Halloween Happenings

COMPILED BY MARY DUTTON | BRISTOL HERALD COURIER
Published: October 20, 2008

ABINGDON

STAGEFRIGHT: 170 E. Main St., Star Museum, Oct. 23-25, 28-31, 7:30 p.m. Hear hair-raising tales of Sharon Tate, Bela Lugosi and many others, while in close proximity to their actual belongings, in a documented haunted setting. Ages 16 and up, by reservation only, (276) 628-2862 or e-mail .

TERROR IN THE VALLEY: Brumley Gap Fire Department, Brumley Gap Road, off Route 19, Oct. 24-25, 31, 7:30-11 p.m.; $6 adults, $4 children 12 and under; refreshments available for sale; proceeds go to fire department.

WILLIAM KING REGIONAL ARTS CENTER: 415 Academy Dr., Jack-O-Lantern’s Day Out, Oct. 25; fee, pre-register at (276) 628-5005.

SLEEPY HOLLOW PARTY: Oct. 25, Activities for the entire family 5-9 p.m.; Chili cook off, 5-7 p.m.; Abingdon Market Pavilion, concert with Kids Our Age, 4:30-6:30 p.m.; games for kids, Main St., between Cummings St., and Russell Road; Costume parade, 6:30 p.m., Main St., hayrides, DJ and music on east end of Main St., near Cummings St.,; Concert, 7:30-9 p.m. with The Benny Wilson Band, beach and rock ‘n’ roll, Main St., near Russell Road. (276) 676-2282.

BOO AVENUE PREVIEW NIGHT: Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center, Oct. 27, 5-8 p.m. Pumpkin carving contest, a costume contest for children up to age 12, face painting, pampered chef demonstrations and more. Pumpkins need to be pre-carved. Winners will be awarded in each age division. For entry forms, (866) 881-0032.

FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF ABINGDON: 185 Old Jonesboro Road at Exit 14, Oct. 29, Annual Trunk or Treat. Hot dog roast, 6 p.m.; treats, 7 p.m.

BLOUNTVILLE

HAUNTED APPALACHIAN CAVERNS: 420 Cave Hill Road, through Nov. 1, every Friday and Saturday, 6 p.m. to midnight. The Abyss, $10; Forest of 13 Haunted Hike, $8; Tower of Terror Wall Climb, $5. Abyss and Hike together, $15. (423) 323-2337.

HAUNTED HOLLAR: Bristol/Kingsport KOA Kampground, 425 Rocky Branch Road, every Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m. in October. Oct. 24-25: Murder Mystery “Murder on the Petulant Express.” Each weekend features crafts, pumpkin carving, “scary” games, hayrides, costume contests and trick or treating. Younger kids will be entertained and supervised at the pavilion while the big kids dare to enter the Hollar. (423) 323-7790, (800) 562-7640 or e-mail .

FRANKENSTEIN: 2425 Highway 75, adjacent to Tri-Cities Regional Airport, Northeast State Regional Center for the Performing Arts, Oct. 30-Nov. 2. Not the typical Frankenstein tale. This production delves into the dark themes of alienation, violence and evil, 7 p.m., nightly; Nov. 2, 2:30 p.m. matinee; Advance $5, available at business office, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. General admission $8/$7 seniors/$6 groups of 10 or more/$6 children, ages 10 and up. Students with valid ID free. Play not recommended for children ages 10 and under. (423) 354-2479 or (423) 323-0218.

BLOWING ROCK, N.C.

GHOST TRAIN HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL: Every Friday and Saturday night through Nov. 1. Take a ride on Tweetsie Railroad’s Ghost Train and experience the 13 spooky rooms in the haunted house. The Haunted Palace Saloon will present a spooktacular black light show. Visit the 3-D Maze and the Tunnel of Terror and stop by the Creepy Carnival and walk through the infamous Black Hole or take a spin on the rides. Gates open 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets required. $26 adults and children/ages 2 and under free. 1-877-TWEETSIE or visit http://www.tweetsie.com.

