Halloween Gaming Event

Posted on October 10, 2019 by Lauren Camarillo

Have you caught the smell of pumpkin spice lattes in the air? That’s right, fall is back! This year the UGL is celebrating fall with a spooky, Halloween-themed Game Night Thursday, October 17th from 7pm -10pm. Come as you are or grab a costume to join in the Halloween fun. Here are some of the Horror-themed games we’ll be featuring:

Call of Cthulhu Roleplaying Game

Join us for this chilling roleplaying adventure! One of our experienced Game Masters will guide players through a quest in a world based on the writing of the master of horror himself, H.P. Lovecraft. Solve a mystery while struggling to maintain your sanity and survive despite the horror and danger that surrounds you.

Betrayal at House on the Hill

From aliens to ghosts, to voodoo dolls and beyond, you never know what you might find in this ever-changing haunted mansion. Come explore the House on the Hill, if you dare, and bring along 2-5 of your closest friends. Try to maintain your sanity as you encounter challenges and hauntings in each new room of the house. But beware…one of you is not who they claim to be and there will be a betrayal at the House on the Hill before the night ends!

One Night: Ultimate Werewolf

In this quick and easy game each player takes on the role of a villager…some innocent, some not so innocent. The villagers race to find the identity of the werewolves hiding among them, before they sink their teeth into the whole town. Each morning the villagers wake to find the werewolves may have claimed another victim. Will you survive the night?

Other games we’ll have available throughout the night include Ghost Stories, Castle Ravenloft, and Mysterium. Feel free to bring your own haunted horror games from home, or grab one of the games from the UGL’s collection. Will you be brave enough to join us for the fright? We hope to see you there!

Written by: Jayde

Edited by: Lauren

University of Illinois Urban Legends

Posted on October 31, 2018 by Lauren Camarillo

Hello Illini! In the spooky spirit of Halloween, we have adapted a (small) list of urban legends unique to the University of Illinois campus! Since the University of Illinois was founded in 1867, many urban legends have developed. In this post, we wanted to highlight the long, rich history of the University. A huge thanks to Center for Children’s Books and Annette Lesak for providing us with great information!

Hope you enjoy!

English Building in winter.

The Ghost in the English Building:

A popular legend on campus, it is said that when the English Building was a women’s dormitory, a young woman drowned in the indoor swimming pool. It is still unknown as to how or why this happened, but legend has it that she haunts the building to this day. It is unknown whether or not she has malicious intent in her haunting.

Main Library at the University of Illinois in early fall.

The University Library Main Stacks:

It is not a surprise that there is an urban legend about the Main Stacks! Legend says that several students have gotten lost and perished while hopelessly wandering around and looking for books. As a result, there are supposed to be ghosts appearing to visitors, especially around Halloween! (Don’t worry, all recent visitors have made it out alive!!)

University of Illinois Quad with Foellinger Auditorium.

Quad Underground Tunnels:

The Undergraduate Library and Main Library have a very convenient underground tunnel connecting them, but it is said that there is a network of underground tunnels underneath the Quad (we’ll be on the lookout for secret tunnel doors come winter time)! Supposedly, they were previously used during winter time, but have been closed off.

Enjoy your spooky season! Also, if you would like to read about more University of Illinois urban legends, check out this Illinois Alumni blog post!

Authored and edited by Lauren.

Fall Festivities in Champaign-Urbana

Posted on October 15, 2018 by Lauren Camarillo

After a long, hot summer in Champaign-Urbana, we are very excited to get in the spirit of the Fall season with these local events. With a range of spooky to sweet activities, you’ll see that there’s something for everyone!! Learn more below!

Champaign Urbana Folk and Roots Festival logo banner

C-U Folk & Roots Festival

Downtown Urbana, IL

October 18-20

Don’t miss the tenth year anniversary of the Champaign-Urbana Folk and Roots Festival! This event is completely volunteer-run and brings together national, regional, and local artists and folk organizations to perform throughout downtown Urbana. The festival includes performances, dances, instructional sessions, jams, song-circles, family activities, storytelling, instrument-making, and more. For more information, visit the Folk and Roots Festival website!

