Fall Fun & Halloween Events Guide

Farms & Pumpkin Patches

The Hill Ridge Farms SUPERPASS is good every weekend during the Fall Harvest and Pumpkin Festival and includes:

- Hill Ridge Farms Express - unlimited train rides
- Unlimited time in the Kiddie Park
- One Hayride with FREE Pumpkin from the Pumpkin Patch
- One Gem Stone Panning Bag - sift the dirt into the water sieve for beautiful treasures!
- Unlimited rides on the Giant Slide!
- Farm Animal Corral
- Fish Feeding Dock
- Picnic & Playground Area
All for $20 per person.

Spooky Halloween Hayrides at Hill Ridge Farms - Tour the farm's haunted back woods on the evenings of Fri. & Sat. Oct. 20 & 21, and Fri. & Sat., Oct. 27 and 28, from dusk until 10pm.  (Kids should be at least 5 years old; not for children who are easily frightened).  No reservations are required for groups of fewer than 10 people.  $10 per person.  Groups of 15 or more may reserve a covered wagon of their own at special group rates. Reservations are required for group rates; CALL FOR RESERVATIONS AND PRICING INFORMATION.  (919) 556-1771 OR (800) 358-4170. Remember to reserve early for the dates of your choice!
http://www.hillridgefarms.com/spooky.shtml
(Click on the link above to see spooky Halloween animation and more information about the Spooky Halloween Hay Ridges!)

Admission: General, $6.00, Children under 10, $5.00, Children 3 and under, free.  $1 off General Admission for Senior Citizens and groups of 20 or more.

Hours:  September 17 - October 31, 2005.  Saturdays 10-8pm; Sundays 2-8pm.  
Beginning September 30, open Fridays 2-8 pm.

ALSO:  Haunted Maze Frightening Excursion, October 27, 28, 30 and 31st, from dusk to 9pm. ($8.00 admission - no discounts.)

Family Day/Night on October 29 (Sunday) - pumpkin carving with judging at 4:00pm.

www.mckeemaze.com
(919) 732-8065.

Directions:
From Durham, take Guess Rd. approx. 10 miles to Hwy 57.  Turn left on Hwy 57.  Go approx. 2 miles.  Turn left on Kiger Rd.  Go 1.5 miles on Kiger.  Turn right on drive.  Watch for signs.

From Raleigh/I-40:  Take I-40 to Hillsborough. Exit off of I-40 on Hillsborough Exit.  Turn right on Hwy 86 traveling through downtown Historic Hillsborough.  Cross over Hwy 70.  Go 0.5 miles.  Turn right on Hwy 57.  Travel 8 miles to Kiger Rd.  Go 1.5 miles on Kiger.  Turn right on drive.  Watch for signs.

From Burlington/I-85:  Take I-85 to Hillsborough.  Exit off on Hillsborough Exit 164.  Turn left on Hwy 86 traveling through downtown Historic Hillsborough.  Cross over Hwy 70.  Go 0.5 miles.  Turn right on Hwy 57.  Travel 8 miles to Kiger Road.  Turn right on Kiger Road.  Go 1.5 miles on Kiger.  Turn right on drive.  Watch for signs.

Open Saturdays and Sundays, September 23 - October 31, 2006.
Saturdays, 11am-5pm; Sundays, 1pm-5pm.

From the website: "Don't miss out on all the fun at America's Country Playground as we unveil our Giant Tire Playground featuring OVER 200 RECYCLED TIRES for Families who love to play around and around and around!"

During your visit to Vollmer Farm, also visit Farmer John's Country Cafe and Farm Market for homemade sandwiches, soups, desserts and ice cream.
Market Hours: Mon-Sat, 9-6, Sun 1-6 
Caf?Hours: Mon-Fri, 9-2, Sat, 9-6, Sun 1-6

www.vollmerfarm.com
(919) 496-3076.

