6th Annual Haunted Peaks Halloween Festival Promises To Be A Scary Good Time

Big Sky Town Center, The Big Sky Real Estate Company, Lone Mountain Land Company, Visit Big Sky, Big Sky Chamber Of Commerce, along with additional community sponsors, are hosting the 6th Annual Haunted Peaks Halloween Festival Friday, October 28 through Halloween night, Monday, October 31.

This four-day Halloween celebration kicks off with the Skull & Roses Ball featuring the Grateful Dead tribute band Dead Sky. Sure to be a spirited and intimate performance presented by the Arts Council Of Big Sky, the show will be held at The Independent MT on Friday, Oct. 28 at 9 PM. Tickets are limited with all proceeds going to support the arts in Big Sky. This six piece Bozeman band is composed of three vocalists, two guitarists, bassist, drummer and pianist who have been playing Grateful Dead tunes together since 2019. Gifted with a synergy and sound second only to the Dead themselves, this group has quickly become one of Bozeman’s most cherished tribute bands.

“The Arts Council is excited to host the Skull and Roses Ball and be part of the Halloween events in Big Sky,” says Brian Hurlbut, Executive Director for Arts Council of Big Sky. “We’re hoping that this becomes a fun annual event that adds to the Haunted Peaks Festival. The Big Sky audience loves Dead Sky, and we’re looking forward to the band performing in such an intimate venue like the Independent.”

The team at The Independent has been helping Big Sky get into the Halloween spirit all month with Horrorfest 2022, a curated 14 days of classic horror films, in preparation for the Haunted Peaks weekend. Horrorfest 2022 helped to feed the need for fun and fright for more mature horror cine-files.

“Our team here at The Independent loves this time of year and we plan on celebrating our first Indy Halloween in style,” says General Manager Ruth White. “We love the old classic horror films. We even did a special full showing of Rocky Horror Picture Show complete with costumes and props. It was a blast!” 

The Independent will be host to the Haunted Peaks Dance Party on October 29. Haunted Peaks is notorious for its costume dance parties, booming beats and has become a favorite amongst the local EDM scene. This year’s headliners are the dynamic DJ duo of Take A Chance & Jenn N Juice. High energy and always working their craft to bring out the best in the crowd, these two artists have been at the heart of Big Sky Resort’s patio après renaissance and sharing the stage with acts like Boombox, Forester and Phish.

“We’re stoked to be playing at the independent this year,” says DJ Jenn N Juice. “Haunted Peaks was one of the first big parties we played in Big Sky years ago. We’ll have a few tricks and plenty of treats with an enhanced sound system, lighting system and some Halloween themed visuals”

“The Halloween spirit is strong in Big Sky. All the groups that make up our community really come out of the woodwork and show up to celebrate in their own special way,” says Erik Morrison, Events & Social Media Manager for Big Sky Town Center. “I love seeing Haunted Peaks through the eyes of the children and families. They bring an excitement and spirited imagination that makes all the programming and collaboration we do worth it. They help remind us all of the magic of Halloween.”

Family friendly events and holiday fun will run all weekend long. One favorite amongst young and old is the annual Haunted House, Presented By Lone Mountain Land Co. & The Big Sky Real Estate Company. Spooky adventures await those brave enough to enter with poltergeists, vampires, werewolves and more. The team of actors and set design specialists at Sacred Arrow Productions have been performing at the haunted house event for many years and consider it a favorite amongst their annual events. New this season will be a special backstage pass where younger and more sensitive audiences will have the chance to meet the actors unmasked, ask questions and take a tour to see the inner workings of the production before they begin. All proceeds go towards the good work of the Big Sky Discovery Academy. The event will run Saturday, October 29 from 12-6 PM in the Choppers building, located at 77 Lone Peak Drive.

“All ages can experience a scare and a laugh in this unique and fun-filled haunted house,”said Krista Traxler, Vice President of Marketing for Lone Mountain Land Company. “The Haunted Peaks Festival is a truly festive weekend for family and friends to enjoy the spirit of Halloween.” 