Live Music at Curtis Orchard & Pumpkin Patch

3902 S Duncan Rd, Champaign, IL

Ending October 28

Join in some toe-tapping live music most Saturdays and Sundays in October at the Oz Pavilion, located in the Curtis Orchard & Pumpkin Patch. While you’re there, enjoy a homegrown array of pure-Fall-fun activities, including pumpkin and apple picking, or exploring the corn mazes. Don’t forget to pick up some of their famous, fresh apple cider donuts! Take a look at the band list, and find out more about events at the orchard. If you’d like more information, please visit the Curtis Orchard website!

Pumpkins with a Purpose!

701 E Florida Ave, Urbana IL

October 14-31

The Pumpkin Patch at Trinity Lutheran Church, Urbana, IL will be open October 14th-October 31st from noon until 6:00 p.m. daily, with a variety of pumpkins and decorative gourds available. Family Fun Day will be Saturday, October 20 from 1:00-4:00 p.m. Come choose a pumpkin and have fun with face painting, inflatables, and pumpkin decorating! Each purchase supports the following charitable causes: Haiti Feeding Program, the Orphan Grain Train, Eastern Illinois Food Bank, and Operation Christmas Child. For more information, refer to the Pumpkins with a Purpose calendar event!

Dallas and Co Haunted Room Advertisement

Dallas & Co Haunted Room

Dallas & Company’s Haunted Room

101 E University Ave, Champaign, IL

Every weekend in October

Strange things happen in the Dallas and Company Haunted Room. Those who dare to enter are greeted with a talking ghost, witches, zombies, skeletons and what APPEARS to be lifeless bodies. The Haunted Room is only open for a few weekends in October, and participants can only go through once because we believe it’s all your heart can stand. Follow them on social media for exact opening times. If you’d like more information, visit the Dallas & Co. website!

Happy October!

Written by Morgan

Edited by Lauren, Zander and Kirsten

October Events 2017

Posted on October 5, 2017 by AR

Attention fall lovers: your time to shine is HERE! Find all kinds of Halloween happenings and autumn activities around campus and Champaign-Urbana during the month of October. Whether you want to be chased by killer clowns, dance to the Time Warp, or drink some apple cider in the crisp fall air, read on to find the perfect October event for you!

One Book One Campus G. Willow Wilson Author Lecture

Friday, October 6^th7pm at Illini Union. Free admission.

U of I is yet again participating in One Book One Campus, and this year we are reading Ms. Marvel #1: No Normal. Go to the Illini Union for a chance to see the author, G. Willow Wilson speak. Immediately after the lecture, there will be a book signing and refreshments. You do not want to miss out!

Flannel Fest

Saturday, October 7^th, 11am-4pm at Hessel Park. Free admission.

Don your favorite plaid shirt and head over to Flannel Fest for a day filled with fall activities! There will be music, art, games, food trucks, and even a mustache contest. With the Timberwork’s Lumberjack show doing demos throughout the day, this is an event you don’t want to miss! Check out the Facebook event page to get a full schedule.

Hocus Pocus Screening

Saturday, October 7^th, 2 pm at The Virginia Theater. $5 admission.

Let the Sanderson Sisters put a spell on you during this screening of the classic Halloween movie! The perfect way to spend an October afternoon. Find tickets and more information at their Facebook event page.

Midway of Madness

Every Friday and Saturday in October (plus Halloween), 6pm-11pm. $15 admission.

Scare yourself silly at the Champaign County Fairgrounds. Midway of Madness is the perfect haunted house attraction for all you thrill seekers looking for a fun Halloween event.

Check out their website for more information… if you dare!

Fall Festival

Sunday, October 8^th, 3pm-6pm at Prairie Fruits Farm and Creamery. Free Admission.

This cute celebration of fall will include cider-pressing demonstrations, apple cider floats for purchase, $5 hayrides through the farm, and more! Enjoy the beautiful fall weather by strolling around this local farm and checking out all they have to offer.

Illini Wellness Week

October 9^th-12^th, Locations Vary

Don’t forget to take care of your health this month! Student Affairs will be set up at different locations around campus October 9-12 and offering varying services such as yoga, counseling services, a health expo, and the ever pawpular therapy dogs! One therapy dog will be at the UGL from 1-3 pm on Monday, October 9^th. For a full list of events and locations, visit their Facebook event page.

The Toast of Champaign

Saturday, October 14^th, 1-10 pm at The Blind Pig Brewery

For those over 21, The Blind Pig is hosting a “hyper-local” beer fest! Swing by their beer garden to check out some local favorite breweries include Triptych Brewing, Riggs Beer Company, and many more! More information is available at their Facebook event page.

