Led by trick-or-treating and pumpkin festivals, there's plenty of lighthearted Halloween fun to be had this weekend, but one event seems straight-up spooky.
A Saturday program called "What Did They Do With the Dead?" answers the question most asked by visitors to Chickamauga Battlefield about the Civil War soldiers who perished in the fighting of Sept. 18-20, 1863.
"After the Battle of Chickamauga, the ground was covered with the dead from both armies," said a news release. "Usually, a battle's victor takes on the responsibility of burying the dead, but there was little time to do so with another battle looming soon at Chattanooga."
According to park officials, partially buried corpses lay on the ground for weeks and months, scattered throughout the surrounding fields and forests. The bodies were eventually retrieved, a task that was "monumental and horrible, to say the least."
Here are some of the Halloween events around the Chattanooga area.
OUT & ABOUT
- Drive-through trunk or treat: Toyota of Cleveland, 3560 Village North Blvd. in McDonald, Tenn., will give away "tons of candy" 5-7 p.m. Saturday. Costumed characters will greet families as they drive through the line. toyotaofcleveland.com
- Halloween on the Green: River City Co. presents this all-ages party 4-9 p.m. Saturday at the Chattanooga Green, 191 Chestnut St. Activities include music by Fantastic Confabulation and Orquesta MaCuba, pumpkin painting, cake walks (4-6 p.m.), a sunset screening of "Coco," free candy and glow sticks, balloon animals and lawn games. Bring your own seating. rivercitycompany.com/events
- Halloween Spooktacular: The Fort Oglethorpe Veteran and Citizen Council invites children to trick-or-treat 5-9 p.m. Saturday in Honor Park, 1 Cleburn St. in Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. fortogov.com
- Haunted Market, the spooky alter ego of Chattanooga Market, is 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday at First Horizon Pavilion, 1826 Carter St. In addition to fall produce, visitors will find trick-or-treating and costume parades at noon and 2 p.m. Musician Amber Fults will perform at noon. Free. chattanoogamarket.com
- History program: Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will present this free program on "What Did They Do With the Dead?" after the Battle of Chickamauga at 2 p.m. Saturday. The ranger-led program will start at the Visitor Center, 3370 LaFayette Road, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., then caravan into the park. 706-866-9241
- Josh Jennings Jack-o'-Lantern Jamboree is 4-8 p.m. CDT Saturday around the Marion County Courthouse, 1 Courthouse Square in Jasper, Tenn. The event includes arts and crafts, food vendors, trunk or treat and carnival rides. Originally known as the Jasper Lions Club Jack-o'-Lantern Jamboree, it was renamed in memory of its creator, who died in 2019 at age 36. bit.ly/JasperBOO
- Selfie party: Selfie Spot, a selfie museum at 316 Northgate Mall, will fill its Instagrammable rooms with Halloween-themed backdrops and props for unlimited selfies 6-9 p.m. Friday. A portion of ticket sales will benefit the upcoming Chattanooga Fashion Expo. Tickets are $20 adults, $15 for children 12 and under. selfiespotchatt.com
More Info
[READ MORE: See a list of 90+ fall festivals.]
- S'mores Above the Clouds: The McLemore, 785 Canyon Ridge Road in Rising Fawn, Ga., hosts this family event, with hayrides, bonfires, storytelling, hamburgers, hot dogs and a build-your-own s'mores buffet, 6-9 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $10. RSVP: themclemore.com/calendar
- Trunk or treat: Cub Scout Pack 3037 and Boy Scout Troop 137 will welcome children for candy and games 4:30-6 p.m. Saturday at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 6314 East Brainerd Road. scoutpack3037@gmail.com
- Trunk or treat and a movie: Soddy-Daisy Community Library is spearheading this family event Saturday at Veterans Park, 9009 Dayton Pike in Soddy-Daisy. Candy stations will be open 6-8 p.m., followed by an outdoor screening of "Hocus Pocus" at 8:15 p.m. Facebook.com/Events
MUSIC
- Chattanooga Symphony & Opera will perform "The Music of Harry Potter," an audience favorite, in a concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Memorial Auditorium, 399 McCallie Ave. Tickets are $28-$85. chattanoogasymphony.org
DANCE
- Fantasy Alley, presented by the Pop-Up Project, a nonprofit dance company, starts at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Cooper's Alley, 10 E. Seventh St. The family-friendly Halloween performance transforms the venue into a wonderland. rivercitycompany.com/events
THEATER
* Back Alley Productions opens "The Fall of the House of Usher," based on a supernatural horror story by Edgar Allan Poe, this weekend at the Mars Theatre, 117 N. Chattanooga St., Lafayette, Ga. Performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and at 3 p.m. Sundays through Nov. 7. The final performance will be livestreamed. Tickets are $14-$17. bapshows.com
