From special Halloween events at major theme parks to ghost trains or Chapel Hill's popular annual street festival, here are several destinations for spooky Halloween fun in the Southeast.
Tweetsie Railroad Ghost Train Halloween Festival
Photo of the always popular annual Tweetsie Railroad Ghost Train: Courtesy of Tweetsie Railroad
Friday and Saturday Nights: October 5 - November 3, 2007
Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Enjoy seasonal fun for all ages in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Take a spooky ride with Engineer Casey Bones and his ghostly crew on the popular Ghost Train, or enjoy some seasonal mischief-making at the haunted house or with other fun activities. Some attractions are more suitable for adults and older children, although there are plenty of shows and attractions for younger family members as well, such as face painting and trick-or-treating. A limited number of tickets are available for each evening and advance tickets are required. Regular Park hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Ghost Train Festival hours are 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Telephone: 1-800-526-5740.
Blowing Rock, North Carolina
Enjoy seasonal fun for all ages in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Take a spooky ride with Engineer Casey Bones and his ghostly crew on the popular Ghost Train, or enjoy some seasonal mischief-making at the haunted house or with other fun activities. Some attractions are more suitable for adults and older children, although there are plenty of shows and attractions for younger family members as well, such as face painting and trick-or-treating. A limited number of tickets are available for each evening and advance tickets are required. Regular Park hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Ghost Train Festival hours are 7:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Telephone: 1-800-526-5740.
Halloween at Major Theme Parks in the Southeast
Busch Gardens Europe's Howl-O-Scream. Photo Credit: © 2007 Busch Entertainment Corp
Various Dates
Throughout the Southeast
Find out about all of the spooky things to do at the major theme parks throughout the Southeast, from About.com's Guide to Theme Parks' Scaredy-Parks Guide, including information about Six Flags Fright Fest (Georgia and Kentucky), SCarowinds at Carowinds in North Carolina, Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Europe and Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion in Virginia and much more.
Throughout the Southeast
Find out about all of the spooky things to do at the major theme parks throughout the Southeast, from About.com's Guide to Theme Parks' Scaredy-Parks Guide, including information about Six Flags Fright Fest (Georgia and Kentucky), SCarowinds at Carowinds in North Carolina, Howl-O-Scream at Busch Gardens Europe and Halloween Haunt at Kings Dominion in Virginia and much more.
Chapel Hill - Halloween Festival 2007
October 31, 2007Chapel Hill, North Carolina
One of the biggest street celebrations in the Southeast, tens of thousands of people are expected to fill downtown Chapel Hill's Franklin Street and surrounding areas to celebrate on Halloween night. Many streets will be closed, except to residents of the area and their guests, and shuttle bus service to and from four Park-and-Ride lots will be available. This popular annual gathering attracts lots of college students and local residents as well as visitors from near and far. Because of the crowded conditions and boisterousness (all in good fun), this festival is not recommended for young children.
Halloween Fun in Williamsburg
Various Dates throughout October 2007Williamsburg, Virginia
Experience the ghosts and legends of Colonial Williamsburg by lantern light during an evening guided tour or enjoy lots of spirited fun at a unique evening of ghost stories, graveside readings and dinner at the James River Plantation Progressive Ghost Feast Tour and Dinner, October 26 and 27, 2007. Stops include historic Piney Grove, Ashland, Ladysmith and Duck Church.
Howl-O-Ween at Great Wolf Lodge
October 12- October 31, 2007Williamsburg, Virginia
Great Wolf Lodge's annual Howl-O-Ween celebration offers great not-too-scary fun for little monsters and their families. Guests are encouraged to bring their costumes along with their swimsuits and enjoy interactive trick-or-treat trails, arts and crafts activities spooky story time and more.
Broadway at the Beach
October 27 - 28 and October 31, 2007Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
HallowFest Weekend at MagiQuest features a festival with face painting, balloon artist, costume contest and Halloween cookie decorating, with paid admission to MagiQuest on October 27th and 28th from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. HallowTeen at MagiQuest, for teens ages 13 to 19, begins at 7 p.m. on October 27th and features a costume contest, pizza and beverages, fortune teller, live performance by 4 bands and more. Also on October 27th, an Adult Costume Party in Celebrity Square begins at 8 p.m. On October 31st, Halloween Day, kids may enjoy fun trick or treating throughout Broadway at participating merchants from 5 - 7 p.m. while supplies last.
Halloween in Old Salem
Various Dates and VenuesWinston-Salem, North Carolina
During October, Old Salem Museums and Gardens offers an array of fun, safe opportunities to explore the spooky side of local history, including evening lantern tours, stories, musical performances and more.
Halloween Spook-Tacular at Wintergreen Resort
October 19 - 21 and 26 - 27, 2007Wintergreen, Virginia
Family halloween fun includes pumpkin carving, mask making, a haunted house, trick-or-treating, spooky storytelling and more. Wintergreen Activities telephone: 434-325-8180.
Ghost Tours of Haunted Places in the Southeast
Various Dates and CitiesWhat better time is there than around Halloween to explore the ghosts of night in the Southeast with a popular haunted tour or ghost tour in one of many popular destinations? Visit this guide to haunted tours to find out about some of the popular options in the very haunted states of the Southeast.
Haunted and Seasonal Halloween Train Rides
Various Dates and VenuesEnjoy Halloween fun on one of these seasonal train rides in the Southeast:
- Pumpkin Patch Express
Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum - AL - Pumpkin Pickin' Trips
Blue Ridge Scenic Railway - GA - Halloween Express (children's train)
Kentucky Railway Museum - KY - Halloween Haunted Train Rides
Bluegrass Scenic Railroad and Museum in - KY - Haunted Hollow Express and Trick or Treat for Tots
Big South Fork Scenic Railway - KY - Haunted Roundhouse Tours and Pumpkin Patch Express
North Carolina Transportation Museum - NC - Peanuts - The Great Pumpkin Patch Express
Great Smoky Mountains Railroad - NC - Halloween Eerie Express
Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum - TN - Halloween Rides
Southern Appalachia Railway Museum - TN
More Halloween Events in the Southeast
Various Dates and VenuesVisit these About.com City Guides and other web sites for many more listings of fun Halloween events:
- Atlanta, Georgia Halloween Events
from About.com's City Guide to Atlanta - Charleston, South Carolina Halloween Events
from the Charleston Area Convention and Visitor Bureau - Huntsville, Alabama Halloween Events
from About.com's City Guide to Huntsville - Memphis, Tennessee Halloween Events
from About.com's City Guide to Memphis - Nashville, Tennessee Halloween Events
from About.com's City Guide to Nashville - Virginia Halloween Events
from the Official Tourism Website of the Commonwealth of Virginia - Family-friendly Halloween Events
from About.com's Guide to Travel with Kids
