Halloween Events: Beech Mountain Halloween Celebration

October 30, 2015   Halloween Celebration   Trick or Treating begins at 6 PM at City Hall. The Little ones can trick-or-treat at local businesses and the whole family can enjoy the festivities that follow at Buckeye Lake and Recreation Center.

The Halloween party includes food, drinks, fun games, and a haunted egg hunt.  For those who enjoy chills and thrills, the haunted hayride is a spooky experience.

Get more local information on the Beech Mountain NC Visitor Guide. 

Halloween Events: Beary Scary Halloween on Grandfather Mountain

photo courtesy Grandfather Mountain

October 31, 2015   Beary Scary Halloween at Grandfather Mountain   Celebrate Halloween early at Grandfather Mountain with a full day of crafts, nature programs, trick-or-treating in the animal habitats and a costume contest. 

Participate in an interactive program titled “Going Batty for Bats.” Children in costume enter the park for half-price. Events are included with park admission. 

Grandfather mountain is the highest mountain in the Blue Ridge Mountain range at an elevation of 5,964 feet.  The Mile High Swinging Bridge gives visitors easy access to the breath-taking view from Grandfather Mountain's Linville Peak. 

Grandfather Mountain is a Nature Lovers' favorite offering Wildlife habitats, Nature Walks and Trails, Nature Programs, and a Nature Museum.  The complex natural terrain includes 16 different classifications of natural communities with backcountry trails providing access to all. 

Halloween Ghost Tours in Wilkesboro NC

October 31, 2015    Candle Light Ghost Tours  Come out for an evening of tales, mystery and haunts at the Candle Light Ghost Tours.  The Tours are all walking and begin at the Wilkes Heritage Museum lawn at 7:30 PM and 8:30 PM.

photo courtesy Wilkes Heritage Museum

Learn about the ghosts that haunt the old buildings that make up downtown Wilkesboro NC. Visit a cemetery where Civil War Soldiers are buried, stand in the jail cell Tom Dooley spent his last days, and listen to the stories of the haunted Smithey Hotel. 

Tickets will be sold on the Courthouse lawn at the museum and at the Wilkesboro Open Air Market the Friday before. The Wilkes Heritage Museum is located at 100 East Main Street in downtown Wilkesboro NC. 




 

NC Mountain Fishing: Rumble in the Rhododendron Fly Fishing Tournament

October 30, 31, November 1 2015     Rumble in the Rhododendron Fly Fishing Tournament   Two-person team competition held exclusively in the catch-and-release section of Cherokee’s “trophy waters” known simply as Raven Fork.  

photo courtesy of www.visitcherokeenc.com

This tournament offers a guaranteed payout totaling $10,000 for the top teams. $225 entry fee and Cherokee fishing permit required.

Cherokee NC offers Fishing and Fly Fishing Tournaments year around. With some of the best stocked streams and the most pristine wooded settings, the Eastern Band Reservation and its waters are a favorite fishing destination.

Fishing permits and licenses are required. Get complete information or and can be purchase online.

What To Do This Weekend in the Mountains

Date:       October 16 - 17, 2015
NC City:  BLOWING ROCK
Event:     Ghost Train Halloween Festival at Tweetsie Railroad   Advanced ticket purchase is recommended for this very popular event. Fun for the whole family this ghastly special event admission includes: all the nighttime activities in the park - the ride on the Ghost Train, trick-or-treating for the kids, Haunted House, Tweetsie Palace Spooktacular, the rides in the Creepy Carnival, and the attractions in "The Boneyard” section, featuring the Black Hole, 3-D maze, and the “Freaky Forest.” 

Date:      October 16 - 18, 2015
NC City:  BRYSON CITY 
Event:     Peanuts Pumpkin Patch Express   The PEANUTS gang return the the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Pumpkin Patch for this annual family fun favorite. The excursions, which are themed after Charles M. Schulz's classic story "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," will be departing from the Bryson City Depot and arriving at the Pumpkin Patch. Event activities include campfire marshmallows, a coloring station, temporary tattoos, trick or treating, bouncy house, hayrides and live musical entertainment. Two trips per day at 12 PM and 3:30 PM.