Curtis Orchard and Pumpkin Patch

Through October. Free Admission, prices for activities varied.

One of the most popular fall destinations in the C-U area is Curtis Orchards! Just a fifteen minute drive from campus, Curtis Orchard & Pumpkin Patch features U-Pick apples, a petting zoo, corn maze, pumpkin patch, hayrides, and live music. Check out their Facebook page for more information!

Rocky Horror Picture Show

Friday, October 20; Saturday, October 21; Wednesday, October 25; Thursday, October 26, 10pm at The Art Theater. $10 admission.
Event is anticipated to fully sell out. Buy tickets early!

What’s the Halloween season without a late night screening of the Rocky Horror Picture Show? Grab some friends and head over to The Art Theater where the Illini Student Musicals will be accompanying the movie with their live performance. Don’t forget to practice your Time Warp moves!

Can’t make the Art Theater dates? Try to catch the screening of the film at the Virginia Theater on Saturday, October 28^th at 7pm. Tickets are $5.

Links to purchase tickets can be found on the Facebook event pages:

The Art Theater

The Virginia Theater

Hopefully we’ve covered most of the major events happening around Champaign-Urbana for the month of October, but if we missed anything, reach out to us on our Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram pages, and stay tuned for an events post every month!

October Events Blog

Posted on September 30, 2016 by JB

Fall is finally here, and with the month of October comes sweaters, pumpkins, apple cider, spooky ghost stories, and crisp falling leaves. Read up on the events around campus and Champaign-Urbana to fill the spookiest month of the year!

C-U Oktoberfest

C-U Oktoberfest, October 1 3-Midnight — $5 Entry

Kick off the month at the fourth annual C-U Oktoberfest in Downtown Champaign! Indulge in German beer, pretzels, dancing, and face painting and a bounce house for the kids. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Developmental Services Center.

Midwest Mandeng: West African Drum and Dance Festival

Midwest Mandeng: West African Drum and Dance Festival — October 7-9, Prices Varied

Hosted at the Krannert Center by the C-U West African Drum and Dance Collective, this weekend of drumming, dancing, shopping, and community building celebrates the West African drumming tradition. Attendees can watch or participate in drum and dance classes.

Curtis Orchard and Pumpkin Patch

Curtis Orchard and Pumpkin Patch —Throughout October, free entry, activity prices varied.

Just a fifteen minute drive from campus, Curtis Orchard & Pumpkin Patch features U-Pick apples, a petting zoo, corn maze, pumpkin patch, hayrides, and live music. Throughout the month of October, Curtis Orchard is offering a Groupon deal for discounted rates for U-Pick apples and corn maze entry, so snap up this deal before it’s gone!

Shocktober 2016

Shocktober 2016 at the Art Theater Co-Op — Throughout October beginning October 6, prices varied.

Beginning with a free kick off event on October 6, the Champaign Art Theater Co-Op is hosting a month-long Halloween movie event. With the return of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, live trivia, music, and horror movies, this is sure to be a crowd pleaser for Halloween lovers. The event’s finale is an all-night movie marathon featuring the classic George Romero horror flick Dawn of the Dead, don’t miss out!

Spurlock Museum

Spurlock Museum Ghost Story Events — October 29, $6 for students

This pair of events at the Spurlock Museum features storytellers from the C-C Storyteller’s Guild. At 2:00 pm, the storytellers will regale kid-friendly multicultural ghost stories, and kids will leave with candy to kick-off their trick or treating. At 7:30, the storytellers will shift to adult-themed horror stories with heightened fear factors. The later event is restricted to adults only (16 and up). Get in the mood for Halloweekend with these bone-chilling tales!

Illinois Wind Symphony Halloween Concert

Illinois Wind Symphony Halloween Concert — October 30, $4 for students

For more of a low-key event, check out the Illinois Wind Symphony Halloween Concert, just $4 for current U of I students. Hosted at the Foellinger Auditorium, the Illinois Wind Symphony will play six Halloween-themed works, including Night on Bald Mountain, which students may recognize from Disney’s Fantasia, led by director Stephen Peterson.

We hope we’ve covered the major events happening in Champaign-Urbana for the next month…but if we missed anything, let us know! Check out our Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram pages.

