Carolina chills
As the leaves change and the air becomes crisp, the mountains of Western North Carolina transform into a landscape of mystery and mischief. In the spirit of ghouls, ghosts and everything creepy and crawling, communities around Southern Appalachia will celebrate Halloween with an array of local and regional events, for kids and parents alike.
Bethel
• The Cold Mountain Corn Maze is now open. Bethel. Hayrides, concessions, bonfire and pint-sized maze for toddlers. Corn maze becomes haunted after dark. Open 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 1 to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $8 for ages 4 and older, ages 3 and younger free.
Bryson City
• Downtown Trick or Treat will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30. Local merchants will provide candy for trick-or-treaters. www.greatsmokies.com.
• Spooky Storytelling will be held at 8 p.m. Oct. 24-25 and 31 in The Storytelling Center at 22 Fry Street. Tim Hall spins the tales of the spirits that live in the mountains — haints, boogers, and the witches of the Southern Highlands.
• The PEANUTS Pumpkin Patch Express is now running daily from the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Depot in Bryson City. Charlie Brown and friends will be on-hand for the festivities, which also include a narration of “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” Halloween family activities and more. For ticket information, click on www.gsmr.com or 800.872.4681.
• A Masquerade Dinner Train will hit the tracks at 9 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad depot. Evening of Halloween costumers, live music, dinner and cash bar. 800.872.4681 or www.gsmr.com.
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• The Darnell Farms Corn Maze is now open. Maze, hayrides and working family farm in a picturesque setting along the Tuckasegee River. The maze becomes haunted on weekend nights. A produce stand on site sells farm goods of all sorts, including apples, jam and fall decorations like gourds and dried corn. Open daily, with hayrides Friday and Saturday. $5 for ages 4 and up, ages 3 and younger free. 828.488.3167.
• The fall production of Bram Stoker’s classic “Dracula” will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 24-25 and 27 and at 2:30 p.m. Oct. 19 and 26 at the Smoky Mountain Community Theatre. The stage adaptation is closely based on the original, presenting the frightening story that made this a horror classic. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students ages 6 to18, and those under age 6 are admitted free. 828.488.8227.
Cashiers
• Goblins in the Green will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, at The Village Green in Cashiers. Costume contest, trick or treating, spooky inflatables, hayrides, and more. Free. 828.743.3434.
Cherokee
• “Haunted Cherokee” returns Oct. 25-26, 29-31 and Nov. 1 at select locations. The Little Dorm of Horrors!, an old boy’s dorm building, will be filled with creatures from your worst nightmares and they’re all waiting to catch you as you enter their habitat. The Mountainside Theatre will transform into Haunted Theatre, with the most terrifying acts taking place behind the scenes. And finally, the Oconaluftee Indian Village will once again host the Myths and Legends Ghost Walk, where many people have encountered spirits that occupy the campus. Tickets are $10 for each haunted attraction, $18 for a combination of any two or if you’d like to visit all three for $25. www.hauntedcherokee.com or www.cherokeeadventure.com. Advance tickets can be purchased online or they can be bought at the box office in the Mountainside Theatre.
• Myths and Legends of Cherokee will be held at 1 p.m. Oct. 24 and 31 at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. The lands of the Cherokee once extended through several states within the southeast and included all of the Great Smoky Mountains. Join a ranger for a talk to explore the culture, history and mythology of the Cherokee through storytelling. www.greatsmokies.com.
• The 6th Annual “Arc”toberfest will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 31, in the ballroom at Harrah’s Cherokee. The event provides The Arc of Haywood funding to support the residential programs and services for individuals with developmental disabilities. The $50 per person ticket includes music, dancing and heavy hors d’oeuvres. 828.452.1980 or www.arcofhaywood.org.
Fontana
• Hauntober Weekend will be held Oct. 24-25 at Fontana Village Resort. Pumpkin carving contest, costume contest, children’s activities, ghost stories, trips through the Haunted Hollow and Forest of Terror ($5 per person for all ages). www.fontanavillage.com.
Franklin
• Trunk or Treat will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 29 at the Iotla Baptist Church. Parking lot treating in a safe, welcoming environment. www.franklin-chamber.com.
• The Deals Farm Corn Maze is now open. A hayride takes you around the farm to the entrance of the corn maze. Open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. To visit on Monday through Thursday or from 6 to 9 p.m. on weekend nights, call ahead to make an appointment. $5 for ages 6 and older, ages 5 and younger free. 828.524.5151 or www.dealfarms.com.
Sylva
• “Ghostlorist” Randy Russell, author of The Ghost Will See You Now: Haunted Hospitals of the South, will hold a presentation at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 29, at City Lights Bookstore in Sylva. Attendees can share their stories, artifacts, and costumes to join in on the fun. 828.586.9499.
• Trunk or Treat will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31 at the East Sylva Baptist Church. Trunk or treat, hotdog supper and more. 828.586.2853.
• The Where the Shadows Walk: Local Historical Ghost Stories program will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at the Jackson County Public Library in Sylva. Gregg Clark will regale the audience with local ghost stories, the history of those stories, and some physical and visual evidence of those stories. He will end the presentation with a Q&A from the audience. A Halloween party will also be held at 6 p.m. in the Storytime Room at the library. Both events are free. 828.586.2016 or www.fontanalib.org.
• Haunted Hill Happenings will be held from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Comfort Inn and Sonic Drive-In parking lot. Trunk or treat, patio games, food, and more. 828.631.4200 or 828.354.0473 or www.mountainlovers.com.
Waynesville
• Treats of the Street will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31 in downtown. Trick or treating with local merchants. www.downtownwaynesville.com.
• The Zombie Late Skate will roll around from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25, at the Smoky Mountain Sk8way. The local roller rink and family fun center is holding its first ever Zombie Late Skate and invites the community to dress in their best decay and join in for tons of fun, games and prizes. Rink will be open all day for a public day skate. Admission is $10, with admission and skate rental $15. Fun Zone is $5. Tailgating is free. 828.246.9124 or www.smokymountainsk8way.com.
• Mel Brooks’ Halloween classic comedy “Young Frankenstein” and Alfred Hitchcock’s classic thriller “Psycho” will be screened at The Strand at 38 Main. Show times for “Young Frankenstein” are 7:45 p.m. Oct. 24; 2, 5 and 7:45 p.m. Oct. 25; 2 p.m. Oct. 26; 7 p.m. Oct. 28-29. “Psycho” will be shown at 7:45 and 10:15 p.m. Oct. 31; 2, 5 and 7:45 p.m. Nov. 1; 2 p.m. Nov. 2; 7 p.m. Nov. 4-5. Tickets are $6 per person, $4 for children, $3 for matinee. www.38main.com.
• The SuperWhoLock Halloween Party will be at 5 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Waynesville Public Library. Costume party for fans of Supernatural, Dr. Who and Sherlock. For ages 12 and up. Games and snacks will also be provided.
• “Ghostlorist” Randy Russell, author of The Ghost Will See You Now: Haunted Hospitals of the South, will hold a presentation at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 26, at Blue Ridge Books in Waynesville. Attendees can share their stories, artifacts, and costumes to join in on the fun. 828.456.6000.
