Published: 07:00 AM, Fri Oct 30, 2009
Here's your Halloween survival guide
Halloween has arrived, and with it a graveyard full of places to go and things to do (and brains to eat, for all our zombie friends). Here's our ghoulish guide to all the Halloween happenings in the area.
Trick or treating
These are Saturday's recommended trick-or-treating hours.
Downtown Fayetteville: 4-6 p.m.
Fayetteville: 6-8 p.m.
Cumberland County: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Hope Mills: 6-8:30 p.m.
Spring Lake: 5-8 p.m.
Cross Creek Mall: 6-8 p.m. (at participating stores)
Fort Bragg: 6-9 p.m. X-ray services for inspection of treats will be available at Womack Army Medical Center's X-ray room from 7:30-10 p.m. Saturday.
Family activities
Pumpkin smash: Yes, you can smash your pumpkin. Or bowl with it or toss it. The free event at Fort Bragg's Green Beret Club is tonight at 6. and is open to adults 21 and older. Call 907-4976.
Boogity-Boogity-Boo: The event is today at 11 a.m. at Cliffdale Regional Branch Library. There will be a costume contest for children, stories and dancing. Registration is required by calling 864-3800 ext. 228.
Storytelling Festival: The Cumberland County Storytelling Festival will feature the spooky ghost stories of Donna Washington, Saturday at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. The festival is free and will be held at the Headquarters Library on Maiden Lane in downtown Fayetteville.
Halloween Fall Fest: Cannon Park in Pinehurst will host spooky games, face painting, hayrides, candy and more from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday. The event is free. Call (910) 295-2817 for more information.
Halloween Haunt: From 5 to 7 p.m. at the Campbell House Grounds and Train House in Southern Pines on Saturday, there'll be a hauntingly good time for the family. The free event - mainly aimed at children 12 years and younger - will feature fortune telling, crafting, hayrides, snacks and more. For information, call (910) 692-2463.
"Phantom of the Opera": The Sunrise Theater in Southern Pines will present the 1925 silent film version of "The Phantom of the Opera" Saturday at 7:30 p.m., featuring piano accompaniment by Dave Drazen. There'll be a costume contest, as well as a live performance of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" by Thrill in the Sandhills. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children under 12. Call (910) 692-8501 or visit www.sunrisetheater.com.
Skate-a-Ween: Family festivities are planned at the Aberdeen Sports Complex from 5-8 p.m., including games, skating, inflatable jump castles and slides, a costume contest and concessions. Call (910) 944-4745 for information.
Trunk or Treat: The Fayetteville SwampDogs will host the third annual "Trunk or Treat at The Swamp" tonight from 5-7 at J.P. Riddle Stadium. Children can visit the many decorated cars with trunks filled with candy. There'll also be games and music. The movie "Monsters vs Aliens" will be shown at dusk as a special treat. The event is free and open to the public. Call 426-5900 for information.
Halloween Hustle: There'll be a Halloween Hustle Against Domestic Violence 1 mile fun run/walk, 5k run/walk and 10k run/walk held at Festival Park Saturday at 9 a.m., including door prizes, trophies, and a costume contest. Registration is $20 in advance, $25 the day of the event, and $5 for children 12 and under. Call 426-9622 or 483-5936 for information.
Gillis Hill Fall Harvest Festival: The Fall Harvest Festival at Gillis Hill Farm will take place all day Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. featuring antiques, hand-crafted items, wagon rides ($3 each), pony rides ($3 each), live music from T.R. and The Boys, ice cream, and more. Go to www.gillishillfarm.com.
Youth lock-in: Lafayette Lanes is having a lock-in from midnight Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday. There will be food, costume contests and, of course, bowling. Tickets are $16 per person and $10 per chaperone, and reservations are recommended. Call 484-0113 or 222-2695.
