Cumberland County’s cooler weather accompanies abundant and diverse ways for locals to get spooky.
Hallowe’en Revels Night Tours of the 1897 Poe House capitalizes on the building’s namesake, a man named Edgar Allan Poe who was actually not the author of iconic American works “The Raven” and “Annabel Lee.” This Poe was the owner of a brick company. None of that factual nonsense gets in the way of the creepy imagination associated with Poe the author, though. Oct. 24-26, the Gilbert Theater brings a series of short, early 20th-century vignettes featuring music and poetry that run every 20 minutes from 6-10 p.m. For details, call 910-486-1330.
The Fayetteville Zombie Walk, presented Oct. 26 by Back-A-Round Records and Cool Spring Downtown District, is one big community party that’s now in its ninth year. A hoard of friendly zombies descends on the downtown to moan, shuffle and check out each other’s makeup – er, blood.
Headquarters Library hosts a Zombie Pre-Party at 6 p.m. with a deejay, kids activities, and face-painting and zombie makeup for $5. Awards for best costumes are announced around 7 p.m., and the official walk begins at 8 p.m. Zombies proceed down Ray Avenue and up Hay Street, with the walk terminating at the Outdoor Zombie Walk Main Stage adjacent to Back-A-Round Records, at 1 Market Square. Live music from Nephilym, Motorjunkie and Carolina Committee’s DJ Moodswing will run from about 8:20-10 p.m.
Zombies 21 and older can end the night at Paddy’s Irish Pub for the official after-party and Zombie Prom. Call 910-223-1089 or 910-568-5654 for more information.
Guests are encouraged to engage in the interactive experience by coming in costume and utilizing their bag of props that CFRT will provide with admission. Tickets are $25. For details, visit www.cfrt.org.
Halloween at the BOO-tanical Garden invites Harry Potter enthusiasts to enjoy this year’s family-friendly Hogwarts theme. Oct. 25, an adult-only Hogwarts & All event features Quidditch Pong, a horcrux hunt, a costume contest, free invisibility cloaks and more. From 6-9 p.m. on Oct. 26, 27 and 28, costumed attendees of all ages can walk the garden’s jack-o-lantern-lit pathways. Other luminous Halloween decorations, crafts, candy and food trucks will complete the experience. To learn more, call 910- 486-0211 or visit www.capefearbg.org.
The Stoney Point Trail of Terror started as a fundraiser for the Stoney Point Volunteer Fire Department 15 years ago and has grown into a statewide attraction. The Trail incorporates live actors and state-of-the-art sound, lighting and environmental effects to create memorable scares. Remaining dates include Oct. 26, 27, 30 and 31. Visit http://undeadfd.com for more information.
Perfectly Horrible Carriage Rides with Count Dracula, hosted by CSDD, offers a chilling twist on an idyllic jaunt. Oct. 31 from 3-8 p.m., take a ride with the Count in his ghoulish carriage that came all the way from Transylvania. Rides leave every 15 minutes from 222 Hay St. Ticket sales start there at 2:30 p.m.; $10 for adults and $5 for children. For details, call 910-286-3979.
After or before your ride, check out downtown trick or treating from 3-5 p.m., also hosted by CSDD. Bring your little ones to the candy stops throughout downtown as over 30 local businesses participate in handing out treats. Call the CSDD office at 910-223-1089 for details.