Upcoming spooky times to prepare for Halloween

With Halloween approaching next week, Poplar Bluff and the surrounding area still has plenty going on for residents interested in frights and spooks.

The Haunted Grotto

The Haunted Grotto started at the beginning of the month and is continuing every Friday and Saturday for the rest of the week as well as Halloween Eve and Halloween itself.

The Three Rivers Shrine Club hosts the Haunted Grotto each year, which includes a haunted house with a variety of different themes for people to explore.

Admission is $10 with tours going from 7-10:30 p.m. each night. If necessary, the event can be moved inside if there’s a chance of rain.

The event is not advisable for those under 12 without adult supervision.

Hafftoberfest

Haffy’s Sports Bar & Grill is hosting Hafftoberfest on Saturday as a benefit for the Boys and Girls Club of Poplar Bluff. The event is held at downtown starting at 10 a.m.

Events start at 11 with the Beir Run. Teams of six participate in making two laps — each including three beer stops along the way — around the area. It will be a total of 1.25 miles, about 2K. The course starts at the courthouse gazebo and travels around 6th Street and around Vine Street to end at Haffy’s. Participants will all receive a Hafftoberfest T-shirt and the winner will receive bragging rights.

Pre-register for the race by Friday, Oct. 4, for $25; day of registration is $30. Race day registration and packet pick up opens at 10 a.m.

Team Pricing:

Team of 4 - $100

Team of 5 - $125

Team of 6 - $140

At 2 p.m. teams of two can compete in a Cornhole Tournament. At 4 there will be a Stein Holding Contest and at 5 will be a frankfurt eating contest.

Entry forms can be dropped off at Haffy’s or emailed to haffyssportsbar@gmail.com.

Halloween Makeup Tutorial

The Poplar Bluff Municipal Library is hosting a Halloween makeup class at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26.

The class will be taught by Guy McAndrew with S&M FX House and is focused on techniques to make Halloween costumes as scary as they can be.

Halloween Bash

The Camp at Lake Wappapello will be a two day Halloween Bash on Friday, Oct. 25, and Saturday, Oct. 26.

Beginning Friday, there will be karaoke and a pumpkin pie eating contest along with other games.

Saturday will include bounce houses, mini golf, a petting zoo and the night will round out with trick-or-treating. They will also have a haunted hay ride. The band SilverFox will perform during the evening.

The hay ride is additional $5 per person but free to children 2 and under.

Bluff Burger & Brooms Halloween Bash

Bluff Burger and Brew will host a Halloween party on at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26. It will include live music by the band Used and Refused. The event will go until midnight.

Halloween Dance

The Wappapello Civic Center will host a Halloween Dance from 7-10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25. It will include a costume contest as well as music by Paul Wisdom and Perfect Strangers. It’s held at a smoke/alcohol-free facility. It’s $5 per person, but includes free dance lessons with admission.

Trunk or Treating

For more family-focused events, Westood Baptist Church is hosting a trunk-or-treat event Sunday, Oct. 27, from 4-6 p.m.