Halloween Events at 
Local Museums, Zoos and Amusement Parks

Boo at the Zoo at the North Carolina Zoological Park
4401 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro, NC 27205.
Saturday, October 28 and Sunday, October 29, 2006.  One of the zoo's most popular events featuring games, a costume contest and all kinds of Halloween fun. This safe daytime addition to nighttime trick-or-treating will be presented in the plaza areas of the zoo. Clowns, jugglers and magicians will rove these areas entertaining visitors of all ages.
(800) 488-0444.

"Scare-o-lina Skies" presented by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E. Franklin St., Downtown Chapel Hill, NC.

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center will present ?Scare-o-lina Skies,? a special, extra-scaru version of MPSC's popular star show ?Carolina Skies,? to celebrate the Halloween season. The special show, subtitled ?Madness and Mayhem in the Night Sky,? will feature Halloween-themed ancient sky legends. MPSC's skywatching instructor, Amy Sayle, will be presenting the two night shows and giving a first-hand look at some of the most graphic tales from a variety of cultures from all over the world and even some from modern science as well, like the phenomenon of black holes.

?Scare-o-lina Skies? will show on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 8 pm (for adults and children 12 and up).
A tamer version that is more family-oriented and more suitable for younger children will be presented Sunday, Oct. 29, at 4:30 pm.

Standard planetarium show admission prices apply.

www.moreheadplanetarium.org
Info hotline: (919) 549-6863
Main office and reservations: (919) 962-1236

Time for Tots: Black Cats and Spooky Things at the NC Museum of History 
5 East Edenton St., Raleigh, NC

Tuesday, Oct. 3, or Tuesday, Oct. 10
10:00 a.m.?10:45 a.m.
Ages 3?5 with adult
To register, call 919-807-7992.

Halloween, All Saints' Day, Day of the Dead?look at the history and symbols of these fall holidays and make a not-too-spooky craft to take home.
www.ncmuseumofhistory.org
(919) 807-7968

Natural History Halloween at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
11 W. Jones St., Bicentennial Plaza, Raleigh, NC 27601
Saturday, October 28, 2006, 11am.?5 pm.
A Museum Halloween celebration for kids ages 2?12. (Free).  Change your fears to fascination while meeting snakes, spiders, gators and other live animals from the Museum's collection. Special games and fun activities will make this a Halloween to remember. Children can enter the costume contest by 3 p.m. for the chance to win a prize.
(919) 733-7450 ext. 503.

Schedule of Fall & Halloween Events
(also see the CHillKids Festivals & Events guide for more listings)

Spooky Halloween Hayrides at Hill Ridge Farms - Tour the farm's haunted back woods on the evenings of Fri. & Sat. Oct. 20 & 21, and Fri. & Sat., Oct. 27 and 28, from dusk until 10pm.  (Kids should be at least 5 years old; not for children who are easily frightened).  No reservations are required for groups of fewer than 10 people.
Groups of 15 or more may reserve a covered wagon of their own at special group rates. Reservations are required for group rates; CALL FOR RESERVATIONS AND PRICING INFORMATION IF YOU DARE!: (919) 556-1771 OR (800) 358-4170. Remember to reserve early for the dates of your choice!
More information about Hill Ridge Farms (including the regular Fall Hay Rides).
http://www.hillridgefarms.com/spooky.shtml
(Click on the link above to see spooky Halloween animation and more information about the Spooky Halloween Hay Ridges!)
(919) 556-1771 or 1-800-358-4170.

An Evening at the Homestead - Duke Homestead and Tobacco Museum, 2828 Duke Homestead Road, Durham, NC 27705.
Saturday, Oct. 21, 2006, 2-6pm.
Join the Duke Homestead Junior Interpreters as they present music, wagon rides, fall foods, and 19th-century children's literature! Bring a picnic for dinner on the grounds.
(919) 477-5498.

Town of Chapel Hill Fall Carnival
Northside Gymnasium at Hargraves Community Center, 216 N. Roberson St., Chapel Hill
Friday, October 27, 2006,   5 - 8pm
Fall Carnival features lots of fun activities for families (recommended ages for activities is 6-10 years).
(919) 969-6961.

