Haunts, hayrides, and Halloween: Get the most out of Fayetteville’s October
Hope Mills' Gallberry Corn Maze is open every weekend through the end of October for family-friendly festive celebrations.
Photo by Fayetteville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau via Flickr.
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BY MAYDHA DEVARAJAN | CityView Staff
With Halloween and a flurry of fall holidays around the corner, get out of the house and into the pumpkin patch this season. From a ghostly night of live theater to trunk-or-treats, CityView has compiled a list of festive activities in Cumberland County for you and the family to partake in this October.
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“Get lost in the stalks” at Gallberry Corn Maze in Hope Mills. The 12-acre farm features a corn shack and maze, farm animals, pig racing, hayrides, pumpkin barn and more. Farm admission is free for those 2 and younger; tickets are $15 for all other guests. The farm is open every weekend through Oct. 29 from 5-9 p.m. on Fridays, noon-9 p.m. Saturdays, and 1-6 p.m. Sundays. Military and senior discounts are available when buying tickets in person.
Visit Fayetteville’s Sweet Valley Ranch for a taste of horror with the Backwoods Terror Ranch. Walk through the Slaughterhouse, Surgeon Manor, and other haunted house attractions for more on the legends of the ranch and a maniacal doctor carrying out experimental surgeries on victims in the Fayetteville area. Tickets range from $35 to $60 and can be purchased on the Backwoods Terror Ranch website. The attractions are open in the evenings on Oct. 14, 20-22, 27-29, and 31.
Saturday, Oct. 14
Can you get through Five Nights at Freddy’s? Hope Mills Community Library is hosting a Five Nights at Freddy’s Escape Room from 1 to 4 p.m., when guests will work together in teams to look for clues and uncover the mystery of what’s been going on with animatronics at Fazbear Entertainment. The escape room is free for ages 12 to 18, but registration is required.
North Regional Library will mark Harry Potter Book Day with a session of Harry Potter-themed bingo and trivia from 3 to 4 p.m. Guests should don their best wizarding outfits; the event is intended for ages 8 and older. Attendees need to register beforehand online or by calling 910-483-7727.
Sunday, Oct. 15
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Second Saturday Craft Fair is hosting a Halloween Bazaar at East Hoke Middle School. The free festival includes food trucks, live music, children’s activities and trick-or-treating. Organizers encourage attendees to come dressed in costumes.
Wednesday, Oct. 18
Carve a Jack-o’-lantern at Paddy’s Irish Pub from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The $15 cost of attendance includes the pumpkin and carving supplies. Tickets can be purchased on the pub’s Eventbrite page.
Thursday, Oct. 19
Join the Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex and Gilbert Theater for a night of live theater at the 1897 Poe House with “Halloween Revels: Moonlight Mischief.” Guests of the Night Tours will enjoy “spooky vignettes” and historical theater featuring a few ghosts, music and live poetry. The event will be from 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 19-21 and 26-27, and $10 tickets can be purchased online. Visit the museum’s event page for more details.
Tune into a free Scary Movie Night at West Regional Library from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Attendees will choose between “Crawl” (R), “A Quiet Place” (PG-13), and “Firestarter” (R).
Friday, Oct. 20
Check out the Dogwood Fall Festival, featuring food trucks, hayrides and live music, Oct. 20-22. Located in historic downtown on Rowan Street and Ray Avenue, the festival has free admission. The weekend’s events run from 6-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10:30 p.m. Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday.
Revolutionary Coworking is hosting a Witch Night Market from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the shared workspace in downtown Fayetteville. The event features treats, kids’ crafts and food trucks.
Saturday, Oct. 21
Celebrate National Black Cat Day early with Hope Mills Community Library. The event runs from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and has free admission; guests will partake in crafts and coloring and can expect to learn all about black cats.
Wednesday, Oct. 25
Tweens and teens are invited by Headquarters Library to create and decorate fake crystal balls to get into the Halloween spirit. The free event will be held from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 26
Experience outdoor, interactive fun at the Cape Fear River Botanical Garden for the “Boo-tanical” series on Halloween weekend, with trick-or-treating, a costume contest, reptile display, vendor market, and lights display. The garden will be open from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 26 for Dog Night, when guests are welcome to bring leashed dogs. On Oct. 27, 28 and 29, the garden will be open for an additional hour, from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Sweet Tea Shakespeare will present spooky stories and songs on Oct. 28. Guests are required to purchase timed-entry tickets in advance.
North Regional Library invites teens and tweens for a Halloween horror session all about SFX makeup, featuring latex prosthetics, fake blood and realistic bruising makeup from 5 to 6:15 p.m. The event is limited to ages 12 to 18, and registration is required.
Friday, Oct. 27
Ghouls and gals are welcome at the 13th annual Zombie Walk & Prom, hosted by the Cool Spring Downtown District, Fourth Friday Fayetteville, and Downtown Fayetteville. The event will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. and is free for all attendees, who are encouraged to show out in their best zombie costumes.
Saturday, Oct. 28
Kids below the age of 12 are invited to trick-or-treat throughout Lori's Ace Home & Hardware from 12-3 p.m. The event will include free pizza and popcorn, as well as crafts and coloring activities.
Tuesday, Oct. 31
Join Cliffdale Regional Library for its second annual Cliffdale Trunk or Treat from 4 to 6:30 p.m. The event will be held in the library’s back parking lot and will feature prizes, candy and games.
Village Baptist Church will host its annual fall festival from 6 to 8 p.m. at the church’s McPherson campus. The free event will have trunk-or-treating, carnival games, food, bounce houses, and face painting.
Do you have a fall or Halloween event you’d like to add to this list? Send it to Maydha Devarajan at mdevarajan@cityviewnc.com.
