Waiting for Halloween in Siouxland, Durham Museum, Omaha, NE

The Durham Museum decked out for Halloween in Omaha, NE Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Halloween in Siouxland like many holidays has taken on a life of its own and gives people a chance to enjoy a day guilt free. Visiting the Durham Museum recently which is located in Omaha, NE, the museum was decked out in anticipation of the yearly event.

The Durham Museum decked out with various scary scenarios for Halloween in Omaha, NE Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The Durham Museum decked out for Halloween in Omaha, NE Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Ghouls, ghosts and skeletons were found in various places throughout. And on occasion some guests added to the atmosphere for a spook festival that occurs Oct. 31. It’s always fun to see how places celebrate holidays and the Durham didn’t disappoint.

The Durham Museum decked out for Halloween in Omaha, NE Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A visitor makes a nice apparition while checking out an exhibit at the Durham Museum which is decked out for Halloween in Omaha, NE Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

And while the adults didn’t get to indulge, there were goody bags for the kids, always in my humble opinion one of the best aspects of Halloween as a child. Candy may not settle the stomach after a good scare, but it doesn’t hurt either.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Shadows of strangers seen during a visit to the Durham Museum which is decked out for Halloween in Omaha, NE Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2020. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Enjoying Fall in Siouxland, Fields of Fun in Sioux Center

Fields of Fun pumpkin and corn maze is located near Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Fall arrived in Siouxland recently with cooler temperatures and rainy weather. The former is a nice change of pace from recent 80’s and 90’s and high humidity, but the rain could wait a while. For some folk though it hasn’t “dampened” there enthusiasm for fall celebrations of various harvests and Halloween. Fields of Fun is a destination stop near Sioux Center started recently after a former fall place, Pumpkinland, ceased to exist. And the people behind the new venture wanted to continue the spirit families experienced at the former.

Fields of Fun pumpkin and corn maze is located near Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Fields of Fun pumpkin and corn maze is located near Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Fields of Fun is located on a working farm. There are some animals for children to see and possibly engage with as well as the chance to pick one’s own pumpkin and “get lost” in a cornfield maze.

Fields of Fun pumpkin and corn maze is located near Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Fields of Fun pumpkin and corn maze is located near Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Visitors are encourage to pick up maps before entering the maze, but sometimes people can be obstinate, and eventually lost. A nice thing for people living locally is a bike trail that passes by the farm and many cold ride their bikes to enjoy a day of exercise and seeing what is there. Although carrying home pumpkins, gourds and other baked or canned goods could prove challenging.

Fields of Fun pumpkin and corn maze is located near Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Fields of Fun pumpkin and corn maze is located near Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Halloween is approaching fast. And it’s nice to get out and enjoy a fun respite from the real world and see a little “country”, even if it’s only minutes outside of town and mostly viewing the tops of cornstalks. But it’s a good place to start.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Fields of Fun pumpkin and corn maze is located near Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Fields of Fun pumpkin and corn maze is located near Sioux Center, Iowa Friday, Sept. 13, 2019. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Halloween Approaches in Siouxland, Cherokee

Halloween is almost here and children will be out trick and treating with their parents as the eyes loom large at the candy they accumulate and the other “spooky creatures” they see doing the same. On a recent visit to Cherokee, Iowa I saw some decorations in the downtown area as local businesses decorate street corners and store fronts with fall and Halloween decor. Some attempts were made with what seemed more enthusiasm than others. But the attempt was made to decorate the downtown area of this community which is more than can be said for other communities. It was fun to walk and see what was there and to enjoy a ommunity’s celebration of a holiday.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A cornstalk display for Halloween at the former railroad depot in Cherokee, Iowa Wednesday Oct. 19, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Another Halloween decoration in front of a local bar in Cherokee, Iowa Wednesday Oct. 19, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A rather half-hearted attempt at a Halloween decoration in front of the public library in Cherokee, Iowa Wednesday Oct. 19, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Streets corners contain Halloween decor in Cherokee, Iowa Wednesday Oct. 19, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A Halloween exhibit on a street corner in Cherokee, Iowa Wednesday Oct. 19, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A Halloween exhibit on a street corner in Cherokee, Iowa Wednesday Oct. 19, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A Halloween exhibit on a street corner in Cherokee, Iowa Wednesday Oct. 19, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Halloween decor at the front door of a soon to open dental office in Cherokee, Iowa Wednesday Oct. 19, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A Halloween exhibit on a street corner in Cherokee, Iowa Wednesday Oct. 19, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Rainy Siouxland Farmers Market, Sioux City

Most people like to get out and shoot photographs on bright sunny days. And I like that too, sometimes. But there are some days, rainy days, well maybe kind of rainy days when it is not pouring buckets, that nice photographs can be made and turn out well. I visited the Sioux City, Iowa, Farmers Market over the weekend. A lot of good produce at the market, healthy produce like vegetables, as well as those enticing desert produce like cakes and pies and jams. About mid-morning not a lot of shoppers had shown up. It was quiet, which might be good for shoppers, but not for the small organic farmers who toil in good and bad weather to bring their produce to the market. But the day made for taking nice photographs. On overcast days, the flat light and lack of shadows can enrich colors and create a different mood than shooting on bright sun shiny days which also create deep shadows. Some shoppers enjoyed the quiet shopping time and also the produce available. The rainy day market reprints and previous photos can be found here.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa