By Alex Lento, ’10, LIfeStyle Editor; Jessup Smith, ’10, LifeStyle Editor

Halloween is right around the corner, but most haunted events open in September. Land of Illusion in Middletown (the Middletown Haunted Trail) is open from Sept. 4 until Nov. 1. Tickets are pretty cheap, and you can experience four different types of terrors. King’s Island’s annual Fear Fest opens in late September and runs on the weekends all through October. The park is filled with scary creatures and haunted houses to enjoy. If that’s still not enough to satisfy your craving for fear, check out the U.S.S. Nightmare haunted ship at Newport on the Levee. It opens on Sept. 18 and is open every weekend and select weeknights through Halloween. It’s a little pricey, but there are coupons available on the website and it’s definitely worth it if you like the excitement of real life adventure. Plus, after your tour of the ship, you can check out the rest of the shops and restaurants in Newport.

On Friday nights, you can always have fun at the CCDS home football games. They sell spirit wear if you can’t find any at home, and there’s plenty of food at the concession stand. It’s a great all-school event and is fun for the whole family.

If you’re looking for a great movie to see, check out the reviews page and see what other CCDS students think about the newest releases.

Also, if you’re looking for something fun to do during the day, check out the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Gardens or the Newport Aquarium. The zoo is a cheaper option, but if the weather isn’t ideal the aquarium is definitely your best bet.

Lastly, get outside and enjoy the great weather (we live in Cincinnati, it won’t last long). Pack a picnic basket and go to Ault Park or Sharon Woods. Take on the Loveland Bike Trail with your friends, or just go for a leisurely walk.