Halloween Stories Under the Stars hosted by Weaver Street Market - Stories, Puppets, and Costume Contest!
Weaver Street Market Lawn, Downtown Carrboro, 101 East Waver St., Carrboro 
Friday, October 27, 2006,   5:30-7:30pm
Plan on spending the night under the oaks in your Halloween Costume listening to Willa Brigham tell great seasonal tales. Tim Stambaugh and Donovan Zimmerman will set the stage with spooky music and scary puppets at 5:30. Willa will thrill us all with her tales of adventure at 6:30. The winners of the costume contest will be announced at 7:15. Free Cookies and Cider! This event is co-sponsored by the Town of Carrboro and Weaver Street Market.

Costume Contest Rules:
Enter in one category only: 0-5 year-olds or 6-10 year-olds. Costumes will be judged on MOST ORIGINAL, FUNNIEST, AND SCARIEST. All participants must register by 6:45 pm. Winners will be announced at 7:00. For more information call 929-0010 ext 115.
(919) 929-0010

Hillsborough Halloween Event Hosted by Downtown Hillsborough Merchants
Downtown Hillsborough, NC
Friday, October 27, 2006,   6-9pm
Fun Halloween activities throughout the downtown area on Friday before Halloween including trick or treating at downtown businesses, costume contests, a monster march, pumpkin carving judging, and lots more (including a scary movie for grownups later in the evening.) 

2006 Details not yet published (as of 10/1/06) 

For more information contact the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough/Orange County Visitors Center at 732-7741 or Julia Williams at 245-0062.

Gaelic Festival 2006:  Myth & Mayhem, A Celebration of Halloween through the Ages at Regency Park in Cary, NC 
Saturday, October 28, 2006, 11am - 10 pm. 

Presented by IrishEventsNC.com and the NC Historical Enrichment Society, the Gaelic Festival 2006 will celebrate Halloween, a traditional Celtic holiday, with lots of fancy dress, and live Irish music, both local and international. Great Family Halloween Fun!!!  (Many of our Halloween traditions began in Ireland; originally in Ireland they carved turnips, but when the Irish came to America they began carving pumpkins.)  Celtic Story  tellers and dancers. food and drink games. In the evening enjoy Celtic Bands and spooky happenings, including a Haunted House, Haunted Trail, Pub, Jugglers, Games and more.  Costume contests, pumpkin painting contests, and lots of Halloween fun!  A great big family day is in the planning featuring Celtic Halloween traditions and the more modern ways of trick or treating.  

Featured performers:  Albannach - Tribal Scottish Pipes and Drums; Martin Furey -  Ireland, Craic Wisely, Winner of the Battle of the Gaelic Bands; also featuring Jennifer Licko, Ghosts of Erin (Chapel Hill); Mick Bermingham (Ireland), Gerry McCrudden (Belfast ,Ireland) ,Na Gael, Irish Pipes and Drums (Charlotte, NC), Baile Daire, Traditional Irish (Raleigh), Kilcurragh: Songs & Stories from Hunter and Mark (Raleigh), Hercules Mulligan: Ballads & Pub Sing ALongs, Hywl (Wales); Irish & Scottish Dancers, The Apple Chill CLoggers, Ceili Dancing

Admission $7 Adults, Kids 5-12 $5.  (Tickets available through Regency Park and Ticketmaster in Advance, and will be available at the Gate.)

Please check www.irisheventsnc.com for updated information.\

www.irisheventsnc.com/

www.historicalenrichmentsociety.org

www.ncrenfaire.com

Contact Annie Nice, IrishEventsNC.com, (919) 881-8336

?Scare-o-lina Skies? will show on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 8 pm (for adults and children 12 and up).
A tamer version that is more family-oriented and more suitable for younger children will be presented Sunday, Oct. 29, at 4:30 pm.

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center will present ?Scare-o-lina Skies,? a special, extra-scaru version of MPSC's popular star show ?Carolina Skies,? to celebrate the Halloween season. The special show, subtitled ?Madness and Mayhem in the Night Sky,? will feature Halloween-themed ancient sky legends. MPSC's skywatching instructor, Amy Sayle, will be presenting the two night shows and giving a first-hand look at some of the most graphic tales from a variety of cultures from all over the world and even some from modern science as well, like the phenomenon of black holes.

