Freddy Krueger is one of 50 costumed actors who add to the scares at The Haunted Hilltop, open Halloween night. (Photo from thehuantedhilltop.com)BY THE NUMBERS
$9 billion: Projected Halloween spending in 2018$3.2 billion: Halloween costume spending in 2018$2.6 billion: Halloween candy spending in 2018$300+ million: Annual revenue from ticket sales for haunted attractions, 80 percent of which are run by charities.36 percent: Share of parents who think 12 or 13 years old is old enough to trick-or-treat alone72 percent: Share of parents who admit to stealing candy from their kidsSource: WalletHub
PET SAFETY
Don’t forget that your pets may need a little special attention during Halloween. Dr. Robin Ganzert, president and CEO of American Humane, offers tips for two main areas of focus.* Beware sharing candy: Tricks for treats? Only if those treats are safe for pets, since many Halloween candies can be toxic to animals. Chocolate and sugar-free candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can be particularly dangerous if ingested, so keep your pet from sniffing around the candy bowl.* Watch the door: When trick-or-treaters roam the streets, pets can become disoriented and scared. Be sure to provide a safe, quiet space they can retreat to if needed, and watch the door for escape artists — many pets will try to disappear outside if given the chance.
FREAKY FAVORITES
The tri-state’s top-searched scary movie for kids:* Alabama: “Beetlejuice”* Georgia: “ET: The Extra-Terrestrial”* Tennessee: “Scooby-Doo”Source: Frontier CommunicationsMost popular Halloween candy* Alabama: Candy corn* Georgia: Jolly Ranchers* Tennessee: Tootsie PopsSource: www.CandyStore.comMost popular Halloween Google searches* Alabama: “Halloween Makeup”* Georgia: “Is Halloween Satanic?”* Tennessee: “What is Halloween?”Source: CenturyLinkQuote
Halloween falls midweek this year, leaving us betwixt and between for bewitching.
Maybe this weekend was a test run for your costume, either at a neighborhood party or haunted attraction. That's a good omen. Many monsters took their last gasps Saturday night, and it'll be a spell - practically a year - before their next afterlife kicks in.
But the news isn't all dark. Several haunts are still open, a couple of citywide block parties are in the works, there are plenty of places for one-stop candy raids and you can yard-hop till you drop Halloween night.
Here's a rundown of the frightful fun that still awaits.
HAIR-RAISING HAUNTS
Dread Hollow
-Where: 321 Browns Ferry Road
-When: 7-10 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, and Wednesday, Oct. 31
-Admission: $20 or $35 RIP Fast Pass
-For more information: 423-800-0566
More than a traditional haunted house, Dread Hollow is an entire haunted town. Billed as "20,000 feet of pure terror," it is not recommended for children under 12.
Visitors make their way through the ominous town built on tainted soil to the Belle Royale Hotel as a paranormal investigative team unearths evidence of supernatural activity from tormented souls.
Wander into the abandoned fairgrounds of the cursed Brine Bros. Circus to discover banished sideshow freaks beckoning visitors to join them forever in their Cirque de Fatale.
The Haunted Hilltop
-Where: 8235 Highway 58, Harrison
-When: 7-11 p.m. Halloween
-Admission: $20 for haunted house and haunted hayride, $15 for just one
-For more information: thehauntedhilltop.com
This haunted house in Harrison is even bigger this year with an addition built onto the house and remodeled interior.
It takes 50 professional actors to pull off this attraction. You'll find them not only in the house, but in the woods along the haunted hayride. The Hilltop has added new state-of-the-art animatronics, and visitors will find the longest vortex tunnel in the South.
There is a Halloween store, bonfire, newly constructed Dark Maze, a walk by the cemetery, concessions and scary movies on an outdoor TV while you wait for your group's number to be called.
FRIGHTENING FILMS
The Frightening Ass Film Festival
-Where: Improv Chattanooga, 1800 Rossville Ave., Suite 106
-When: 11 a.m.-midnight Sunday, Oct. 28
-Admission: $40-$75
-For more information: 423-843-1775
Curated selection of horror films both classic and new. Sunday's schedule includes an Are You Afraid of the Dark-athon with four episodes of the classic Nickelodeon horror anthology series and screenings of "The Eyeslicer," "Leatherface," "Starfish," "Lifechanger" and "Brainscan."
CEMETERY WALKS
Chattanooga Ghost Tours
-Where: 57 E. Fifth St.
-When: 8:30 p.m. nightly by reservation
-Admission: $17.95 adults, $11 ages 12 and younger
-For more information: 423-800-5998
Guided tour through Citizens Cemetery.
Fort Hill Cemetery Walk
-Where: Fort Hill Cemetery, 92 Oak St. at South Ocoee Street, Cleveland, Tenn.
-When: 4-6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28
-Admission: $5, $2 for students with valid ID
-For more information: www.leeuniversity.edu/acadeis/arts-sciences/hps
Lee University history majors and volunteers lead tours of historic cemetery where participants will meet several of its famous residents: Joseph and Maggie Harle, Clarence Johnson, Nena Howard, Lon Shiflet and the Rev. T.E. Stevens.