Date:       October 16 - 18, 2015
NC City:   ROBBINSVILLE
Event:     Annual Harvest Festival    Mountain traditions come alive at the annual Harvest Festival in beautiful Stecoah Valley at the Cultural Arts Center on the grounds of the historic Stecoah School. The former community school was built in 1926, and today is the home of the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center, an organization dedicated to preserving Southern Appalachian mountain culture. Tickets for the Saturday evening concert are on sale now  -  Admission-adults $25.00 Students k-12 $10.00.  Performing this year will be The Cleverlys. The Sunday afternoon concert is free.  

Date:       October 16 - 18, 2015
NC City:   FRANKLIN
Event:     Annual Leaf-Lookers Gemboree    An Annual Gem Show with dealers from all over the southeast. Rough and Cut Gems, minerals, fine jewelry, supplies, beads, door prizes, dealers, exhibits and demonstrations. Adults: $2; Under 12 Free. Watch for $1 off coupons in local newspapers. Sponsored by Franklin Chamber of Commerce and Gem & Mineral Society of Franklin

Date:      October 17, 2015
NC City:  DILLSBORO
Event:    ColorFest, Art and Taste of Appalachia   Autumn's colors and flavors take center stage  during this popular annual festival. This arts and food event fills the sidewalks of Dillsboro with a variety of mountain artisans demonstrating their skills, plus food vendors serving up a taste of the North Carolina mountains.  Local musicians and street entertainers add music to festivities, while restaurants and shops are open to serve the crowds throughout the day.  10 AM - 4 PM.

Date:      October 17, 2015
NC City:  LITTLE SWITZERLAND
Event:     Black Light nighttime Mine Underground Tour   Black Light is the common name for ultraviolet light because it is invisible to human sight. Be amazed by the bright colors in the Bon Ami Mine revealed with short-wave ultraviolet lights. Bon Ami Mine is one of the few places in the world where you can visit an underground mine at night and see brightly flowing fluorescent Hyalite Opal and other rare minerals. No reservations needed. Admission: $15/adults; $10/students and seniors

Date:      October 17, 2015
NC City:  ASHEVILLE
Event:     Asheville Art in the Park   The finest handcrafted art in the area is on display and for sale at Pack Square in downtown Asheville. Nationally known artists exhibit at this event and the best part is- they are local. Muddy Knees Design and Production is proud to once again offer local artists the opportunity to connect with the public in Asheville‘s Pack Square Park. This is the last October show for 2015.

Date:      October 17, 2015
NC City:  VALLE CRUCIS
Event:     The Valle Country Fair   Enjoy an old fashioned County Fair at the peak of fall color leaf season. Activities include crafts, food, mountain music, 150 juried fine art and crafts booths, an activity area for kids, freshly pressed apple cider , Hot-out-of-the-kettle apple butter, Homemade jams & jellies, Brunswick stew, chili and barbecue. 

Date:      October 17 - 18, 2015
NC City:  MAGGIE VALLEY
Event:     Maggie Valley Fall Arts and Crafts Festival  Come and spend the weekend at this annual art and crafts event enjoying the panoramic view of the mountains in Maggie Valley.  A variety of fine handmade crafts created by artisans from throughout the Southeast including furniture, jewelry, knitting, pottery, quilted items, painted shirts, floral arrangements, leather work, scroll work, crochet, soaps and plenty of Food Vendors will be serving all your favorites. There will also be chainsaw demonstrations.

Date:      October 17 - 18, 2015
NC City:  BANNER ELK
Event:     Wooly Worm Festival   The 38th Annual Festival includes the infamous wolly worm "waces" along with live entertainment, arts and crafts, food vendors and amusement rides.  A family-oriented weekend and one of the most popular NC mountain annual events. Admission is $5.00 for Adults, $3.00 for Children 6-12, Free for 5 and under.