Haunted houses and hayrides
Haunted Hayride: The Haunted Hayride is a one-mile, open-air ride through the forest of Arnette Park, transporting brave souls to the haunted Marlowe Mansion. This is a scary ride - so parents be warned that this is not recommended for small children. The Haunted Hayride runs tonight only, from 7-9 p.m. Ride tickets are $1 for children 17 and under, and $2 per adult. Call 433-1547 for information, and 306-7325 for inclement weather.
Parties/night life
Halloween Bash for Kids and Adults: Sinners bar in Spring Lake will have a Halloween Bash for kids from 1-4 p.m. Saturday, and then for adults, beginning at 8 p.m. Both bashes will feature games, treats, and costume contests, while the adults-only bash will also have a deejay, eerie music and drink specials. The kids' bash is $5 per child. Call 436-6511 for information.
Halloween Party at It'z: There will be two huge Halloween parties at It'z Entertainment City Saturday. The first is for the kids, from 1-4 p.m., featuring free food and candy, "Zhu Zhu Pet" and "Zhu Zhu House" giveaway, door prizes and games. Things get started for the grown-ups at 7 p.m., with a costume contest and cash prizes on the line, and a performance by The Fifth to enjoy.
Halloween Gala: The Companion Animal Clinic of the Sandhills Foundation, Inc. will host a Halloween gala Saturday from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Pinehurst Fair Barn in Pinehurst. Tickets are $35 and include dinner, dancing, an auction, costume contest, two drinks and more. Proceeds benefit the Spay-Neuter Veterinary Clinic in Vass. Call (910) 692-6476 for information.
Halloween Step Show: The Gamma Upsilon Sigma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, Inc. will present the 2009 Halloween step show and dance Saturday at the Fuller recreational complex, beginning at 2 p.m. The dance is for middle and high school ages. Admission for the step show is $5 in advance and $7 at the door. Admission for the dance is $5. Call 578-1690 for information.
Trail of Terror: The annual Stoney Point Fire Department's Trail of Terror will be in full howl this weekend from 8-11 p.m. Each year, the fire station is transformed into one of the scariest haunted houses and tours in the area. Tickets are $10 per person. Call 424-0694 or go to www.stoneypointfire.com for information.
Hellfest: Tonight, Jesters Pub will host a pre-Halloween party and concert with several costume contests and music by Scarred For Life, New Era Project, Soundlab, Oakcrest, Endway, and CashMoneyCapital. Doors open at 7 p.m.; the music starts at 8 p.m. Tickets are $8.
On Saturday, Jesters Pub will bring back its popular Hellfest Halloween concert and costume contests. Doors open at 7 p.m. The music starts at 8, with performances by Critical Assault, Thou Shall Burn, Symbiot, Southfork, Nothing, and A Sunset Nocturnal. Jesters is located at 6577 Fisher Rd. Call 423-6100. Tickets are $10.
Halloween Party at The Rock Shop: The Rock Shop will host a Halloween Eve Bash tonight at 8 p.m., featuring performances by Oakcrest, Endway, Gutter Glitter, Salvacion, and Gollum. Tickets are $7 and $10 (for under 21).
On Saturday night, the club's third annual Halloween party gets started at 7, featuring performances by Fractured Fairytales, Schmegma, Loudwater Fury, Betray Your Own, Phuket Underwater, and Bound N Gagged. Tickets are $10 and $12 (for those under 21). The Rock Shop is located at 106 S. Eastern Blvd. Call 321-ROCK.
Huske Hardware Halloween: The downtown restaurant and brewery will host a Halloween party Saturday night, featuring a costume contest and prizes. Admission is $10. The party starts at 10 p.m. Call 437-9905.
A SpeakEasy Halloween: The SpeakEasy Nightclub & Cigar Bar will host a pair of Halloween events. The first is a $500 costume contest tonight at 10 p.m. Then on Saturday night at 10, the club will host a costume party. SpeakEasy is located at 3938 Sycamore Dairy Rd. Call 339-2404 for information.