Halloween falls on a Monday this year, which means festivities are spread out across the weekend and the days leading up to it. Here in the High Country, the fun begins as early as Thursday, Oct. 27. To make your holiday planning simple and show you what’s going on around town, we’ve separated ongoing activities into three different lists.
Here’s our round-up of festivities that will take place Thursday and Friday, Oct. 27-28.
End-of-the-week activities include the annual Trick-or-Treat for Tots event sponsored by Appalachian State University Housing, an original play written by Boone novelist and Lees-McRae College graduate Joshua Simcox and the new Trail-or-Treat party at Beech Mountain’s Buckeye Recreation Center. Also, don’t miss out on the last Friday night of Tweetsie Railroad’s Ghost Train Halloween Festival this season.
Trick-or-Treat for Tots at App State University Housing
Thursday, Oct. 27 from 5-7 p.m.
University Housing would like to invite you into our East Campus residence halls for our annual Trick-or-Treat for Tots event on Thursday, October 27, 2016, from 5-7pm . This event is open to Appalachian State faculty and staff as well as community families. Admission is one canned good or non-perishable food item. All donations will be given to a local charity. Children of all age groups are encouraged to dress in their Halloween costumes to go trick-or-treating through Hoey, Cannon, Lovill, East, Doughton, White, Summit, and Cone residence halls. Appalachian students will be handing out candy and the hall lobbies will have fun activities designed for all ages. Parents and children will need to check in at the East Hall parking lot (between East Hall and Hwy. 321) to receive a map and further instructions for the evening festivities. Parking is available in any campus faculty/staff parking lot.
For further information, please contact University Housing at (828)262-7096.
The Devil’s Stairs at Lees-McRae
Thursday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m.
Are you looking for spooky fun to celebrate Halloween? Come to Lees-McRae College at 7 p.m. on October 27 to hear an original play, The Devil’s Stairs, written by Boone novelist Joshua Simcox.
A graduate of the college’s creative writing program, he will direct a radio broadcast reading of his play with Lees-McRae students in Evans Auditorium.
Simcox graduated from Lees-McRae in 2005 with an interdisciplinary degree in creative writing. Since then he has worked in the publishing industry and as a freelance writer. He has published two novels and has a third coming out in fall 2016.
He is excited to bring out his first play for the public.
“The Devil’s Stairs is the story of a terminally ill young girl and her friends who encounter a strange man in a haunted stretch of western North Carolina where the devil is said to roam,” said Simcox.
Simcox has roots in Ashe County where the haunted stairs are located.
“We look forward to premiering Josh’s play. The students have enjoyed his novels, and anticipate a fun, but frightening, evening,” says Dr. Michael Joslin, director of the Stephenson Center for Appalachia at Lees-McRae. “The Appalachian Mountains are home to numerous ghosts and ‘haints,’ with the apparitions at the Devil’s Stairs having a long history of haunting.”
Everyone is invited to attend to the program. Stephenson Center for Appalachia lectures are free and open to the public. For information email joslin@lmc.edu.
Beech Mountain Trail-or-Treat Party
Friday, Oct. 28 beginning at 5 p.m.
Celebrate the spookiest day of the year at Buckeye Recreation Center on Beech Mountain, 1330 Pine Ridge Road.
The excitement will kick-off at 5 p.m. with the inaugural Trail-or-Treat, where kids will travel along the Buckeye trail visiting stations and collecting candy.
Immediately following the trail-or-treating from 6-8 p.m., the party happens at the Rec Center. Young partygoers and aspiring ghost busters will have a chance to help solve a ghost problem on the mountain!
More information: Call 828-387-3003 or visit beechrecreation.org.
Masquerade Ball to Support Hunger and Health Coalition
Save the date – the masquerade ball will be held on Friday, Oct. 28. The fun begins at 6 p.m. and lasts until 10:30 p.m.
What? A masquerade ball will be held to get the High Country into the spirit of Halloween! This fundraiser will include performances by Appalachian State University’s Theatre Group, heavy hors d’oeuvrers, a live DJ, a costume contest, fortune tellers, and more! Come dressed in your favorite costume accompanied by a mask to really participate in this unique fundraising event.
Also, alcohol will be served at the ball, so this event is 21+. Sorry, kiddos!
Who? This is the Hunger and Health Coalition’s 2nd annual masquerade ball, so be sure to join them this year! The Coalition’s mission is to, “be a resource for individuals and families within our community that are struggling to provide themselves with basic needs such as food, prescribed medications and heat during winter.” Come out and show your support for the people in need of the High Country!
“Hunger is a community matter,” says Crystal Winebarger, director of operations. “No one is immune to it, and it’s nice to see everyone come out and show support for the community and the people in need.”
Where? The Turchin Center for the Visual Arts is where it all takes place. The address is 423 West King street in Boone.
Cost? Tickets are $55 per person or two for $100. They will be available at Hunger and Health Coalition or at Mast Stores. All proceeds will benefit funds for food and medicine for the Coalition’s service programs.
Other Information: For more information, contact the Hunger and Health Coalition at 828-262-1628!
Want to help out and volunteer for the Hunger and Health Coalition? There are plenty of opportunities with the variety of services, programs and projects! The opportunities range from packing meals for a couple of hours, helping to serve dinner on Thanksgiving Day, to completing an internship at the Coalition. The newest project, the garden spaces, also need volunteers. If you have a green thumb, be sure to get involved with a great cause!
For students, the Coalition works closely with the ACT Office at Appalachian State University to help students complete required service learning and volunteer hours. Individuals and groups of all ages and ability are welcome!
Check out the website to fill out a volunteer application and to learn more about volunteering!
Ghost Train Halloween Festival
Friday and Saturday, Oct. 28-29 at 7:30 p.m.
Don’t miss your last chance to visit this year’s Ghost Train Halloween Festival at Tweetsie Railroad! The annual series draws to a close on Halloween weekend.
Tickets must be purchased in advance for a specific night and train ride times are assigned in the process. A limited number of guests are admitted nightly, so get your tickets as soon as possible and get there early!
Admission is $36 per person for adults and children, and children 2 and under enter free.
Once you’re behind the gates, check out the haunted house, the Halloween shows on Main Streed, the 3-D Maze, the Black Hole, trick-or-treating, the freaky forest, the warp tunnel, the Tweetsie Palace Spooktacular Black Light Show and the main event — the ghost train ride!
For tickets and more information: Call 800-526-5740 or visit Tweetsie.com.