With nearly two dozen Halloween-themed events happening this weekend, there's "pumpkin to talk about" (apologies to Bonnie Raitt) from fang-tastic family fun to haunted houses that creep it real.
Several of these scream scenes wind up their seasonal fun on Saturday night, so watch the Oct. 31 edition of Chattanooga Now for a follow-up of those that will be open on Halloween night.
------ FAMILY PARTIES: GHOULS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN ------
AQUASCARIUM
* Where: Tennessee Aquarium, 1 Broad St.
* When: 4-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 25; last ticket sold at 7 p.m.
* Admission: $8 per adult or child Aquarium member; $35 adult member guest, $25 ages 3-18 for child member guest; $45 adult nonmember guest, $32 ages 3-12 nonmember guest
* For more information: www.tnaqua.org/events-programs
Come in costume and celebrate a family-friendly night of spooky critters and yummy treats. Make friends with mermaids, lounge with lemurs and beware of pirates while trick-or-treating at more than a dozen candy stations throughout both buildings.
Stop by the Monster Mash dance party and show off your best moves with some of the Aquarium's lovable mascots. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Tennessee Aquarium Contributed Photo / Mermaids await at Tennessee Aquarium's AquaScarium party. Friday
BARKTOBERFEST & MEOWLOWEEN
* Where: McKamey Animal Center, 4500 N. Access Road
* When: 5-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26
* Admission: $5 ages 15 and older, ages 14 and younger free
* For more information: https://www.mckameyanimalcenter.org/barktoberfest-october-26th
Trick-or-treating for dogs and their kids! This family party includes costume contests for people and dogs, live music by Courtney Daly & the Daly Grind, games, German food and a biergarten by Terminal Brewhouse.
Tickets include two concession tickets and trick-or-treating. Guests may purchase additional tickets for concessions, games, pumpkin decorating, s'mores with MAC Bucks ($1 each).
Costume contest registration is from 4 to 5 p.m. The contest schedule: 5:30 p.m. dogs under 25 pounds, 6 p.m. dogs over 25 pounds, 6:30 p.m. humans of all weights.
BOO IN THE ZOO
* Where: Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave.
* When: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 25-26
* Admission: $10 zoo members, $15 nonmembers, ages 2 and younger free
* For more information: http://www.chattzoo.org/zooevents/boo-in-the-zoo
Family event with hay rides, scavenger hunt, face painting, inflatables, costume contest, trick-or-treat stations and zoo ambassadors.
BOO IN THE PEWS
* Where: St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 305 W. Seventh St.
* When: 5-6:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27
* Admission: Free
* For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/563647867793103/
This party starts at 5 p.m. with an organ concert of music from "Star Wars," Harry Potter movies and Super Mario Bros. Afterward there will be a spaghetti supper in Key-Andrews Hall and activities for all ages. Costumes welcome.
DALTON GHOST TOURS
* Where: Meet at wooden deck across from Wink Theatre, 115 W. Crawford St., Dalton, Ga.
* When: 7 and 9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 25-26
* Admission: $15 adults, $10 children under 12
* For more information: 706-809-0518
It's Creepy Carnival Weekend at Dalton Ghost Tours. In addition to hour-long ghost walks through downtown Dalton, there will be music, clowns, free popcorn and candy. Wear your costume to add to the fun. Parents are advised this is a PG-13 event.
Actor/makeup artist and popular horror host Scott Courson, aka Circus Envy, will join the 9 p.m. ghost walk on Saturday.
EERIE EXPRESS
* Where: Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, 4119 Cromwell Road
* When: 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 25-26
* Admission: $24 ages 2 and older
* For more information: https://www.tvrail.com/events-exhibits/rides/halloween-eerie-express
All aboard a vintage train for a 90-minute ride to the TVRM Funhouse, which is not a haunted house but a 20-room house with "gentle thrills," storytelling, blacklight mini golf, games, coloring pages, hot cider and a bag of treats for the kids. Children are encouraged to wear their costumes for the boys and girls costume contests.
FAMILY HALLOWEEN SKATE
* Where: Hamilton Skate Place, 7414 Goodwin Road
* When: 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 27
* Admission: $6, skate rental $3
* For more information: 423-899-1788
The whole family is encouraged to dress up for this costume party. There will be candy, costume contests and Halloween music to roll bounce.
HALLOWEEN IN WEST VILLAGE
* Where: Eighth and Pine Streets around the Westin Hotel
* When: 4-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26
* Admission: Free
* For more information: https://www.westvillagechattanooga.com/events/2019/10/26/halloween-in-west-village
Family-friendly games and activities, prizes, live music, food, cocktails, beer.
