Murray Park is trading its usual quiet for flash mobs, Ghostbusters characters, a fortune teller, and a headless horseman this coming Monday through Wednesday, as the Murray Haunted Woods returns for three nights of $5 admission that splits the crowd into two very different kinds of evenings. Families with younger kids can stick to the gentler Silly Trail, while anyone chasing a real scare can wait for the lights to drop and the Scary Trail to open.
Two Trails, One Ticket Price
The event runs October 19 through 21 at Murray Park, according to ABC4 Utah, with tickets priced at $5 and available both online and at the gate. Organizers Shari Van Bibber and Tori Jensen, representatives of the Murray Exchange Club, have been promoting this year's lineup, which includes the Headless Horseman alongside Star Wars and Ghostbusters characters, and the station notes that attendees travel from well beyond Murray to take part. Each ticket also comes with donuts and hot chocolate waiting at the end of the night.
The schedule breaks the evening into two distinct windows built around who's walking the trail. Silly Trails run from 5 to 7 p.m. for younger children and trick-or-treating, and the event's own site says those who want a lighter experience even once the Scary Trails begin at 7 p.m. can use a secret phrase, “GHOULS BE GONE,” to skip the frights along the path.
Finding Pavilion 5 and Parking Nearby
The action is centered at Pavilion #5 in Murray City Park, at 296 E. Murray Park Ave, on the south side of the outdoor swimming pool near the Parks and Recreation office, according to the event's site. Drivers are directed to enter through the State Street entrance at 5130 South, with parking located south of Pavilion #5 in the same lot that hosts the local farmers market. The outdoor event runs rain or shine, per the same listing.
This year's entertainment lineup leans into spectacle beyond the trail itself: surprise flash mob performances, a fortune teller stationed in the gazebo, and a three-story Marshmallow Man posing with Ghostbusters characters are all part of the grounds, alongside a Chick-fil-A hot air balloon display, the event notes. Attendees are also encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to support the Murray Children's Food Pantry, which provides weekend food support to local school kids, in addition to buying admission.
Where the Money Goes
Beyond covering operating costs, ticket sales fund child abuse prevention efforts across the Salt Lake Valley, per ABC4. The fundraiser also supports community-service efforts. The Exchange Club's charitable work has also included donations to victims of domestic abuse, according to reporting from The City Journals.
Keeping the $5 ticket price sustainable has long depended on volunteer labor. Volunteers from Cottonwood and Murray High Schools help staff the multi-night trail.
A Decades-Old Tradition
With a history spanning about 50 years at Murray City Park, the Murray Haunted Woods ranks among Utah's longest-running family-friendly Halloween traditions, according to CitySpark. Hoodline previously rounded up Murray's fall calendar, including a look ahead at council meetings and Halloween thrills planned for the city. More information about this year's event is available at murrayhauntedwoods.com.
