Get Into the 'Spirit' for Halloween Hollow (And Send Us Your Photos)

With Halloween weekend is only two weeks away, there's no better way to embrace the Halloween spirit than by attending this weekend, which is celebrating its 30th year.

"We're making it bigger and better this year," said Erin Cortilet, special events and trip coordinator at the .

That includes an extended hour of fun and added food vendors tonight, for the same price as previous years. From 5 to 10 p.m., you and your family and friends can head over to , for carnival rides and food.

Cortilet said there is a $20 wristband available tonight only for unlimited carnival rides. Halloween Hollow costs $3 to park, plus the cost of additional activities. The haunted trail is free.

If you're unfamiliar with Halloween Hollow's annual haunted trail, you're in for a spooky surprise. Each year, local businesses, groups and individuals set up a Halloween-themed scene on a wooded trail behind Main Park.

The trail is free to walk, and most importantly, you get to vote for the three best scenes. There are two categories: one for living mortals, which is live scenes with actors and/or activities, and dummy mummies, which are stationery scenes made to ponder or laugh at.

, the trail included everything from a haunted house and a dance performance to scenes from E.T., a Chicago Bears campsite and numerous faux cemeteries. The scenes change each year, so you never now what you'll find.

According to Cortilet, there are more than 25 scenes on the trail this year. The first place winners in each category receive $150 and second place winners receive $75.

Continuing with the lineup on Saturday, the scarecrow laboratory allows you to create a scarecrow out of old clothes and straw, which the Park District supplies.

A pumpkin patch will allow you to pick out your last-minute carving pumpkins, and a petting zoo lets kids get up close and friendly with farm animals.

With three tokens (worth $1.50), kids can head to the annual Treat Barn to receive a treat bag with 25 candy items inside, Cortilet said. This is only while supplies last. One lucky winner will win a 2010 autographed Bears football.

At the free entertainment stage, children can meet with costumed characters while the whole family enjoys local cheerleading and dance performances, a puppet show, a magician and more.

At Ghost Town Games, kids can enjoy pumpkin buckets, pumpkin bean bags, disc golf, a haunted mini golf course, a duck pond and other miscellaneous games, according to Cortilet.

Other Saturday activities include hayrides, face painting, an inflatable haunted house, local food vendors and about 20 craft booths in the Monster Marketplace.

Pumpkin painting has been added to Saturday's activity lineup, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Main Park.

For those of you with a competitive edge, you can participate in the pumpkin weigh-in contest or the jack-o-lantern contest. Contestants should drop off their pumpkins between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. The top three winners in each category will be announced at the main stage at 1 p.m.

Also, girls 13 and under can compete in the Scream Queens contest, while boys 13 and under compete in the Mummy Wrap. These competitions begin at the main stage at noon, and Cortilet said the kids don’t need to bring anything for the contest.

The costume contest will be Saturday, Oct. 22 at as part of Spooktacular Saturday. The event is free for all children in costume. Doors open at 6 p.m. and it includes trick-or-treating, a free bag of popcorn, the costume contest and a showing of the movie Casper.

Cortilet recommends everyone come check it out both Halloween Hallow and Spooktacular Saturday this year, because quite frankly, they're events that have it all.

"We feature activities for all ages, and for 30 years, people have loved to come out for the full day of fall fun," Cortilet said. "We love putting this annual event on."

Grab a great pic you've just got to share? Post it on this article and we'll include it in Monday's Halloween Hollow photo gallery.

Here's how to submit your photo:

1. Make sure you're logged in to Patch.
2. Click on "Add Photos" underneath our current gallery.
3. Upload photos of family, friends and spooky Halloween fun!