LAKE WINNEPESPOOKAH
* Where: Lake Winnepesaukah, 1730 Lakeview Drive, Rossville, Ga.
* When: 6-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 25-26
* Admission: $28
* For more information: https://lakewinnie.com/
Lake Winnie's seasonal haunting has four new haunts. The Feargrounds have been transformed into the haunting remains of Ward 13, home to diabolical Dr. Payne and his patients, along with the Mortuary Maze. The Clown School and The Monster Haunt will rise from the picnic grove, and a new Monster Parade dances through the park. Lake Winnie's lake will be illuminated in a mesmerizing choreographed light show.
SPIRITS, LEGENDS & LORE
* Where: The Venue Creekside, 527 Inman St., Cleveland, Tenn.
* When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29
* Admission: $10 adults, $5 students
* For more information: 423-715-0030
Ghost stories and folklore told by nine storytellers.
TOO CUTE TO SPOOK
* Where: Enterprise South Nature Park, 190 Still Hollow Loop Road
* When: 6-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 25-26
* Admission: $20 per carload
* For more information: https://www.facebook.com/events/2587625017970223/
For ages 12 and younger, this Halloween-for-kids event offers a trick-or-treat trail, Read 20 read-alouds, Halloween music, light show and face painting. Inflatables and concessions are an additional fee.
Children should come costumed, bring a bag and hit the trail to collect goodies from kid-friendly decorated booths sponsored by local businesses and organizations.
------ GHOST PARTIES: SCREAM UNTIL YOU'RE COFFIN ------
ACRES OF DARKNESS
* Where: Audubon Acres, 900 N. Sanctuary Road
* When: 7:30-10:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 25-26
* Admission: $15, $5 discount for Chattanooga Audubon Society members
* For more information: http://www.acresofdarkness.com/
This year's theme is "Prison Breakout!"
Visitors will have a choice to make on the Acres of Darkness trail in the Haunted Forest. They can play it safe and follow the trail to the family area, where there is a hayride, corn hole, outdoor games, children's activities and inflatables. But the more daring will continue the trail farther into the forest for the fright of their lives.
Recommended for teens and adults. Children admitted at parents' discretion.
DREAD HOLLOW
* Where: 321 Browns Ferry Road, Lookout Valley
* When: 7-10 p.m. today and Sunday, Oct. 24 and 27; 7-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 25-26
* Admission: $22, $40 RIP pass, $25 for lights-on tour at 3 p.m. Saturday
* For more information: https://www.dreadhollow.com/
It's election year in the haunted town of Dread Hollow, and there couldn't be a scarier ballot of candidates. Mayor Al and his sinister puppet companion are opposed by Rikkets the clown, who promises to bring "new blood" to Dread Hollow.
Elaborate sets and costumes combined with special effects make this 20,000 square feet of terror. Not recommended for children under 12.
HAUNTED TRAIL
* Where: Enterprise South Nature Park, 190 Still Hollow Loop Road
* When: 7-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 25-26
* Admission: $20 per carload
* For more information: http://parks.hamiltontn.gov/Calendar.aspx?EID=481&month=10&year=2019&day=16&calType=0
"Asylum Outbreak" haunted trail is a 1.5-mile trail in the woods with scares at every turn. Do you dare to enter the forest filled with asylum escapees on the hunt? Not recommended for children under age 12.
POSTMORTEM HAUNTED TRAIL
* Where: Tri-State Exhibition Center, 200 Natures Trail, McDonald, Tenn.
* When: 8 p.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday, Oct. 25-26
* Admission: $15
* For more information: 706-339-4917
Freaks and creeps walk the wicked woods of this trail. Visitors will come face-to-face with creatures, beasts, crazy loons and even hillbilly cannibals. These woods are filled with screams - yours! Recommended for ages 13 and older.
RINGGOLD HAUNTED DEPOT
* Where: 155 Depot St., Ringgold, Georgia
* When: 7-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Oct. 25-26
* Admission: $10 haunted depot, $7 ghost tours, $3 hayride, $15 all-attraction combo ticket
* For more information: 706-935-3061
A historic train depot is an ideal location for a haunted house. Live music outdoors by different bands each night will entertain visitors waiting in line. The narrated ghost tour points out locations around town that are allegedly haunted and includes a stop at the cemetery.
Ghost tour and hayride are family-friendly. Parental discretion advised for haunted depot.
