1000 x 90

What’s Happening This Halloween? Our Guide to Holiday Weekend Festivities for All Ages

Halloween is right around the corner and there’s so much fun to be had in the High Country this year! Peruse our list of fall and Halloween fun as you make plans to dress up and celebrate with your friends and neighbors.

While you’re out and about this Halloween season, don’t forget to drive by Linville Land Harbor and check out this year’s holiday display.

Do you have an event you’d like to add to our list? Send us some information by email at jessica@highcountrypress.com.

 

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.

 

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.

 

Bethel School Scarecrow Sprint and Fall Festival

Wear your best costume and enjoy a fun 1.5 mile walk/run around Bethel Park! Adult run begins at 10 a.m. and the kids run will begin after. Candy will be given out . There will be inflatables and games for the kids to enjoy and lots of family fun for everyone. Participate in the walk/run for $10, a cake walk for $1 and get tickets for games and inflatables at four for $1. Unlimited inflatable bands are $10. All proceeds will support Bethel School’s PTSO.

The park is located adjacent to the school on Bethel Road in Sugar Grove.

 

Beary Scary Halloween at Grandfather Mountain

Saturday, Oct. 29 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Halloween on the mountain means an entire day of fun for all and an added chance to enjoy fall at Grandfather. Cost to participate is included in your admission to the park for the day, and kiddos in costume get in for half price!

Grandfather Mountain attraction is located at 2050 Blowing Rock Highway in Linville.

More information: Call 828-733-4326, contact mickey@grandfather.com or visit grandfather.com.

 

Blowing Rock Halloween Festival

Saturday, Oct. 29 beginning at 2 p.m.

The fun begins in the afternoon and continues even after the sun goes down at this annual festival, which offers an action-packed schedule of activities for all ages.

Sponsored by Blowing Rock Parks and Recreation, this Saturday night happening is a great time to sport you favorite Halloween costume, do some trick-or-treating in downtown Blowing Rock and find something new around every corner in town.

Here’s the schedule:

2-3 p.m. Spooky Stories and Creepy Crafts at Blowing Rock Art and History Museum, 159 Chestnut St.

3-8 p.m. Air walks in Memorial Park, Main Street

3-5:30 p.m. Games and fun house in the Recreation Center (white building by the tennis courts)

4-8 p.m. Hay Rides through Blowing Rock (meet at Memorial Park, Main Street)

5:30 p.m. Lineup at the American Legion building, Wallingford Street, for the Monster March costume parade

5:45 p.m. Monster March costume parade travels through town

6 p.m. Trick-or-Treat at downtown businesses marked with black and orange balloons

6:45 p.m. Deadline to sign-up for the costume contest at the Recreation Center

7 p.m. Costume contest at the Recreation Center

Immediately following the costume contest: Moonlight scavenger hunt at Broyhill Lake begins! Bring your flashlight and participate in teams (max three per group)

More information: Call 828-295-5222 or visit townofblowingrock.com.

 

Trunk-or-Treat at First Baptist Blowing Rock

Saturday, Oct. 29 from 6-7 p.m.

Can’t get enough Halloween fun in Blowing Rock? Immediately following the town’s annual Monster March, swing by First Baptist Church of Blowing Rock at 350 Sunset Drive for lots of cars, lots of candy and lots of fun!

More information: Call 828-295-7715.

 

Trunk-or-Treat at Historic Banner Elk School

Saturday, Oct. 29 from 5-8 p.m.

One of the most popular family Halloween events in the North Carolina High Country. Children (and adults) come dressed in costumes for a fun trick-or-treat experience from the trunks of vehicles. The festivities include a costume contest for kids, and a separate contest for four-legged friends. Be sure to check out the haunted house and hay rides. Come early for free face painting from noon to 5 p.m.

More information: Call 828-504-0771.

 

Ensemble Stage: War of the Worlds at Green Park Inn

Saturday, Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m.

Get ready – a Martian invasion is taking place right in Blowing Rock! Just in time for Halloween, join the Green Park Inn on Saturday, Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. to witness Ensemble Stage perform a unique adaptation of Orson Welles ‘War of the Worlds’ radio drama.

See how the original broadcast went out over the air waves and caused panic in towns all across the country! Ensemble Stage will be performing the original script, with one exception. The epicenter of destruction will take place right here in Blowing Rock! Viewers will be able to see and hear actors perform the script, complete with sound effects.

The performance will be about an hour long and is suitable for all ages! Tickets are $16 for adults/seniors and $10 for kids 16 and under. For more information, visit Ensemble Stage’s website.

Click here for more information.

 

The Haunting of Hickory Ridge

Saturday, Oct. 29 at 8 p.m.

Tour the High Country’s only certified haunted attraction and get to know the supernatural residents at Hickory Ridge Museum at 591 Horn in the West Drive. Learn about 18th century traditions of All Hallow’s Eve and find out what life was like then on the eeriest night of the year. Throughout  the night you will take part in 18th century Halloween traditions, hear Daniel Boone’s encounters with the paranormal and learn the haunting history of our area.

