Fall fests & spooky events offer something for all

The weather has turned chilly, and the beginning of the holiday season is upon us. Halloween marks the first of the four big fall and winter celebrations, and this year it’s coming a little early for some. Because Halloween falls on a Wednesday, many events are planned for this weekend. Whether you choose to celebrate the spookiest of holidays, or decide instead to attend one of the many fall festivals, there is an event out there for everyone.

Perhaps the biggest of all celebrations is the annual Great Pumpkin Festival in downtown Fayetteville. The much-anticipated event boasts an array of activities and attractions for even the youngest of attendees. The weekend’s festivities kick off today as groups and schools are invited to participate in the yearly Main Street Pumpkin Walk by lining the Courthouse Square sidewalks with their decorated pumpkins by 12 p.m.

The group or school with the most pumpkins will receive cash prizes including $300 for first place, $150 for second and $75 for third. Also, individual pumpkins will be judged and receive ribbons in the following categories: Best All Around, Most Creative, Funniest and Scariest.

Organizers ask that participants display a sign with their organization’s name and designate someone to visit the square on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings to light the candles in the pumpkins on display.

“It’s great to see the public come out and support the children and all of their hard work creating their pumpkins,” stated Nancy Price, Main Street director. “I encourage all groups and even individuals and families to participate to keep this long-standing tradition going. We get visitors from all areas of Georgia driving to our square to see the pumpkins aglow.”

The fun continues on Saturday as families are invited to trick-or-treat on Main Street around the Courthouse Square businesses and to the different business vendors around the gazebo from 3 to 6 p.m. Main Street will provide the bags to fill with goodies at the fountain in Stonewall Village. New Vision Community Church will provide free hay-rides and boiled peanuts. Other food and music will be provided throughout the day. At 5 p.m. Main Street will host a children’s costume contest at the fountain in Stonewall Village.

The fun doesn’t stop there, however. In conjunction with the activities at Stonewall Village, those wanting to get more into the spirit of things can make their way over to the Holliday-Dorsey-Fife Museum across the street for the second year of the Great Georgia Ghosts Storytelling Tours. Storytelling and history will intermingle on Friday and Saturday nights with the scares beginning each evening at 6:30 p.m. and concluding at 8:30 p.m. Tickets may be purchased at the door, and admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under.

Professional storytellers will recount true ghost tales every half hour. As each group leaves treats will be served.

“We’re expecting a great turn-out for this event,” remarked John Lynch, Museum manager. “Last year was a tremendous success as people were entertained by local stories and learned about some history in Fayetteville. I encourage everyone to come see what our museum is all about.”

Meet real life ghost hunters from the West Georgia Paranormal Research Society as they share their results from studying the Holliday-Dorsey-Fife Museum and see a recent photograph of what they claim is a captured spirit.

For the month of October through the Great Georgia Ghosts Tour, a special mourning exhibit featuring Victorian Mourning Styles & Rituals will be displayed at the museum. Mourning jewelry, gowns and letters will be displayed from the 1800s.

For more information about these events, call Fayetteville Main Street at 770-719-4173 or visit the city’s website at www.downtownfayetteville.org.

Also on tap for the weekend is the Peachtree City Fire Department’s annual Halloween Haunted House. The house, at Leach Fire Station at 110 Paschall Rd., will be open for visitors tonight and tomorrow from 7 until 11:30 p.m. Haunted House and Trail tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students. Separate Kiddies Haunt and Moonwalk for children 10 and under are $3.

Those looking to combine a bit of exercise with their spooky experience can participate in the final night of the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society’s Spirit Strolls. Also hosted by the Newnan-Coweta Historical Society is the first-ever Goblin 5K race on Saturday at 5 p.m. Cash awards will be given to the top finishers. The event takes place at the Male Academy Museum, 30 Temple Avenue in Newnan. Call 770-251-0207 for more information on either of these events.

The Avenue Peachtree City will host a Halloween event on Saturday from 3-5 p.m. Those in attendance are encouraged to come in costume and enjoy center-wide Halloween trick-or-treating, complimentary photos in a keepsake holder, interactive games, surprise giveaways and more. For more information on the event, visit www.theavenuealist.com.

Peeples Elementary School will host their second Pumpkin Run on Saturday. The Pumpkin Run will include a 5K run starting at 8:30 a.m. and a 1 mile fun run/walk starting at 8:35 a.m. Race registration is $20. Awards will be given to the top finishers in both races. Race entry forms are available in the school office or by emailing Deborah Friday at friday.deborah@fcboe.org. The proceeds from this event will help support Peeples’ physical education program.

Aside from this weekend, several churches and communities have planned events for October 31.

Mainstreet Newnan will host Downtown Trick-or-Treat from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Downtown merchants will pass out Halloween treats to costumed children. For more information, visit www.mainstreetnewnan.com.

The residents of Georgian Place Senior Living Community will be sponsoring a free Safe Trick-or-Treat Halloween event on Halloween as well. They welcome all children ages 12 and under from Newnan neighborhoods. The trick-or-treating will begin at 6 p.m. and continue through 8 p.m. Georgian Place is located at 355 Millard Farmer Industrial Blvd., Newnan, Ga. For directions or more information, call 770-252-9007.

For those who prefer to de-emphasize the more ghostly aspects of the holiday, many local churches and organizations will be hosting fall festivals and harvest fests on Halloween. Two such churches are Flat Creek Baptist Church, 161 Flat Creek Trail in Fayetteville, and Living Proof Church, 414 Jenkins Road in Tyrone.

Flat Creek Baptist will host Harvest Fest on October 31 from 6 to 8 p.m. Hot dogs, games, moon walks, candy and more will be the order of the evening. Everything offered at the event is free, and the public is invited. Visit www.flatcreekbaptist.org for more information on this event.

Living Proof will host their Fall Festival on October 31 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Food, games, prizes, candy and a Chili Cook-off will be the highlights of the evening. The event is open to the public. Call 770-969-5683 for more information.

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