THE HAUNTED BARN
* Where: 5017 McDonald Road, McDonald, Tenn.
* When: 7 p.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday, Oct. 25-26
* Admission: $20
* For more information: 423-396-9790
This haunting began 25 years ago with five rooms and has grown into a spook-tacular 16 rooms, a maze and waiting area around a bonfire.
While waiting to enter the 16-room walk-through haunted barn, guests can sit by the bonfire, eat fried Oreos and listen to dance music played by a DJ until their number is up. Visitors can also boooo-gie with one of the five monsters who greet them before entering the barn. The tour empties into a maze where unknown surprises await.
Note: This is not a themed event, but one that plays on phobias: for example, clowns, spiders, dark places. Parental discretion advised; management suggests parents wait to buy children's tickets until they arrive and see children's reactions to the monsters and other activities outside.
THE HAUNTED HILLTOP
* Where: 8235 Highway 58
* When: 7 p.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday, Oct. 25-26
* Admission: $25 for haunted house and hayride
* For more information: http://thehauntedhilltop.com/
More than 200,000 square feet of terror, the Haunted Hilltop has remodeled its haunted house adding more space, more props and more parking.
Visitors wait outdoors by a bonfire, where a scary movie sets the ominous mood for the haunted house.
Once summoned, visitors will find a haunted house, vortex tunnel and haunted hayride through the woods - all featuring new state-of-the-art animatronics and 50 live professional actors nightly. Parental discretion advised.
------ ADULT PARTIES: HALLOWEEN WITH 'BOOS' ------
CIRCUS SPOOKTACULAR
* Where: Inversions Circus Arts & Performance Center, 2315 Cannon Ave.
* When: 6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 26-27
* Admission: $15 for one ticket, $25 for two, $35 for three, $45 for four
* For more information: https://southsideinversions.com/events/spooktacular/?fbclid=IwAR3a2Vp_hVBdkBx3VM5J8usny8Mv5-DKkALLBKnlqOLAOAOLBCpZwRVTeXo
It seems nothing pairs with circus like creepy. Chattanooga Aerials and Inversions Circus Arts bring the tricks and treats with their annual Halloween production.
CIRQUE DU FREAK: SPOOKTACULAR GALA
* Where: 901 Lindsay St.
* When: 7-11 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26
* Admission: $40 or $75 VIP, no tickets sold at door
* For more information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cirque-du-freak-spooktacular-gala-2019-tickets-67924133913
A signature cocktail (The Killer Clown), a costume contest and popular DJ First Verse Production Entertainment make this Halloween party the place to get your Cirque Du Freak on.
Presented by Keegan Chitwood Events & Design, general-admission tickets include one signature drink ticket, entertainment, cash bar and unlimited concession stand snacks. VIP guests get access to a private VIP tent with open bar and creepy circus-inspired hors d'oeuvres and desserts.
The circus party's grand finale will be a performance by Chattanooga Fire Cabaret, who will entertain with vintage-inspired circus acts with a freak twist. They'll juggle, blow fire and walk on stilts.
This is a 21-and-older party only. IDs will be checked at the door.
FREAKERS BALL ON STATION STREET
* Where: 35 Station St., adjacent to Songbirds Guitar Museum
* When: 6 p.m.-midnight Saturday, Oct. 26
* Admission: $10 until Oct. 25, $15 day of event, $75 VIP
* For more information: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/freakers-ball-on-station-street-tickets-73307760485?aff=odwdwdspacecraft
This epic street party includes four fang-tastic parties for the price of one. Stir, Regan's Place, Westbound Bar and Songbirds are each hosting costume contests. The top three best at each location, as chosen by judges, will be voted on by the audience. Each venue's winner will advance to the finals at 9:45 p.m. on the outdoor stage.
If you're there for the "boos," all the Station Street venues will compete in making their best boo-zy cocktail and guests get to vote on the winner. Boo-zy cocktails cost $6 and come with a token to vote.
When the sun goes down, there will be music by DJ FROdaddy, Super T and the Tyrone Smith Revue and a fire-breathing performance by Ethereal Embers.
HALLOWEEN COSTUME PARTY
* Where: Chattanooga Cigar Club, 1518 Market St.
* When: 4-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26
* Admission: Free; food and drink sold
* For more information: 423-498-3910
Come dressed as your favorite Halloween character and automatically be entered to win $200 for best costume.
Drinks will include Witch's Brew, Purple Haze and Arnold Embalmers. Everyday Happy Hour specials will also be available, along with smoked wings. Host Stratton Tingle and a DJ will keep the party going.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.