Visits to Ha Ha Tonka State Park have been memorable and enjoyable for the Larkin family of Harrisonville. Jesse and Laura were married at the castle ruins and come back to take in the views from the popular Missouri state park at Lake of the Ozarks.
However, returning to Ha Ha Tonka at Camdenton has marked new memories they can make with their two children, Jackson and Lucas, as they participated in the annual Ha Ha Haunt at the castle ruins Friday evening.
"We enjoy the park and this has been a great event so far," Laura said. "The kids loved dressing up and we are having a great time."
Families walked up the torch-lit Castle Trail to come upon Nancy Masterson, Ha Ha Tonka State Park superintendent, who allowed children to receive "A Free Kiss from a Witch" at her booth. After receiving a chocolate treat from Masterson, families enjoyed viewing the carved pumpkin entries for the annual contest the park sponsors among Camdenton School elementary students.
At the castle, guests could see many spooky surprises and decorations, as well as participate in crafts, games, a bonfire and sweet fall treats and hot chocolate.
The Ha Ha Haunt helps kick off a slew of Halloween events held throughout the Lake Area through Halloween night and the following weekend.
Aside from weekend hayrides at Lodge of Four Seasons through November, today includes three major Halloween events at the Lake. Atlantis Dive & Dock salvage will host its second annual Underwater Pumpkin-Carving Contest to benefit the Tri-County YMCA from 1 to 3 p.m. at Lake of the Ozarks State Park's Public Beach No. 2.
Along with the pumpkin-carving contest, the event will feature family activities including apple bobbing, face painting, a children's costume contest, and hot dogs and hot cocoa for a $10 donation.
Open water-certified divers can bring their diving gear, carving tools, $25 entry fee and ready-to-carve pumpkin and compete for the audience's vote for favorite pumpkin, as well as for various diving gear prizes. Divers go out about 20 feet into the lake, still in sight of the audience as they go in and out of the water, and carve their pumpkins at a depth of about 7 feet. Once their pumpkins are carved, audience members vote for their favorites to select a winner.
Sponsored by The Branding Iron and Indian Rock Golf Club, the Halloween Four-Person Scramble begins at 1 p.m. today at Indian Rock Golf Club off Route O in Laurie. Activities include lunch, golf, dinner, silent auction, prizes, cash bar, live entertainment and a costume contest. Those who play in costume win a certificate for a free round of golf at Indian Rock. All proceeds benefit S.T.A.F.F. Animal Shelter. For more information, call Indian Rock Golf Club at 573-372-3023 or The Branding Iron at 573-374-4969.
Christ the King Lutheran Church will host its Third Annual Trunk or Treat event from 4 to 6 p.m. today in the church parking lot. Costumed children, families and participants can also enjoy games and other activities, prizes for "best dressed" car, the PALS GROUP of King's Academy "Build Your Own Scarecrow fundraiser with a $5 donation, and hot dogs, chips and beverages for a donation. Christ the King Lutheran Church is located at 1700 Bagnell Dam Blvd. in Lake Ozark, next to McDonald's, in Lake Ozark. For more information, call 573-365-5212.
On Tuesday, participants can register for the Second Annual CVB Golf Spooktacular four-person scramble at Hidden Lakes Golf Course at Tan-Tar-A Resort in Osage Beach. Activities include prizes, contests (including a costume contest), giveaways and refreshments. For more information or to register, call 573-348-1599 or visit www.funlake.com.
Also on Tuesday and again Halloween night, guests can experience John Carpenter's "Halloween" film at 7 p.m. at the B&B Gravois Mills Lake West Cinema off Route O. Admission is $5 per person. For more information, call 573-372-5554 or visit BBTheatres.com.
On Halloween night, families can indulge in a variety of trick-or-treating opportunities, as well as other family-friendly events. Sponsored by and located at Osage Beach Premium Outlets, Trick-or-Treat Off the Street is held from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday and is open to the entire Lake Area community. Children can trick or treat at participating businesses, enjoy Halloween events throughout the day, and enter the costume contest, which is held at 5 p.m. at the center's courtyard. For more information, call 573-348-2065.
At the annual Walk on the Rocks at Hy-Vee in Osage Beach, the community is invited to walk through the numerous booths that make up a maze of candy-giving participants during the annual Walk on the Rocks Trick or Treat event from 4 to 7 p.m. Halloween night in the Hy-Vee parking lot in Osage Beach. Families are encouraged to dress in costume and admission is $2 per person. All proceeds benefit the Lake of the Ozarks Dream Factory. For more information, call 573-302-7977.
Plus, several local churches, nursing home centers and local restaurants are offering "Trunk or Treat" events, trick-or-treating with residents and outdoor trick-or-treating parties on Halloween Night.
Following Halloween, on Friday the Camdenton Library and The Lake Today present the first live "Castle Vlad" show. Filled with hilarious and family-friendly antics of Vlad Dracula and his spooky friends, the show will also showcase live performances of the two grand prize winners in The Lake Today's "Choose Your Own Doom" Ghost Story Contest. The show is at 5:30 p.m. at the Camdenton Little Theatre in the Camdenton Middle School. The first 125 kids to pre-register will receive a "not-so-goodie" bag, compliments of "Castle Vlad." For more information or to pre-register, call the Camdenton Library at 573-346-5954.