Are you ready to kick the holiday season off with Halloween? Here at Saddle Creek Orthodontics, we’re counting down the days until we can don our costumes and fill up the candy bowl. Luckily, Memphis has plenty of family-friendly events to keep us busy between now and then! Whatever you and your crew are into, keep reading below for more info on our favorite family-friendly Halloween events around Memphis
LeBonheur Zoo Boo
October 19-21, 26-28, 31
5:30 – 9:30 p.m.
Memphis Zoo
2000 Prentiss Place, Memphis, TN 38112
Zoo Boo makes our list once again! It’s not really surprising when you consider how much they pack into this event each year. There’s SEVEN full nights of fun to choose from, with everything from candy stations to camel rides on offer. Break out your best floss at Dracula’s Disco, find out what’s in store for you with a fortune teller, paint your own Zoo Boo canvas at Pinot’s Palette, or get lost in the new Glass House maze! There’s also hayrides, activities for the kids, free rides, and a virtual costume contest. 2019 Zoo Boo shirts are now available in the Elephant’s Trunk gift shop if you want a spooky souvenir.
Trunk or Treat on Tillman Street
October 26
11 am – 2 pm
United Way Plaza
1005 Tillman Street, Memphis, TN 38112
Hosted by United Way of the Mid-South, Trunk or Treat on Tillman Street is an inspiring event that provides local families with a safe way to celebrate Halloween while connecting with the community. Not only will kids get to show off their costumes and load up on candy, there will also be free flu shots available, access to community resources, meals on hand, and lots of other fun activities!
Crosstown Creep Sweep Trunk or Treat
October 31
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Crosstown Concourse Plaza
1350 Concourse Ave, Memphis, TN 38104
We love Crosstown Concourse any day of the year, but they’re making it almost irresistible by throwing their own Trunk or Treat event on Halloween! Vehicles will be set up outside on the plaza, but if it rains, they’ll move everything indoors to the atrium. Your little ghouls and goblins can enjoy trick-or-treating along with live music provided by Almost Elton John, and there will even be a Thrilled dance flash mob performing! If you’re in no hurry to get home after collecting candy, grab a bite to eat at Next Door and finish it off with a delicious dessert, like Area 51 ice cream or a unique treat from Mempops.
Flick-or-Treat Movie Night
October 26
Gates Open at 5:00 pm
Memphis Botanic Garden
750 Cherry Rd, Memphis, TN 38117
This is another perennial favorite of the SCO family! Memphis Botanic Garden invites boys, ghouls, and adults of all ages to trick-or-treat through My Big Backyard before settling in to screen two Halloween flicks in the Live Garden. Come in costume and hit up the treat stations and activity centers, then sprawl out on a blanket or pull up a chair to watch “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”(G) at 7:15 pm, followed by Casper (PG) at 7:45 pm. There will be kettle corn, food trucks, and photo ops available throughout the evening, along with adult drinks to get you in the spirit of the season!
The Mid-South Maze
October Hours
Wed. – Fri. – 4 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Sat. – noon to 10 p.m.
Sun. – noon to 8 p.m.
Agricenter International
7777 Walnut Grove Rd, Memphis, TN 38120
The Mid-South Maze has been a Memphis staple for years, so if you haven’t ever experienced it, make some time to check it out before this season ends! The design is different every year, with the 2019 design based on the new Memphis 901 soccer team. While it’s haunted on the weekends leading up to Halloween, most afternoons it functions as a regular maze. (It’s worth noting, however, that you may still come across evidence of the night before in the form of a hangman’s noose or blood-stained sheets, in case you or your kids are sensitive to that kind of imagery.)
The paths through the maze are clearly marked, and it takes around an hour to get through it. But that’s not all there is to explore! The Jumping Pillow is kind of a cross between a bouncy castle and a trampoline, and can accommodate up to 40 people so it’s fun for the whole family. You can jump all you want for just $4 each! The Corn Cannon is one of the most popular activities at the Mid-South Maze, and it’s not hard to see why. Who doesn’t love launching ears of corn at targets from 100 yards away!?
There are also haunted hayrides every Friday and Saturday night in October. These tend to have a spooky twist and last about 15 minutes total, so there’s plenty of time to try everything once.
Keep your braces looking frightfully good this Halloween
Whatever you have in mind over the next couple of weeks, it’s important to be mindful of the damage certain candy and snacks can cause to braces. Steer clear of all sticky or chewy candies like toffees, caramels, and Blow Pops since these can stick to your brackets and sometimes even pull parts off. Crunchy or hard candy like Jolly Ranchers, peppermints, and lollipops put pressure on braces, which can lead to broken brackets or bent wires. Your best bet as a braces patient on Halloween is soft chocolate, preferably fun-sized.
Nobody likes to waste good candy, so share the stuff you can’t eat with others, or donate it to organizations like Operation Shoebox, which packages and sends candy to troops overseas, or the Ronald McDonald House, which passes out candy to visiting patients and families.
Remember that our expert team is always here if you have any questions or concerns about navigating Halloween candy with braces. We’re only a phone call or email away!
Have a safe, fun, and happy Halloween from all of us here at Saddle Creek Orthodontics!
Best,