One big expansion to this year’s festival is the Monster Mash. The Big Sky PTO has partnered with the BASE Community Center to host the annual Monster Mash family Halloween party at their new state of the art facility in Town Center on Saturday, October 29. Wear your best boogie suit and bring your little monsters for a devilishly fun evening filled with food, music, and games for all ages. Bring your most ghoulishly decorated dessert for a chance to be crowned this year’s Monster Mash Maestro. Tickets will be available at the door with all proceeds benefiting Ophir Elementary.

“Big Sky PTO is thrilled to partner with BASE and Town Center on the first annual Monster Mash,” said Erin Arend, Co-President of Big Sky PTO. “We love the spirited energy and commitment this community brings to every event and we can’t wait to see the costumes, interactive games, crowning of the pumpkin carving royalty, dessert, decorations, and more. We hope this is the beginning of a spookalicious tradition for many years to come!” 

The Monster Mash will also be hosting this year’s annual Pumpkin King and Queen Carving Competition. Bring your best pre carved Jack-o- lantern design with a battery operated votive to BASE that evening to enter the contest. Participants can pick up their prize pumpkins the week before through Halloween day at the Great Pumpkin Giveaway Food Drive. Stop by the Big Sky Visitor’s Center on Monday-Friday between 9 AM-5 PM to make a canned food donation (10 lbs/cans per pumpkin) to support Big Sky Community Foodbank. Last year’s event raised over 500 lbs of canned goods for Big Sky residents in need.

Burn off a few of those Haunted Peaks holiday treats and join us for the 3rd Annual Haunted Run 5K & Block Party Presented By Moving Mountains Fitness. Runners of all ages can rock their favorite costumes and brave 5k of terror and physical challenges through the Uplands and Hummocks trails area before making their way back to the finish line and block party hosted by Beehive Basin and Steele Pressed Juice & Java. All are welcome to come and enjoy live music, food and beverages, costume contests and Halloween fun for the whole family. Packet pickup and registration is Friday, October 28 from 11:30 AM-12:30 PM at Moving Mountains Fitness. Race starts Saturday at 1 PM with the awards and block party at Beehive Basin Brewery begin at 2 PM.

“This is my favorite gym event we do each year,” says Megan Gorder, Owner of Moving Mountains Fitness. “I just love all the costumes and silly Halloween themed challenges. We had a record 75 runners last year and I think we could easily see more!” This year with Halloween falling on the Monday after the Haunted Peaks weekend the event organizers decided to incorporate it into the festival. On Halloween day the Big Sky Chamber Of Commerce and participating local businesses will host the Downtown Trick Or Treat. Let your little monsters trick or treat through Town Center and show off their cute Halloween costumes. Later that evening the team at Tips Up will be closing out the festival in style with the Halloween Costume Dance Party featuring DJ Take A Chance. Show your Halloween spirit, bring your costume A-game and get ready to get down with a special Haunted Peaks set guaranteed to wake the dead. Music starts at 9 PM.

“The crowd at Tips Up always brings it. It’s one of my favorite places to play,” says DJ Take A Chance. “For this special Halloween show I’m bringing in my good friend DJ Hollow Bones to open with his dark hip hop style to set the mood. Then I’ll drop those dance beats, fire up the light show and give Big Sky a Halloween rave to remember!”

In the spirit of Haunted Peaks and supporting Big Sky’s community, The Wilson Hotel is generously offering a special package for Haunted Peaks goers to stay downtown and celebrate that weekend. Simply call their front desk at (406) 995-9000 and mention the Haunted Peaks Halloween Festival to receive their Love Big Sky Locals lodging special Halloween weekend (rates starting at $159+tax for king studios). With each reservation the team at The Wilson will make a donation to help support the good work of the Big Sky Community Housing Trust.

There are about twelve events total scheduled for the long Haunted Peaks Halloween weekend. Check here for the most current listing of festival activities.