* Chattanooga Theatre Centre, 400 River St., presents crime writer Agatha Christie's "The Hollow," another two weekends. This weekend's shows start at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $15-$25. theatrecentre.com
* The Colonnade Players explore the murderous intrigue of Shakespeare's "Macbeth" in final performances this weekend at the Colonnade, 264 Catoosa Circle in Ringgold, Ga. Show time is at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $8-$12. colonnadecenter.org
* Tennessee Valley Theatre, 184 W. Jackson Ave. in Spring City, Tenn., will deliver "Dracula," a new stage adaptation of Bram Stoker's classic novel about the evil vampire, in three performances this weekend. The curtain rises at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $12-$14. tennesseevalleytheatre.com
FESTIVALS
- All Hallows' Eve Farm Fest: Crabtree Farms, 1000 E. 30th St., hosts this fall celebration noon-4 p.m. Saturday. A gate fee of $16 per vehicle includes hayrides, a costume contest at 3 p.m., Scarecrows on the Farm voting and a vendor expo. A $12 ticket to the Battle of the Barn chili competition will get you four sample bowls and cornbread. crabtreefarms.org
- Fall Festival: Mayfield Farm Park, 257 State Highway 307 in Athens, Tenn., includes a corn maze, pumpkin patch and zip lines. Daytime hours are 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and 1-7 p.m. Sunday. The Haunted Trail opens at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m. Sunday. $14.95 online, $16.95 at the gate. mayfieldfarmpark.com
- Fun on the Farm: Guthrie Farms, 490 County Road 67 in Riceville, Tenn., includes a corn maze, hayrides to the pumpkin patch, an animal petting barn, bounce pad and games. Hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 1-6 p.m. Sunday. $15 ages 3 and up. guthriepumpkinfarm.com
- Granddaddy's Farm, 454 Highland Ridge Road in Estill Springs, Tenn., has a pumpkin patch, hayrides, pig races, animal corral and fall market, open noon-8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday. Activity area $13 ages 3 and up. grandaddysfarm.com
- Harvest Celebration on the Mountain: Flat Top Mountain Farm, 13100 Jones Gap Road in Soddy-Daisy, will open its corn maze and pumpkin patch 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday. $10 ages 4 and up. A family-friendly haunted maze is open Friday and Saturday for $15. Facebook.com/flattopfarmTN
- Harvest Festival and Great Pumpkin LumiNights close Saturday at Dollywood, 2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd. in Pigeon Forge, Tenn. $79 admission. dollywood.com
- North Georgia Agricultural Fair, featuring exhibits, music and a carnival, continues through the weekend at 500 Legion Drive in Dalton, Ga. Hours are 5-11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-midnight Saturday, 12:30-10 p.m. Sunday. $5 general admission, $30 Mega Pass (gate admission and unlimited carnival rides). northgaagfair.com
- PumpkinFest: Trick-or-treating, food and craft vendors, music, games, pumpkin pie eating and costume contests will be available around the Rhea County Courthouse square, 1475 Market St. in Dayton, Tenn., noon-9 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday. Free admission. www.mainstreetdayton.org
- Oktoberfest in Helen, Ga., continues daily through Nov. 7. Doors open at 6 p.m. during the week, 1 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Start at Festhalle, 1074 Edelweiss St. $8 during the week, $10 Saturdays, free on Sundays. helenchamber.com
- The River Maze: 1371 Highway 64 in Ocoee, Tenn., offers corn and hay mazes, a pumpkin patch, cow train and zip lines 4-8 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, 1-8 p.m. Sunday. $8-$14 depending on activities. therivermaze.com
- Rocktoberfest: Rock City Gardens, 1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain, Ga., concludes its celebration of German music, food and specialty beer this weekend. Hours are 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $26.95 adults, $14.95 children 3-12. Reserved timed-entry tickets required. seerockcity .com
- Rotary Club Craft Fair: This arts and crafts show continues 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through Saturday at Patriot Park, 186 Old Mill Ave., Pigeon Forge, Tenn. Free admission and parking; free-will donations distributed to local charities. mypigeonforge.com
- Scarecrows in the Garden at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, 345 Piedmont Ave. NE in Atlanta, features scarecrows created by artists, crafters, youth groups and businesses. Hours are 9 a.m.- 9 p.m. through Sunday. $22.95 adults, $19.95 (ages 3-12) weekdays; $2 more on weekends; timed tickets required. atlantabg.org