Standard planetarium show admission prices apply.

www.moreheadplanetarium.org
Info hotline: (919) 549-6863
Main office and reservations: (919) 962-1236

?Scare-o-lina Skies? will show on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 8 pm (for adults and children 12 and up).
A tamer version that is more family-oriented and more suitable for younger children will be presented Sunday, Oct. 29, at 4:30 pm.

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center will present ?Scare-o-lina Skies,? a special, extra-scaru version of MPSC's popular star show ?Carolina Skies,? to celebrate the Halloween season. The special show, subtitled ?Madness and Mayhem in the Night Sky,? will feature Halloween-themed ancient sky legends. MPSC's skywatching instructor, Amy Sayle, will be presenting the two night shows and giving a first-hand look at some of the most graphic tales from a variety of cultures from all over the world and even some from modern science as well, like the phenomenon of black holes.

Standard planetarium show admission prices apply.

www.moreheadplanetarium.org
Info hotline: (919) 549-6863
Main office and reservations: (919) 962-1236

Boo at the Zoo at the North Carolina Zoological Park
4401 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro, NC 27205.
Saturday, October 28 and Sunday, October 29, 2006.  One of the zoo's most popular events featuring games, a costume contest and all kinds of Halloween fun. This safe daytime addition to nighttime trick-or-treating will be presented in the plaza areas of the zoo. Clowns, jugglers and magicians will rove these areas entertaining visitors of all ages.
(800) 488-0444.

Fearrington Halloween Pumpkin Carving Display and Pumpkin Fest at Fearrington
Dozens of elaborately carved jack-o-lanterns will be on display throughout the Fearrington Village center from Friday, October 28th through Halloween, Tuesday, October 31st.  On Friday and Saturday nights enjoy a fabulous Kids' Hay Bale Maze and Spooky Storytime at the bookstore.  Festivities feature amazing display of intricately carved pumpkins, children's hay maze, storytelling, and music.  Event free and open to the public.  For more details visit www.fearrington.com.

Spooky Halloween Hayrides at Hill Ridge Farms - Tour the farm's haunted back woods on the evenings of Fri. & Sat. Oct. 21 & 22, and Fri. & Sat., Oct. 27 and 28, from dusk until 10pm.  (Kids should be at least 5 years old; not for children who are easily frightened).  No reservations are required for groups of fewer than 10 people.
Groups of 15 or more may reserve a covered wagon of their own at special group rates. Reservations are required for group rates; CALL FOR RESERVATIONS AND PRICING INFORMATION IF YOU DARE!: (919) 556-1771 OR (800) 358-4170. Remember to reserve early for the dates of your choice!
More information about Hill Ridge Farms (including the regular Fall Hay Rides).
http://www.hillridgefarms.com/spooky.shtml
(Click on the link above to see spooky Halloween animation and more information about the Spooky Halloween Hay Ridges!)
(919) 556-1771 or 1-800-358-4170.

Trick or Treat at Weaver Street Market in Southern Village
Saturday October 28, 2006
Catch The Paperhand Puppet Intervention on the Southern Village green at 3:30 pm, then parade in costume to Weaver Street Market Southern Village for music and goodies and trick or treating from 4:00-6:30 pm.

The flaming Hula Hooper performs at 5:30pm!

(919) 929-0010.

Meadowmont Halloween Celebration
301 Old Barn Lane, Chapel Hill, NC 27517.
Saturday, October 28, 2006, 4 - 6 pm
Featuring games and crafts at the Meadowmont Club house, hayrides around the neighborhood, and pumpkin carving.  (Please RSVP for activities at the Club by October 26th.)

Natural History Halloween at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
11 W. Jones St., Bicentennial Plaza, Raleigh, NC 27601
Saturday, October 28, 2006, 11am.?5 pm.
A Museum Halloween celebration for kids ages 2?12. (Free).  Change your fears to fascination while meeting snakes, spiders, gators and other live animals from the Museum's collection. Special games and fun activities will make this a Halloween to remember. Children can enter the costume contest by 3 p.m. for the chance to win a prize.
(919) 733-7450 ext. 503.

