Get in the Spooky Spirit at These Fun Halloween Haunts (3/4)

Halloween is fast approaching, and while getting dressed up in a creative costume, collecting candy from neighbors and watching scary movies late into the night are all time-honored holiday traditions here in the States, Halloween did not actually start in America. In fact, the origins of Halloween go back thousands of years to Samhain, a Celtic festival that commemorates the end of the harvest season and a time when the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead was thought to be so thin that people could communicate with loved ones who had passed on.

The Halloween holiday we celebrate today did not begin to take off in the U.S. until the middle of the 19th century, when a wave of Irish immigrants left their country during the potato famine and brought with them their own superstitions and customs, including the jack-o’-lantern. And by the end of the 1800s, practices like witchcraft and mischievous troublemaking were being replaced by a more secular set of rituals, such as parties that included harmless Halloween games, fall seasonal treats and fun costumes. Over the years, Halloween has continued to evolve, taking on Christian influences, European myth and, eventually, American consumerism.

From trick-or-treating and jack-o-lanterns to haunted houses and scary movies—although today’s Halloween traditions would be unrecognizable to those who took part in the holiday’s earliest forms, it has evolved from a solemn occasion with religious and supernatural undertones to a lighthearted and festive celebration of costumes, candy and community that we wait all year to immerse ourselves in. If you are looking for ways to get into the spooky spirit this Halloween season, check out some of these Atlanta haunts.

• Haunting on Howell Mill at UrbanTree Cidery – Looking for some 21+ fun? Atlanta’s first craft cidery is highly regarded for its seasonal brews and this year they are leaning all the way into the Halloween theme with the opening of its Halloween pop-up bar, “Haunted on Howell Mill.” Open weeknights until October 31, it features complimentary tarot card and palm readings, karaoke and a live DJ, tacos from the “Let’s Taco Bout It” food truck and lots of fun, photo-ready decor. In addition to their many cider offerings, Urban Tree’s pop-up bar will also offer a range of Halloween-themed cocktails, some of which even come in blood bags for the truly ghoulish.

• Boo at the Zoo – Located at Zoo Atlanta in Grant Park on the last two weekends in October, this popular all-ages event features all the regular zoo fun, plus a variety of spooky-season extras. Boo at the Zoo offers trick-or-treating, carnival games, craft activities and a train ride around “Boo Town” to find the Missing Mayor. Catch some strolling characters for photo ops and enjoy family-friendly performances by local musicians and artists.

• Goblins in the Garden – On Sunday, October 22, a regular admission ticket to the Atlanta Botanical Garden will get you access to Goblins in the Garden Halloween festival. There will be live music performances, pumpkin decorating, train rides, pony rides, costume runways and more. Adults can enjoy a garden chef demo with chef Ilene Rouamvongsor in the Edible Garden Outdoor Kitchen. And of course, there is all the usual beauty to catch at the botanical garden, so give yourself plenty of time to enjoy this event.

• Capturing the Spirit of Oakland Cemetery – Being held on select nights from October 19 – 31, this incredibly popular event brings Atlanta’s history to life through the historic eternal residents of Oakland Cemetery. A costumed docent ushers your tour through the cemetery’s paths and gardens, seasonally lit for the occasion. The event includes mood-appropriate musical performances, craft beer and cocktails and access to the Oakland gift shop. Costumes are encouraged for this not-to-miss historically spooky event.

• Rescue Dogs Howl-a-ween Festival – Being held at Old Fourth Ward Park from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 21, pup-lovers are sure to enjoy this fun annual event, which raises money for local animal rescue organizations. There’s a costume parade, a trick AND treat contest – where you can show off your dog’s best trick, a photo booth for pups and their people and lots of vendors selling pet-friendly fare. Plus, a monster-mash dance-off, a frisbee station, a lure chase and an adoption area to meet your new best friend. If you want to bring treats, you can donate an unopened bag of dog food to PAWS Atlanta.

• Little 5 Points Halloween Festival and Parade – One of Atlanta’s most popular events returns to Little Five Points on October 21 – 22 for screams, spooks and serious fun. The whole neighborhood gets involved for this one, with a 3D Haunted House at the L5P Community Center, a one-mile ghost tour around the area, a photo contest, live music and plenty of artist vendors, as well as food and drink stands. Saturday night features a screening of the silent movie Hexen at Findley Plaza, with eerie live music from W8ingforUFO and the famous parade kicks off Sunday at 2 p.m.

• Haunted Houses – One of the scariest ways to honor Halloween is by heading to one of the haunted houses that take over Atlanta during this scary time of year. With every rendition getting more extreme, gory and fun as the years go by, Atlanta promises a terrifying Halloween for those who are brave enough to explore the twisted horror worlds making their way to the city this season. From Netherworld in Stone Mountain to Nightmare’s Gate in Douglasville to Fright Nights at Six Flags in Austell, there are a number to choose from.

• Woodland Spirits at Fernbank Museum – From October 15 – November 5, you can take a walk on the supernatural side with Fernbank’s annual Halloween display, Woodland Spirits. Drawing inspiration from literature’s many dark forests, Woodland Spirits evokes mystery, adventure and imagination during the Halloween season through commissioned sculptures created by artist Laura Lewis. This outdoor exhibit puts guests face-to-face and nose-to-snout with dozens of ghostly “visitors” lurking among the trails outside in WildWoods and Fernbank Forest.

• Georgia Aquarium’s Haunted Seas – Throughout the month of October, Georgia Aquarium will be transformed in a never-before-seen way. Haunted Seas at Georgia Aquarium introduces new characters, legends, sights and screams in a fully immersive Aquarium experience. Discover mysterious treasures of the deep when an 18th-century pirate chest is found and graciously donated to the Georgia Aquarium. However, other things have mysteriously arrived with it. Ghostly apparitions of pirates and the shipwrecks that sent them to their doom have begun to materialize around the building. Each day will feature themed sea lion and dolphin presentations and a totally redecorated atrium. On the weekends, join Captain Humbolt Squidd on his quest to discover hidden treasure down the underwater passages of the Ocean Voyager exhibit, and complete your own trick-or-treat adventure!

• Halloween on the Roof – On Saturday, October 28, Ponce City Market’s rooftop is hosting two Halloween events. In the daytime, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., bring the kids for trick-or-treating and costume parades. After 7 p.m., as the sun sets and the moon rises, the venue transforms to a 21 and older prom-themed party with a DJ and plenty of dancing. Wear your best costume – there’s a $1,000 prize for the winner of the evening’s contest. 

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