Proceeds benefit the William Snell Scholarship fund at Lee University. Park at Cleveland Christian Fellowship, 695 S. Ocoee St., or the Boys and Girls Club, 385 Third St., to catch a shuttle.
NONSCARY FUN: GIGGLES AND GRINS
Haunted Market
-Where: First Tennessee Pavilion, 1829 Carter St.
-When: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28
-Admission: Free
-For more information: 423-648-2496
Chattanooga Market takes on a Halloween theme offering trick-or-treating from market vendors, children's Halloween costume contests at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Local artists will show their skill at pumpkin portraiture in a pumpkin-carving contest. The carved pumpkins will be sold in a silent auction, with proceeds benefiting Make-a-Wish Foundation.
Halloween Block Party
-Where: Downtown square, Cleveland
-When: 5-10 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31
-Admission: Free
-For more information: 423-479-1000
Thousands turn out in costume for this street party, now in its 31st year. Little trick-or-treaters can fill their bags with candy on Mars Chocolate's Treat Street. there will be three stages of entertainment, food, games and a costume contest.
This year, the city of Cleveland, partnership with MainStreet Cleveland, has created an interactive web map that will give revelers notice of concert stages, Treat Street, restroom locations, bounce houses, the lost child station, road barricades and fire, police and medical stations. Access the map at https://gis.clevelandtn.gov/BlockParty
Scare on the Square
-Where: Main Street in LaFayette, Ga.
-When: 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31
-Admission: Free
-For more information: 706-639-1550
This block party is a safe trick-or-treating alternative to going door-to-door. Business owners will give out candy to children.
TRICK-OR-TREAT, TRUNK-OR-TREAT
Sunday, Oct. 28
-Anglican Church of the Redeemer: 104 McBrien Road, 4:30-6:30 p.m. www.redeemerchattanooga.org
-Hickory Valley Baptist Church: 2320 Hickory Valley Road, 6-7 p.m. 423-892-1916
Tuesday, Oct. 30
-Mountain City Club: 729 Chestnut St., 6-7:30 p.m., raffle prize for kids who come dressed in costume, food trucks on-site, held rain or shine. 423-756-5584
Wednesday, Oct. 31
-Chattanooga Fire Department stations: All 20 fire stations open 6-8 p.m. for kids to see the fire engines, talk to firefighters and score some candy (while supplies last).
-Grace United Methodist Church: 9833 Hixson Pike, Soddy-Daisy, 6-7:30 p.m., inflatables, hot chocolate and apple cider. graceumcsd.org
-Keith Baptist Church: 1573 Keith Road, Ringgold, Ga., 7-8 p.m. 706-450-0963
-Middle Cross Baptist Church: 4009 Norcross Road, 6:30-7:30 p.m., costumes welcome, free chili, soup, chips and drink while supplies last. www.middlecrossbaptistchurch.com
-Tyner-East Brainerd Recreation Center: 6900 Ty-Hi Drive, 5:30-6:30 p.m., community children's party sponsored by Silverdale Baptist Church with candy, inflatables, games and free food. www.silverdalebc.com
ADULT PARTIES
Haunted Hunter
-Where: Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View
-When: 7-11 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31
-Admission: $15 Hunter members in advance, $20 nonmembers in advance; $25 for all at the door
-For more information: www.huntermuseum.org
Gather your friends for a night in the museum. This costume party will offer a trick-or-treat station, costume contest, cash bar and music by DGSM DJs, Fit of Body and Erika Glück.
Don't miss the chance to see a live torch painting demonstration by artist Hollie Berry, and an exclusive haunted mansion experience by Ensemble Theatre of Chattanooga.
Guests must be 21 and older to attend; IDs required.
Note: There will be no on-site parking. Catch a lift with Lyft or Uber.
Ghost stories
-Where: Museum Center at Five Points, 200 E. Inman St., Cleveland
-When: 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30
-Admission: Free for museum members, $15 others.
-For more information: 423-339-5745
The Cleveland Storytelling Guild will share tales of "Tall Betsy & Friends" during the museum's monthly History Happy Hour. Part of Bradley County folklore, Tall Betsy is said to be a witch who will take wayward children back to her mausoleum in Fort Hill Cemetery. Costumes are welcome. Impressions Catering will provide food, with beer from Mash & Hops and Dry Valley Brewing. This is a 21-and-older event.
Killer Prom
-Where: Matilda Midnight in the Dwell Hotel, 120 E. 10th St.
-When: 8-11 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31
-Admission: $15, includes one drink
-For more information: 423-267-7866
Dress in your best prom attire from any era to attend this murder-mystery party. Jules O'Drapes, Dwell High School prom queen, has been found murdered. There are no suspects, but everybody at the party is being questioned. Bring your ID.
Puppy Brunch and Block Party
-Where: Chattanooga Brewing Co., 1804 Chestnut St.
-When: Noon-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28
-Admission: Free
-For more information: 423-702-9958
Cuteness overload ahead: puppies in costumes.
Chattanooga Brewing is partnering with the Humane Educational Society for an afternoon brunch menu of finger foods and beermosas. There will be prizes for the top three puppy costumes, and guests are asked to bring old blankets and towels for donation to HES.
Staff writer Susan Pierce contributed to this story.
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.