Date:      October 17 - 18, 2015
NC City:  BLOWING ROCK / LINVILLE
Event:     The Colors of Grandfather Mountain   A guided walk led by Grandfather Mountain's education staff takes guests out onto the trails of Grandfather to discuss fall color. Topics include the reasons trees change color and the different forces that affect fall color. The different species of trees around the trail will be identified. “The Colors of Grandfather” will visit various locations around Grandfather Mountain to showcase a spectacular contrast of stunning autumn hues. The programs begin at 1 PM each Saturday and Sunday and are included with regular admission. For more information about “The Colors of Grandfather,” call 800-468-7325  

Date:      October 17 - 18, 2015
NC City:  ASHEVILLE
Event:     North Carolina Chrysanthemum Society Annual Show    A popular annual judged show presents hundreds of chrysanthemum blooming in vibrant and varied colors. The exhibits will be judged by Accredited National Chrysanthemum judges and strict NCS standards  highlight the exceptional variety in size, shape and color of these popular fall flowers.

Date:      October 18, 2015
NC City:  CHIMNEY ROCK
Event:     Naturalist Niche: Simon Says Fall Birdwalk at Chimney Rock State Park   Now is the perfect time to start preparing for winter birding. Grab your binoculars and field guide to join world-traveled birding expert Simon Thompson for an early look at which of our feathered friends are staying around for winter. Limited to 15; advance registration required. Call 800-277-9611 to reserve your spot. 

          

Cradle of Forestry Re-enacts Camping in the Early 1900s

October 10, 2015    Camping in the Old Style at The Cradle of Forestry     Turn back the clock and visit  with a small group of re-enactors in a reconstructed campsite of the early 1900’s. Return to the time in history when the Pisgah National Forest was in its infancy, and city folk were discovering the joys of outdoor recreation.

photo courtesy Cradle of Forestry

It was a time when camping meant sleeping under canvas and cooking over an open fire. Here in the wood smoke, surrounded by the outdoor gear of a by-gone day, the traditional skills of camp and trail will be practiced in their proper setting. Visitors can see fire by flint, steel, and friction, old style campfire cookery, four different styles of period shelters, and traditional camp tools in use.

The Cradle of Forestry of America - The Cradle is a place of people, nature, history and the future. The story of the birth of forestry in America is told through exhibits at the Forestry Discovery Center, the Biltmore Campus trail and the Forest Festival Trail. There are nature programs and special events for all ages throughout the year.

Find more local details and information on the Brevard NC Visitor Guide.

It's Time for the Peanuts Pumpkin Patch Express on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

photo courtesy Great Smoky Mountains Railroad

October 9 - 11, 2015    Peanuts Pumpkin Patch Express    The PEANUTS gang return to the the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Pumpkin Patch for this annual family fun favorite. The excursions, which are themed after Charles M. Schulz's classic story "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," will be departing from the Bryson City NC Depot and arriving at the Pumpkin Patch. 

Event activities include campfire marshmallows, a coloring station, temporary tattoos, trick or treating, bouncy house, hayrides and live musical entertainment. There are two trips per day at 12 PM and 3:30 PM.

Halloween Events: The Haunted Farm is Open with Zombies and Spooktacular Adventure

October 2 - 3, 2015   The Haunted Farm   If you dare... come visit this spooktacular farm sitting on a mysterious, blood-soaked stretch of land where the deranged Missy Mae Lively eternally pines for her lost groom.

Located between Hendersonville and Asheville NC, The Haunted Farm is probably the scariest Halloween attraction in Western North Carolina. The Farm is  frightful fun with three main parts: The Woods, The Farm and The Haunted Hayride. 

New for 2015 - There are more gruesome scenes, horrifying sights, special effects, incredible details and startling scares then ever before. 

Don't miss the chance to defend against the Zombie Army. Climb onto one of the zombie assault vehiclesprepare to defend yourself and all of humanity from a zombie invasion. You will be armed with a semi-automatic paintball gun loaded with exploding zombie tracer rounds. Your ticket includes 200 rounds of ammunition; zombies will not be shooting back at you. With black-lights, glowing paintballs, and sound system, this one-of-a-kind intense ride is sure to get your adrenaline flowing. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. The ride lasts approximately twenty minutes and will leave you begging for more.

The Haunted Farm is located at 624 Townsend Road in Hendersonville NC and will be open weekends through October 31. Admission - $19-$20; $3 parking