BRISTOL

HALLOWEEN TRUNK OR TREAT CLASSIC CAR SHOW: Friendship Ford, Volunteer Parkway, Oct. 19, 1-6 p.m. Dress your car and kids. Candy, prizes, trophies, 50/50 drawings, music and more. Prize for best costume for children and best Halloween theme car. Rain date, Oct. 26. Car registration, $15. Free to public.  (423) 360-2767 or (423) 340-0737.

SOUTH HOLSTON FOREST OF FEARS: Off 421, behind South Holston Little League and South Holston Ruritan. Oct. 22-23, 27-30, 7 p.m. dark-11 p.m.;  Oct. 24-25, 31, 7 p.m. dark-12 a.m.; Nov. 1, 7 p.m. or at dark to midnight. $7 adults 12 plus/$5 children. (423) 967-2572.

PUMPKIN PALOOZA: Bristol, Tenn., 810 State St., Downtown Center, Oct. 25, 9 a.m. Costume contest, pumpkin decorating and games. Bristol Grocery Company will take pictures of children in their costumes in exchange for a canned food donation which will be given to the Bristol Emergency Food Pantry. (423) 764-4023.

MASTER ILLUSIONIST DAVE VAUGHT: The Paramount Center for the Arts, Oct. 26, 3 p.m. Experience the thrill of seeing through a human, levitation, the (new) Bell Witch illusion, origami, the divided lady and more. Reserved $10 adults/$6 students. (423) 274-8920.

GHOST TALES: Slater Community Center, Oct. 30, 7 p.m. Tales with Bud Phillips. Hear about the ghost that walks the train station looking for his lost love and tales of other ghosts that haunt the area. Holiday refreshments will be served. (423) 764-4012.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN: Steele Creek Park, Oct. 30, 6-8 p.m., for ages 2-12. Park and walk through the park for Halloween goodies. Train rides (weather permitting) $1. (423) 764-4023.

HALLOWEEN/FALL FESTIVAL: NorthStar Church, 2455 King Mill Pike, Oct. 31, 5:30-8 p.m. Inflatables, games, hot dogs, hayrides, face painting, candy, etc. Safe environment for children. (276) 466-1825 or http://www.northstarbristol.org.

HALLOWEEN CAR CRUISE-IN: Tri Summit Bank parking lot, Oct. 31, Prizes, candy, tricks and treats. Awards for best dressed cars and people. No admission. 50/50 drawings, door prizes, trophies and more.

BOOOOTIFUL EVENING: Bristol Mall, Oct. 31, 6 p.m.; costume contests, various age divisions from infant to adult, also division for best costumed pet; trick or treating at 7 p.m.; (276) 645-PARK.

CEDAR BLUFF

KIDS ON THE HOMEFRONT HALLOWEEN PARTY: Cedar Bluff Armory, Oct. 23, 6 p.m. Costumes, treats, games and prizes. (276) 964-7785.

DAMASCUS

THE JEFF WAMPLER VARIETY SHOW: Rock School Auditorium, Oct. 30, Jeff Wampler, will present a program jam-packed with magic, juggling, comedy, balancing stunts, puppetry and even a hint of danger. As a tribute to Harry Houdini’s 1926 Halloween death, Wampler will perform a version of Houdini’s straitjacket escape called “The Harry Houdini Straitjacket Wacky Noodle Challenge!.” Tickets, $5 may be purchased online at http://www.jeffwampler.com. (423) 383-6816.

DUFFIELD

TREMBLE AT THE TUNNEL: Natural Tunnel State Park, Oct. 25, 3-5 p.m., Amphitheater; games, Dr. Jeckel’s Lab, fun for all ages; kids wear your costumes; (276) 940-1643 or 940-2674.

ELIZABETHTON

MYSTERIOUS CANDLELIGHT TOURS: Broad St., Extension, Carter Mansion, Oct. 23, 24, 7:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. Hear tales of ghostly appearances, unexplained happenings, mysterious past events and other unusual goings-on with a bit of history and humor thrown in. Each tour limited to 15 people. (423) 543-5808.

SCARY STORIES: Broad St., Extension, Carter Mansion. Meet in the cemetery Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m. Tales of woe and terror, the weird and macabre, with a touch of wit thrown in for good measure. (423) 543-5808.

FALL BRANCH, TENN.

