Compiled by Kellie Houx
CLAY COUNTY — It’s the middle of October and there are plenty of community Halloween events still to come.
Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary
Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary’s Fair Tale Forest and Walk of 100 Jack-o-Lanterns runs Thursday to Sunday, Oct. 16 to 19.
The event runs from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the sanctuary, 407 N. La Frenz Road.
Wear a costume and make sure to dress for the outdoors. Each jack-o-lantern on the trail was carved by a local resident.
The Fairy Tale Forest is a fundraising event to support the operations and educational programming of the Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary. Tickets are $10 per person and children 2 and under are free.
For more details, visit naturesanctuary.com/fairy-tale-forest.
Liberty’s Spooky Trail
Liberty’s Spooky Trail hunt begins Oct. 17 and runs through Halloween, Oct. 31 at Westboro/Canterbury Park, 1400 Canterbury Lane. The event runs through Halloween.
The Spooky Trail Hunt is an interactive family activity along a section of the trail at Westboro/Canterbury Park.
Liberty Parks & Rec will hide 12 ghost cutouts along the trail and they need to be found.
This is a self-guided activity with completed activity sheets turned into the Liberty Community Center Welcome Desk to be redeemed for a prize.
Download the activity sheet at www.libertymissouri.gov/DocumentCenter/View/34473/Spooky-Trail-Hunt-2025?bidId=
Trunk or treat at Our Lady of Mercy Country Home
Our Lady of Mercy Country Home, 2115 Maturana Drive, Liberty, will offer a trunk or treat event from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 at Tighe Hall.
Monster Mash benefits NAWS
The Monster Mash Bash will benefit the Northland Animal Welfare Society or NAWS from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 24 and 25 at 19822 NE 161st St., Kearney.
Walk through a haunted forest full of witches, zombies and other spooky characters.
This haunted happening is packed with bone-chilling fun, including Dracula’s lair and a mad scientist lab.
Admission is a donation to NAWS. Every dollar helps provide low-cost spay and neuter services, helping pets and their families while reducing pet overpopulation.
“This is Halloween fun with a purpose, said NAWS President and founder Goldie Arnold. Every ghoul and goblin who joins us helps keep tails wagging and paws purring across our community.”
Liberty Park’s Howl-O-Ween
Join Liberty Parks & Rec for Howl-O-Ween, starting at 2 p.m. Oct. 25 at Stocksdale Dog Park, 901 S. LaFrenz Road.
There will be a dog costume contest, dog photos available, Cowtown Mini Donuts (self-pay), visitors from local pet-friendly businesses and more. The event runs until 4 p.m.
White Chapel’s Dia de los Muertos event
White Chapel Funeral Home, 6600 NE Antioch Road, presents “Celebrate Lives: A Dia de los Muertos event.” The event runs from 2 to 6 p.m. Oct. 25.
The event features local craft and food vendors, games, raffles, trunk or treat and plenty of family fun.
Proceeds from the raffle entries will go into the Irene Aguilar Memorial Fund. This fund has provided assistance to NKC School families with necessities like food, clothing, overdue lunch accounts, and support during the holiday season.
For more details, call 781-2000.
Northland Wheels trunk or treat
The Northland Wheels Car Group will hold a trunk or treat from 4 to 8 p.m. Oct. 25 at 115 S Bridge St., Smithville. The car show will be in downtown Smithville just a block south of the square.
There will be a best of show and top 10 awards presented.
Clay County Sheriff’s Office trunk or treat
The Clay County Sheriff’s Office trunk or treat will be Saturday, Oct. 25 in the parking lot of Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, 1600 Highway 291, Liberty. Costumes encouraged and treat bags provided. Participants can vote for the best-decorated trunk. This runs from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
New this year is a sensory-friendly option from 6 to 6:30 p.m. Participants must sign up at www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0F49A9AE2CABFF2-58441259-clay#/. During this time, there will be no lights or sirens and a limited number of people.
The office is still collecting candy. Donations can be made at several locations including the Verimore Bank locations in the county, as well as Price Chopper Liberty, 896 Highway 291, the Walmart Gladstone, 7207 N. Missouri Highway 1, or at Clay County Sheriff’s Office, 12 S. Water St., Liberty.
Hillside Christian Church’s trunk or treat
Hillside Christian Church, 900 NE Vivion Road, offers a trunk or treat celebration from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26.
There will be a trick or treat trail with decorated car trunks full of candy and surprises, bounce house fun, a hay ride around the church grounds, treats and pumpkin painting.
Kearney’s Halloween Blast
Downtown Kearney’s Halloween Blast runs from 4 to 6 p.m. Halloween Oct. 31 around Lions Park, 106 S. Jefferson St.
The Kearney Enrichment Council has picked up the torch to continue to encourage the downtown trick-or-treat event.
For businesses and nonprofits that wish to participate, visit www.kearneyenrichmentcouncil.org/halloween-blast.
Trick or Treat on the Square
From 5 to 7 p.m. Trick or Treat on the Square 2025 will be all through historic downtown Liberty Oct. 31.
This safe, family-friendly Halloween tradition brings more than 1,500 families and children downtown for an evening of costumes, candy, and community spirit.
