Halloween is a fun time, but it can be a scary time too, especially if you’re not expecting spooky surprises. So here to sort the fun from the fright is our guide to Halloween happenings in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.
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Halloween Scares
Ripley’s Haunted Adventure in Gatlinburg is open all year to scare you with live actors and spooky effects and settings. In October, the Adventure ramps up the thrill factor with its weekend Fright Nights. Check their website for more info.
Also in Gatlinburg, the Mysterious Mansion offers year-round spookiness in a very scary house. October sees Halloween-themed weekends.
Another year-round attraction is the Ghost Walk of Gatlinburg, a highly rated and engaging tour of the town revealing all of its the haunted history. Not an actual scare experience, just macabre in the telling.
The Moonshine Mountain Coaster puts on a seasonal scare in October, with the annual Halloween in the Holler event. Live actors and special effects enhance the haunted feel on this long downhill coaster ride.
Get in the frightened mood anytime of year at The Captured, an attraction at the base of the Gatlinburg Space Needle and a great place to run into flesh eaters and psychotics.
Halloween Treats
The charm of fall and Harvest Festival extends through October in many places, and friendly pumpkins can still be found.
Dollywood keeps the season alive with its Great Pumpkin LumiNights, offering the family-friendly extravaganza of entertainment, lights, sound and color standard for every Dollywood program, with countless pumpkins carved skillfully into wondrous designs
Kyker Farms in October continues the warmth of fall with hayrides for the whole family, the famous corn mazes, a special little zipline made especially for little ones, and a chance to pick your perfect pumpkin.
Crave Golf Club offers a fun time with its Craveyard Bash, dressed up in scary costume but looking more like fun than fright. A great place for kids to try your costume moves, get their face painted and try out some of that candy everywhere in the place.
Trick or Treat
There is much festivity in the final days leading up to the big Halloween Night, and one of the earliest happens at the Pigeon Forge Community Center, with a totally non-scary, kid-friendly event. Dress in non-scary costumes and enjoy the interactive games and activities, all the while scoring some of the abundant candy. It’s a harmless and happy event to celebrate the season.
The Island in Pigeon Forge opens its Halloween Carnival a day or two beforehand, free to the public and with entertainment, circus acts and other performers, and a discounted ride ticket for kids in costumes. Grab the Candy Map and start on the quest!
During the day on October 31, the plaza at Ripley’s Aquarium hosts a party to show up to with the Trick or Treat Kickoff Karnival. Costumes, contests with prizes and of course plenty of candy gets the little ones tired out before sundown. Lots of kids attend this very popular celebration.
Halloween evening is trick or treat prime time, and businesses along Parkway in Gatlinburg will generally be a soft touch for candy giveaways. In Sevierville, the Sheriff’s Department offers the guaranteed safe place in the annual Halloween Block Party – just show up and enjoy the night.
Image courtesy of Gatlinburg
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