Photos by Joe Imel/Daily NewsToddler Robbie Matthews of Bowling Green wears a lion costume Wednesday during the Harvest Day parade at Broadway United Methodist Church.

“We dare you to enter Skeleton’s Lair Haunted Woods,” beckons the haunted woods’ Web site at www.skeletonslair.com. “Thrill seekers will creep through this enchanted forest with bone chilling scenes in the Haven Hotel of Horror, the Rat Trap, Granny’s Attic, Jesse’s Junkyard and more.”

The “more” includes the infamous Chucky, played in the Skeleton’s Lair Haunted Woods by 8-year-old Lucas Smith of Warren County.

Sherryl Lockett, owner of Skeleton’s Lair, says, she’s “in awe” of Smith’s acting ability.

“We’ve told him to stay away from the entrance because girls will come up and see him and go running back to their car and not come in,” she said.

Skeleton’s Lair is in its sixth year and is on Cemetery Road in Allen County, just across the Warren County line.

The haunted woods trip takes about 40 minutes.

“But that really depends on whether they walk or run,” Lockett said.

Lockett works on Skeleton’s Lair throughout the year.

In addition to Chucky, this year’s new features include a haunted school bus.

“We call it our Jeepers Creepers set,” Lockett said.

The attraction also features horror movies playing while people wait to enter the woods and a concession stand with hot chocolate.

Skeleton’s Lair will be open from 6:30 p.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. The attraction will open at 6:30 p.m. Sunday and Monday and run until the line dies down.

Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and younger. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the American Red Cross.

The Moose Lodge Haunted House on Old Richardsville Road features the same admission price. The house, off Richardsville Road behind the new Veterans of Foreign Wars hall, will be open from dusk until crowds diminish Friday and Saturday.

Living Word Church in Adairville will be hosting Hallelujah Night, a less Halloween-oriented event, from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Halloween.

It will feature carnival-style games, basketball, inflatable games, candy and prizes. It is geared for children from 2 years old through sixth-grade. All family members are welcome to attend.

“Volunteers run the games and we’ll have a brief service afterward where we’ll do Nickelodeon-style games that are very high-energy,” said Tamanda Barnett, a children’s pastor at the church. “We also have things for the adults, the parents who come and stay. We’ll give away pizzas and oil changes, so it’s not just kid-oriented.”

Give-aways for children include two bicycles.

Barnett said the church hosts the event to get the kids off the street and into a safe environment on Halloween.

“We want them to know as Christians they can have fun but it’s not just play time,” she said. “We give them the opportunity to know Christ.”

Children are asked not to wear costumes.

“It’s easier to say ‘No costumes at all’ because scary costumes scare the little ones,” Barnett said.

For more information about Hallelujah Night, call (270) 539-5818.

Other upcoming Halloween-related events in the area include:

• Pumpkin Alley, a display of nearly 300 carved pumpkins on Mooreland Drive will be Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Rosewood Health Care Center on High Street is hosting a Haunted Bash from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday.

  All spooks are invited. The event includes a costume contest at 6 p.m., a haunted maze, face painting, a chili supper from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Gypsy Madam Rosalie, musical entertainment by the Mighty Sensations from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and a performance by the Williams Family from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

  Admission, including the meal, is $3. Children under 10 eat for free but must be accompanied by an adult.

  Tickets for games will be on sale at the event to benefit the nursing home residents’ Christmas fund.

  For more information, call the nursing home at 843-3296.

• The Western Kentucky University Department of Communication Student Organizations is hosting walking tours featuring information about the ghosts who haunt the buildings on campus this weekend.

  The Haunted Hill Tours will be given from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and from 10 p.m. to midnight Saturday and Sunday.

  The hour-long tours will start every 15 minutes at Barnes-Campbell on campus.

  Each tour costs $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and younger and students with WKU identification. Proceeds will help send students to the National Communication Association’s national convention in November.

  For information, visit http://www.wku.edu/communication/, call 745-6578 or e-mail jenifer.lewis@wku.edu.

• WBKO-TV will host Halloween Fest ’05 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in the studio parking lot off Russellville Road.

  Representatives from 35 local businesses and organizations will hand out candy at the event, which will also feature games, food, music and more.

  Children are encouraged to come in costume.

  In addition to WBKO, the event is sponsored by Bowling Green’s WB, Heaven’s Little Angels and Fort Campbell Federal Credit Union.

  For more information, call 781-1313.

• The sixth annual Bellewood Halloween Hustle will be Saturday at Kereiakes Park.

  The event will feature a 5K run at 8 a.m., a 3K walk at 9 a.m. and a Kid’s Dash at 9:15 a.m.

  A family can enter the event for $35. Children 12 and younger can enter for $10. Individuals over 12 can register for $15. The individual entry fee lowers to $12 if the racer arrives at the event in costume.

  Registration will be at 7 a.m. Saturday and will include a free long-sleeve T-shirt for participants, who will also get a chance to win door prizes.

  Awards will be given to the top five male and female finishers in several age categories. There will also be an award for the best costume.

  “All event proceeds will help fund services for the Bellewood Presbyterian Home for Children in Bowling Green,” according to the Web site of Prime Time Events, which is promoting the Hustle.

  For more information, call 782-2756.

• Greenwood Mall is hosting a Mega Monster Mash on Halloween from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Kids can trick-or-treat at various stores. For a donation of $3 to Children’s Miracle Network, children can also get a gift bag. There will be games and prizes at the event.

Trick-or-treat times

Allen County – Over by 7 p.m.

Barren County – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Butler County – Over by 7 p.m.

Edmonson County – 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Logan County – 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The Plaza in Auburn – 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Simpson County – 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Warren County – Over by 7 p.m.