Halloween Train Rides at the New Hope Valley Railway, Bonsal, NC (25 miles south of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill)
Saturday, October 28, 2006, Times: 4 pm, 5:15 pm, 6:30 pm, 7:45 pm
Hour-long train rides through the spooky woods in Chatham County. 
Tickets must be purchased in advance - click here or see below for ticket locations.

From the website:

"The gentle woodlands of Chatham and Wake Counties turn into some very spooky places the evening of Saturday, 28 October 2006, when the New Hope Valley Railway runs its special Halloween Trains! Join us that evening for some good fun, and feel free to come in costume. Many things are afoot in our woods from the Ghost Locomotive to the Headless Brakeman to the Vampire's Grave to the Witch's Path where the three evil sisters boil up their potions as the trains pass. Enjoy all of the fun and festivities celebrating Halloween with the sometimes haunted train crew.

Trains will operate at 4:00PM, 5:15PM, 6:30PM, and 7:45PM.  (Note that the 4:00 and 5:15 runs take place during daylight hours.)

The fare is $7.00 for all passengers of all ages, and tickets are available only by advance purchase at three convenient locations; Tom's Trains in Cary, Nick's Trains in Raleigh, or Paperback's Plus in Siler City, Toytown Hobbies in Fuquay-Varina. Tickets will also be available to the public at the ticket office in Bonsal, NC (just south of Apex, NC) on the regular monthly NHV operating day on Sunday, 1 October 2006.
This event is a fun event suitable for families. "
www.nhvry.org
(919) 362-5416. 

Pumpkin Run 4K hosted by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA 
Saturday, October 28, 2006 3PM for the 9 Mile Race, 5PM for the 4K

The Pumpkin Run?4k (2.5 miles) and 9 Mile Single Track Trail Race

The Pumpkin Run 4K (2.5-mile) trail race will be held as a single race (men and women running together), on the scenic woodland trails and rolling hills north of Horace Williams Airport in Chapel Hill.  According to the website, "The registrations for this year's Pumpkin Run are coming in fast - much faster than anticipated. Sign up soon if you want to run the race!"

Where: University Woodlands Trail at Carolina North off of Municipal Road in Chapel Hill, NC (with registration, parking, and bathroom facilities at the YMCA on Airport Road). Be sure to check out the map of the course and how it was created. 

Carrboro Halloween Carnival
Carrboro's Halloween Carnival is held each year on October 31st. from 6 until 8:30 pm at the Carrboro Town Commons. Ghosts and goblins of all ages come out for lots of free games and fun!  Best costumes are awarded with prize ribbons, and activities include a cake walk, howling at the moon, games, prizes, and many other fun-filled activities. The whole family can enjoy this annual event.
(919) 918-7364.

Trick or Treating in Chapel Hill (the Chapel Hill Town Hall has confirmed that the official day for trick-or-treating in Chapel Hill this year is Tuesday, October 31, 2006.)

Halloween Trick-or-Treating at University Mall
Tuesday, October 31, 2006, 5pm-7pm
Bring the kids to enjoy a safe and fun Halloween with Trick-or-Treating at University Mall from 5-7pm.  A Southern Season and many other mall vendors will provide tasty treats in a safe Halloween environment.  (Of course, children should be accompanied by adults.)

Halloween Festival 2006 on Franklin St., Downtown Chapel Hill - Not for young children!
On Halloween, Franklin St. is blocked off and becomes the site of Halloween reveling, drinking and HUGE crowds.  Not for children, and not for those who dislike crowds.  (The streets of downtown Chapel Hill will be closed to traffic at 9 pm.  Residential streets near downtown will also be closed except to residents of those streets and their guests.)  Alcohol is not permitted in the festival area.

Blueberry Forest Toys
Beautiful high quality silk costumes!  Locally-based online toy store sells beautiful 100% silk costumes, dragonfly wings, butterfly wings, fairy wings, mermaid costumes, wizard costumes, wizard hats, capes, knight costumes, and more!
www.BlueberryForest.com