MORTALITY ROOM HOUSE OF MARTYRS: 441 Horton Highway, Oct. 19, 24-26 and 29-31. LampLight Theatre’s Mortality Room blends multi-media, pyrotechnics and theatrical illusions to transform the theater into a chamber of torture. Not for faint-hearted. Rated PG-13. 6:30 and 9 p.m. each evening. Reservations recommended, $6. (423) 348-7610, (423) 245-1551 or http://www.lamplighttheatre.com.

GATLINBURG

RIPLEY’S HAUNTED ADVENTURE: Former site of the Grimsby & Streaper Casket Company. Fright Nights, Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays in October and Nov. 1, 6:13 p.m. with a character parade. Twilight of the Dead will feature a wide variety of the living dead. Tickets: $12.99 plus tax for ages 12 and up and $7.99 plus tax for ages 6-11. No one under age 6 is allowed due to the graphic nature of the facility. Under age 12 must be accompanied by a guardian. 865-430-9901.

JOHNSON CITY

PUMPKIN DECORATING CONTEST: 100 West Millard St., Johnson City Public Library. Patrons of all ages may participate by bringing a painted and/or decorated pumpkin to the Youth Services Desk any time in October. The library will display the pumpkins throughout the month. Judging for preschool, grades K-2, 3-5,  6-12 and adults. Pumpkins need to be at library no later than Oct. 26 to be judged. Final judging Oct. 27; Oct. 27, Costume Parade will be held 6:30 p.m. Children and adults should come dressed in costume. Special Halloween storytime will follow in the Storytime Room. (423) 434-4458 or http://www.jcpl.net.

FIRST FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH: 302 Colorado St., (across from the Keystone ball park) Oct. 31, Trunk or Treat, 5-8 p.m. Games with prizes, candy, hot dogs, popcorn, entertainment and more. Free, open to the public.

JONESBOROUGH

HALLOWEEN HAUNTS & HAPPENINGS: Downtown historic district, Oct. 31, beginning 6 p.m. A safe evening of trick-or-treating with games, a costume contest and scary stories. Free. (423) 913-0205.

KINGSPORT

WITCHES WYND: Exchange Place, Oct. 24-25, 8 p.m. Storytellers will be waiting in the nooks and crannies of the ancient log buildings to relate tales and legends as the audience rotates among them. Advance tickets, $6. (423) 288-6071.

KNOXVILLE

BOO! AT THE ZOO: Knoxville Zoo, Oct. 19 and 23-26, Ghosts, goblins, pumpkins and princesses, treat stations, dancing in the Monster Mash tent, games, costume characters and “Lil’ Punk.” (865) 637-5331, ext. 300 at http://www.knoxville-zoo.org.

MARION

CALVARY BAPTIST CHURCH: 956 Matson Drive, Oct. 31, Trunk-or-Treat, 5:30-8:30 p.m. There will be games, food and fun. Ten tickets for a dollar to play games and win prizes.

NORTON

HOLYWEEN HOEDOWN: Norton Christian Church, Oct. 26, 6-8 p.m. Pre-school/adults. Costume contest, talent show, cake walks, bobbing for apples, football toss, dum-dum tree, pumpkin decorating, crafts and snacks.

PINEY FLATS

GHOST STORIES: Rocky Mount Museum, Oct. 30, 6 p.m. author Joe Tennis reading ghost tales featured in his books, “The Marble and Other Ghost Tales” and 7 p.m. speaking on his most recent book, “Sullivan County, Tennessee.” Both 45-minute programs are free. (423) 538-7396.

ST. PAUL

SPOOKY STORIES: 16552 Wise St., J. Fred Matthews Library, Oct. 28, 6 p.m. Joe Tennis, author of The Marble and Other Ghost Tales will tell spooky stories of Virginia and Tennessee. (276) 762-9702.

VIRGINIA CITY

HALLOWEEN HAUNTED TOWN: Oct. 24, 25, 31 and Nov. 1, from 6-10 p.m. nightly. Games, pumpkins to carve, face painting, contests, wear your Halloween best for prizes. Small guided tours of town begin at dark and are by suggested $5 donation, benefiting the Wytheville Junior ROTC and the Virginia City Restoration Fund. (276) 223-1873 or http://www.vacity.com.