The hour long tours will leave every half hour with the first tour leaving at 7 p.m. and the last tour departing at midnight. This event is recommended for ages 16 up due to mature topics that will be discussed. Museum employees are available to talk to parents about whether or not this program might be suitable for their children.

For tickets and more information: Call 828-264-2120, visit hickoryridgemuseum.com or check out the event on Facebook.

 

Haunted Trail of Ashe County

Saturday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m.

On October 29th the Haunted Trail of Ashe County, NC will be open for their fourth year!
Thrill seekers of all ages are invited to brave the terror that awaits them around every corner!
A guide will accompany patrons through a trail of scenes including a torture chamber, butcher shop, swamp, and who knows what other scares await you!
All your nightmares will come to life Saturday, October 29th starting at 6PM.
The Haunted Trail is located at 175 Maple Avenue in West Jefferson, NC.
Admission is FREE!
The Haunted Trail includes live actors, special effects, music, and scary scenes that may not be suitable for young children. The Haunted Trail is recommended for ages 6+ however, parents should decide if this event is suitable for their child. Unfortunately, the Haunted Trail is not handicap accessible. Please be aware you will encounter fog, strobe lights, and loud noises. We are not responsible for scarred lives or wet pants.
So come on out to the Haunted Trail! We’re DYING to see you! ?

 

Boone BOO!

Monday, Oct. 31 from 4-6 p.m.

Hit the streets of downtown Boone this Halloween for an afternoon of fun brought to you by the Watauga County Public Library and the Downtown Boone Development Association.

Start at the library, 140 Queen St., at 4 p.m. for games and arts and crafts, and then join the “costume parade” down to the Jones House Cultural and Community Center, 604 West King St.

Take a spooky, silly tour of the Jones House before you head out for trick-or-treating from 5-6 p.m. with downtown Boone merchants. You don’t want to miss Boone BOO!

More information: Call 828-268-6280 or visit downtownboonenc.com.

 

Trick-or-Treating at the Boone Mall

Monday, Oct. 31 from 5-7 p.m.

Come in costume and visit shops in the mall for the annual trick-or-treating festivities! Watauga County Parks and Recreation will provide the favorite pumpkin house for all to enjoy and most stores will participate in offering candy and treats. While you’re there and all dressed up, have your photo taken with the F Stops photography club from Appalachian State! Ask for portrait pricing when you get there.

More information: Call 828-264-7286 or visit boonencmall.com.

 

 

Trunk-or-Treat Fall Festival at Bethel Baptist Church

Monday, Oct. 31 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Parents and kids, get decked out in your favorite cool costumes and head out to western Watauga County for a free night of fun for the whole family. The church parking lot at 123 Mountain Dale Road in Vilas will be converted into the annual fall festival! Enjoy trunk-or-treating to grab up some candy and snacks, stop by the photo booth and share in a good time with your friends and neighbors.

More information: Call 828-297-2694, visit bethelbaptistchurch.us or follow Bethel on Facebook.

 

Fall Family Festival at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church

Monday, Oct. 31 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Join Mt. Vernon Baptist Church for an evening of food, fun, inflatables, games for all ages and so much more. No scary costumes, please. This free community-wide event saw more than 800 folks last year. It’s a safe, family friendly alternative to Halloween, so feel free to invite your friends!

Volunteers and donations of soda and soft candies are needed to help offset the cost of the festival. If you have donations, leave them in the lobby at the festival display.

Mt. Vernon is located at 3505 Bamboo Road in Boone.

More information: Call 828-266-9700 or visit mvbcb.org.

 

Newland Halloween Trick-or-Treat Festival

Saturday, Oct. 31 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Halloween Trick-or-Treat Festival, Downtown & Avery County Morrison Library in Newland.

Sponsored by the Greater Newland Association.

More information: Visit greaternewland.org.

 

Fall Fun at Crosspoint Community Church

Monday, Oct. 31 beginning at 4 p.m.

Join the family friendly harvest time fun at Crosspoint Community Church, 325 Council Street in Boone, for hotdogs, candy, bounce house and more. It’s a perfect way to wrap up the day if you’ll be in town for Boone BOO!

 

Campfire Stories at Grandfather Mountain State Park

Monday, Oct. 31 from 5-6:30 p.m.

Bring a lawn chair and find your spot around the campfire at the Profile Trail Parking Area as Ranger Sicard reads from Belinda and the Brown Mountain Lights, an excerpt from the book Mountain Ghost Stories and curious tales of Western North Carolina by Randy Russell and Janet Barnett. After the reading, join a conversation about the various schools of thought behind the mysterious lights and why they occur, both factitious and scientifically based.

Dress appropriately for the local weather conditions, bring your own chair and be prepared to share and chat for approximately an hour.

More information: Call 828-963-9522, contact grandfather.mountain@ncparks.gov or visit ncparks.gov/grandfather-mountain-state-park.

 

Trunk-or-Treat with the Creek

Monday, Oct. 31 from 6-7:30 p.m.

Trunk-or-Treat with Howards Creek Church at Brookshire Park this Halloween!

The park is located at 50 Brookshire Road in Boone.

More information: facebook.com/events/1803309136573119/