KALAMAZOO, MI - It may not seem like the witching season, nor for that matter fall, but that's not putting a chill on haunted houses and spooky stuff from popping up this month.

There's no scarcity of scares in the Kalamazoo area in October, some beginning this weekend and others closer to Halloween. Here are some of the more familiar haunted houses, ghost tours and other scream scenes:

Psycho Ward & Nightmares, 7656 Ravine Road, Kalamazoo Speedway, Alamo Township.

Voted a Top 10 Michigan haunt, Psycho Ward & Nightmares opens for the season on Saturday, Oct. 7. It will be open through Halloween, Oct. 31. For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.hauntpark.com or call 269-491-0060.

Hauntingly Historic Schoolcraft

You won't have to tiptoe through this cemetery for the new tours of Schoolcraft Township Cemetery at 1 and 4 p.m. Oct. 7, 14 and 21. The history of the village and the stories of some of its early residents -- who might be resting nearby -- will be told.

Each tour will run about an hour and a half and is limited to 16 people per tour. The cost is $20 a person in advance and $25 day of the tour. Funds raised from the tours will go to the Schoolcraft Community Library, the Ladies' Library Association of Schoolcraft, and the Schoolcraft Historical Society.

Organizers say it is a walking tour and not "your standard Halloween haunted house type tour. We don't plan to have people jump out from behind gravestones or touch you on the shoulders or whisper in your ears behind your back, but we can't predict what you personally will see, hear or feel."

For details, go to www.pureschoolcraft.org.

Ghosts of Kalamazoo Historic Tour

The Kalamazoo Jaycees unwrap "history with a twist" at their 11th annual Ghosts of Kalamazoo Historic Tour Oct. 13, 20,27, 28 in downtown Kalamazoo (meet at the Ladies Library Association), Riverside Cemetery Oct. 14 and Mt. Home Cemetery Oct. 21. All tours are 6 to 8:20 p.m.

As always, proceeds benefit various charities supported by the Kalamazoo Jaycees. Tickets are $9 in advance and $10 on site, and tours leave every 20 minutes. Tours last about 45 to 60 minutes.

For more information or to sign up, go to www.ghostsofkalamazoo.com or call 269-340-0033.

The Haunted Hallow, 13215 M-96, Augusta, in the Olde World Village.

The scariest place in Augusta opens at 8 p.m. Friday and will continue its scary ways Oct. 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27. It's not recommended for children under 17. The cost is $10 at the gate. For more information, go to www.thehauntedhallow.com.

Block of Terror, corner of East Michigan and Edwards streets downtown Kalamazoo.

The annual downtown Kalamazoo attraction is month-long Festival of Fright, seasonal dining, eerie decorations, roaming ghouls and a hot spot for fun and live music. For details, go to http://blockofterror.com/.

SplatmanBOO Haunted Forest, 13650 Harder Road, Three Rivers.

The SplatmanBOO Haunted Forest in Three Rivers is back for one night only at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21 and continues to the last guest in line at midnight. The cost is $5 and proceeds benefit the Domestic Assault Shelter in Three Rivers. It is not recommended for children under 14.

Niles Scream Park, 855 Mayflower Road, Niles.

This one is considered the best with its haunted houses and scream parks on 44 acres. It opened in September and continues through Nov. 4. Call 269-687-FEAR for more information and prices or go to www.haunted.org.

Witches of New Salem, 4516 24th St, Dorr.

More than 20 attractions from corn mazes to witches woods and zombie attacks can be found at this popular haunt that offers family friendly activities for children in the day and thrills and chills for adults at night.

For details go to www.witchesofnewsalem.com or call 616-681-2342.

Monster Mash, Portage's Schrier Park, 850 W. Osterhout Ave.

The second annual Monster Mash will be 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, with activities including free trick-or-treating in the park, face painting, a hayride down the trail, magic show, photo booth with surprise guests, pumpkin carving demos and more. New this year will be parking at Portage Central High and taking the Monster Mash bus to the park. Only handicapped parking will be allowed at Schrier Park.