Reader’s Advisory: Halloween Graphic Novels

Posted on October 26, 2015 by BAC

Well Club UGLers, it is getting ever closer to Halloween which means it’s time to make costumes, eat candy corn, and scare ourselves with movies, books, and haunted houses. In this week’s Reader’s Advisory, we are going to give you some graphic novel reading suggestions that up the ante on chills, thrills, and blood. The Undergraduate Library has one of the biggest graphic novel collections in the country, so stay tuned because there is bound to be something you’ll like.

Anya’s Ghost by Vera Broshol

Anya’s Ghost, by Russian-American Vera Broshol, is a creepy, yet tame, ghost story option for those who prefer not to be kept up at night. Anya is a Russian immigrant navigating high school with no friends and low self-esteem when she unexpectedly falls into a well and meets a ghost. When Anya is rescued, she also rescues the ghost, who she adopts as her new best friend. The best laid plans go awry in this ghostly graphic novel perfect for someone who gets a bit squeamish in a horror film!

Through the Woods by Emily Carroll

If your favorite part of a graphic novel is the artwork, Through the Woods is sure to suit your tastes. This horror graphic novel by Canadian lesbian author Emily Carroll is composed of five spine-tingling fairy tales gone wrong. From kidnapped sisters in the cold winter to a murdered wife’s ghost, these five tales and the horrifically beautiful depictions will be just creepy enough for people who like fear without the gore.

Dark Metro by Tokyo Calen and illustrated by Yoshiken

For those who prefer manga, Dark Metro is a perfect Halloween choice. This exploration of the Tokyo underground beneath the subways. The boundaries between life and death are challenged by those who spend time here with Seiya, the guide of the land of the dead. These short stories about people preyed upon by the ghosts of the city’s terrifying underworld will please those who are a little into the dark side. This creepy manga has two volumes to keep you reading all Halloween weekend.

Batman: The Long Halloween by Jeph Loeb

If manga isn’t your thing, you could always go to the tried and true Batman for your source of Halloween entertainment. In Batman: The Long Halloween Batman must stop a serial killer called Holiday. Holiday is a crazed maniac who kills people every holiday. In this story, Batman’s greatest foe is defeating this villain while also wrestling with some of the most iconic members of his rogues gallery including Falcone, Two-Face, and the Joker. This graphic novel is sure to delight the murder-mystery fans in us all. Check this one out if you need to quench your superhero fix with a Halloween twist.

30 Days of Night by Steve Niles

Last on the list is easily the most brutal and bloody. 30 Days of Night, takes place in a small town in Alaska where the sun does not rise for 30 days. Vampires come to the town to openly kill and feed on the townspeople. How will this seemingly endless vampire rampage end? You could always check out the graphic novel! This graphic novel is definitely for fans of vampires – and those that aren’t on the squeamish side.

For more Halloween graphic novel suggestions, check out our handy chart:

Halloween Graphic Novels

Have any other suggestions for frightful graphic novels? Tweet at us (@askundergrad) or contact us on Facebook (Undergraduate Library at UIUC)! Happy reading, Club UGL!

Viewer’s Advisory – Horror Films

Posted on October 12, 2015 by JMS

Club UGLers! It’s that time of the year again. Grab all of the Halloween candy you can get your hands on because this week we’re talking horror films. Halloween gives us numerous opportunities to act out of the ordinary. Whether it’s dressing like vampires or eating ridiculous amounts of candy, Halloween is a special time. Our media collection has a wide variety of horror films – from the gruesomely bloody, to the outrageously weird. In this week’s Viewer’s Advisory, we will be detailing some of our little known horror flicks from around the globe. So get your popcorn ready, these movies won’t watch themselves.

Trollhunter

First on the list is a little watched movie all the way from Norway. Trollhunter (2011), details the accounts of a group of reporters who follow an enigmatic hunter in the frozen forests of the country. Little do they know, there aren’t just deer and rabbits in those trees. From the big and gruesome to the bigger and more gruesome, this movie has some delightful scares, inside jokes, and a much needed application of humor. This movie would be a great watch for those of you who are a little on the squeamish side when it comes to gore.

The Host

Speaking of monster movies, no one does it better than Joon-ho Bong in the South Korean flick The Host. The movie follows a father looking for his daughter who was kidnapped by a monster. With numerous monster scenes, action sequences, and thrills, this will be another palatable horror movie for those who aren’t into slasher flicks. But be warned, the monster is awesomely terrifying.

