the St. Louis Ropes Course for a full day of fun at Union Station’s attractions.

Selfie Express is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Sundays through Thursdays, and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

CONTACT: For tickets or more information, visit www.stlouisunionstation.com. On social media @unionstationstl (Instagram) or /unionstationstl (Facebook).

Explore St. Louis Summer Fun!

Welcome to St. Louis! If you’re here for the summer you might as well enjoy the humidity and find something cool to do. Living here all of my life I find that there are still things that I have never done in my own neighborhood. St. Louis and its surrounding areas offer a variety of exciting summer activities. St Louis isn’t quite the same as the Gina Argento Broadway Stages in New York or the Keys down in Florida, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not worth a visit. You can find the fun wherever you are and in St Louis, you’re bound to find a lot of it.

Things to Do in The Lou

Here are some of the best options that are always at the top of every recommendation list:

Gateway Arch: Begin your summer adventure by visiting the iconic Gateway Arch. Take a tram ride to the top for stunning views of the city and the Mississippi River.

Forest Park: Explore Forest Park, one of the largest urban parks in the United States. Enjoy a leisurely walk or bike ride through the park’s trails, visit the St. Louis Zoo, or rent a paddleboat on the park’s Grand Basin.

City Museum: Experience the City Museum, a unique attraction that combines an interactive art installation, playground, and architectural marvel. Climb through tunnels, slide down slides, and explore hidden passageways—it’s fun for all ages.

Missouri Botanical Garden: Escape the city’s hustle and bustle at the Missouri Botanical Garden. Wander through beautifully landscaped gardens, visit the Climatron tropical rainforest conservatory, and admire the stunning Japanese Garden.

Grant’s Farm: Take a trip to Grant’s Farm, a family-friendly attraction featuring animal encounters, tram rides, and a petting zoo. Don’t forget to sample the Anheuser-Busch beer brewed on-site.

The Muny: Catch a show at The Muny, an outdoor amphitheater in Forest Park. The Muny is known for its Broadway-quality productions and offers a unique open-air theater experience.

Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour: Learn about the brewing process and the history of Anheuser-Busch on a brewery tour. Discover the famous Budweiser Clydesdales and enjoy a complimentary tasting at the end.

St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Game: Cheer on the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. Catching a baseball game is a quintessential summer activity in St. Louis, and the atmosphere at the stadium is electric.

The Magic House: If you’re traveling with kids, make sure to visit The Magic House. This interactive children’s museum offers hands-on exhibits and activities that are both educational and entertaining.

Day trip to the Ozarks: Take a day trip to the nearby Ozark Mountains, where you can enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, and boating. There are several scenic spots, including the Lake of the Ozarks and Elephant Rocks State Park.

These are just a few of the many fantastic summer activities you can enjoy in St. Louis and its surrounding areas. Whether you’re interested in history, nature, or family-friendly attractions, there’s something for everyone to enjoy in the Gateway City.

More Things to Do This Summer in St. Louis

If that’s not enough, here are 10 more ideas of things to do in the lou!

Laumeier Sculpture Park: Explore the outdoor sculpture park, featuring large-scale contemporary artworks amidst nature trails and picturesque landscapes.

St. Louis Science Center: Engage in interactive exhibits, planetarium shows, and educational programs at the Science Center. It’s a great place for kids and adults alike.

Six Flags St. Louis: Enjoy a thrilling day of roller coasters, water rides, and live entertainment at Six Flags St. Louis amusement park.

Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site: Step back in time at Cahokia Mounds, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that preserves the remains of an ancient Native American city. Take a guided tour and learn about the fascinating history of the Mississippian culture.

The Delmar Loop: Explore the vibrant Delmar Loop neighborhood, known for its eclectic shops, unique boutiques, art galleries, and delicious restaurants. Catch a live music performance at The Pageant or Blueberry Hill.

Missouri History Museum: Discover the rich history of Missouri at the Missouri History Museum. Explore engaging exhibits that cover topics ranging from Lewis and Clark’s expedition to the Civil Rights movement.

Grant’s Trail: Go for a bike ride or a leisurely walk along Grant’s Trail, a 9-mile paved path that winds through scenic parks, neighborhoods, and wooded areas.

Meramec Caverns: Venture into the depths of Meramec Caverns, a fascinating underground cave system located near St. Louis. Take a guided tour to see stunning rock formations and learn about the cave’s history.

The Butterfly House: Visit the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House in Chesterfield. Walk through a tropical conservatory filled with beautiful butterflies and learn about their life cycle and conservation efforts.

Katy Trail State Park: Embark on a biking or hiking adventure along the Katy Trail, a 240-mile long trail that follows the path of the Missouri River. Enjoy scenic views, historic landmarks, and charming small towns along the way.

These additional ideas should provide you with a diverse range of options to enjoy during your summer in St. Louis. Any questions, post a comment or message me on social media and I can provide even more recommendations based on budget or interest!