Let the Right One In courtesy of Josh Daniels via Flickr

Vampires have been a staple in Halloween celebrations for decades because vampires are awesome. Immortal, strong, and ravenous, vampires are pretty terrifying. Let the Right One In, a Swedish romantic horror film, takes the classic villain of the night and incorporates a stunning and beautiful friendship. Oskar, a fragile boy, meets a strange but charming girl who lives next door. As their friendship grows and people start mysteriously disappearing, Oskar is confronted with the fact that Eli may be more than she seems. This movie is the perfect combination of horror and friendship that makes the story equal parts endearing and frightening. It’s not the date night movie of the year, but it definitely is the date night movie of October.

Martyrs

The last movie on our list is easily the most unsettling. Martyrs is not a movie for the faint of heart. When a young girl is rescued from her gruesome captors, she begins seeing a horrible and ghoulish creature. After years of torment the young girl teams up with others who have been held captive by the same people. In their hunt for revenge they uncover something more terrifying and bloody then they could have imagined. Martyrs is easily the most terrifying and gruesome movie on this list. Just remember to keep something nearby to cover your eyes.

Check out our handy flowchart for other Halloween suggestions:

Have any other suggestions on foreign horror movies? Follow us on Facebook or Twitter and comment with your favorite horror flicks!

Halloween Books and Movies

Posted on October 31, 2013 by QLB

Fellow UGLers, Halloween is here! Are you ready to dress up and stuff your face with candy? If you’ve decided to stay in, the graduate assistants of the UGL have provided a list of their favorite movies and books for the season. We’ve compiled the list here and hope that it serves as a guide for your Halloween night festivities.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Zoe recommends The Nightmare before Christmas. An animated movie directed by Tim Burton, this has been a popular one since its release in 1993. It is the story of the quirky and lovable pumpkin king who decides to bring the Christmas spirit to Halloween Town. A great movie for those who want to combine Halloween and the upcoming holidays. Grab your friends and some popcorn and spend the evening with the pumpkin king.

The Exorcist. Sure to give you a chill down your spine

If you want a good dose of fear this Halloween, Quetzalli recommends The Exorcist. This classic 1973 movie scared audiences all over the world. For those of who have not yet seen this classic film, based on a true story, it is the chilling story of a girl who becomes possessed and causes several gruesome deaths during her exorcism. Beware Club UGL, this movie is not for the faint-hearted.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Are you in the mood for some rock opera, awesome costumes, and a good ole horror movie? Holly’s favorite is The Rocky Horror Picture Show. After a couple of kids have car trouble, they are left stranded at the door of a Gothic mansion. They meet a host of strange characters, including Dr. Fran-N-Furter from the planet Transsexual. Whether it’s your first time watching this movie or you’ve already seen it a million times, this movie is a good excuse to sign along at the top of your lungs.

Looking for a good read this Halloween? The Haunting of Hill House is just the book for you

For those who want a quiet Halloween, but still feel the urge for a scary evening, Tad recommends The Haunting of Hill House written by Shirley Jackson. Hill House receives four visitors who are curious about the unexplained phenomena happening at the house. Some are there seeking knowledge and others want an adventure. Little do they know that Hill House has other plans for them.

For a quick, but fun read, Tad also recommends Halloween ABC. For each letter of the alphabet, a poem about Halloween and its festivities.

The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad

Some of us are not fans of this scary holiday, but don’t worry, Lily has a recommendation for you! The Disney movie, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad is the choice for you. This movie recalls two famous stories, The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving.

From the Dust Returned

For those who want to enjoy a good book by the fireplace (or in college students’ case, the heater) while sipping on some hot chocolate, Christina recommends From the Dust Returned written by Ray Bradbury. It’s a story about the Eternal Family, who live in a legendary and mysterious house in upper Illinois. They are rarely seen during the daylight hours and are not like the other Midwesterners in the area. The house is being prepared for a family reunion that will bring together a mix of extraordinary and odd members.

Batman: The Long Halloween

For those who will be drowning in homework on Halloween, you can take a quick break and grab a comic book. Angeline recommends Batman: The Long Halloween. A serial killer nicknamed Holiday is on the loose. He’s killing once a month, but only on the holidays; Batman tries to stop this maniac.

Whatever your plans on Halloween or your interests, you have a variety of choices in front of you. In the mood for a movie? Grab a friend and make a night of it! Feeling like a night in? A good book and some candy corn just might be what you need this Halloween. Either way, have a safe and happy Halloween!

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Tag Archives: Halloween