Atlanta is clearly in full Halloween mode with the slate of haunted house openings, pumpkin festivals, costume parades and scores of Halloween events on hand this weekend.
There are a plethora of other events popping off this weekend, however, including: a beer festival in Decatur; a kids costume party at Zoo Atlanta; a food and music festival at Northlake Mall in Tucker, a fall festival on Ponce de Leon in Midtown Atlanta and another music festival cracking in Marietta in Cobb County.
It is TGIF, so it’s on your marks … get set … go! Take a look at the top things to do this weekend in metropolitan Atlanta, with the help of atlanta.net and atlantanightlife.com.
Pumpkin Festival
Oct. 1 – 26, 2014 (begins Sept. 26)
Pumpkin Festival features a costume party, family shows, storytelling, kids’ activities, and a pie-eating contest at Stone Mountain Park.
Disturbing Haunted House
October 1 – Nov. 1, 2014
Chambers of Horror has scenes of profane torture at The Masquerade for ages 18+. See schedule.
Newnan haunted house
Oct. 1 – Nov. 15, 2014 (starts Sept. 19)
13 Stories Haunted House [sound] has 6 terrifying attractions & Hollywood level of detail. See calendar
Corn Maze and Pumpkins
Oct. 1 – Nov. 23, 2014 (starts Sept. 13)
Explore a corn maze, find a perfect pumpkin, shoot the corn cannon, and take a hayride at Uncle Shuck’s Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch in Dawsonville.
Carrollton Haunted Camp
Oct. 2 – Nov. 1, 2014 (starts Sept. 18)
Camp Blood offers four haunts, including a zombie paintball shoot. Thursday, Friday, Saturday only.
Douglasville Haunted House
Oct. 2 – Nov. 2, 2014 (starts Sept. 13)
Zombies riot at Nightmare’s Gate in Douglasville.
Stimulate Your Mind
October 17, 2014
A dozen brilliant speakers illuminate topics like design, medicine, cartoons, architecture, and space exploration at TEDxPeachtree at Buckhead Theatre.
Zombie, Horror, Sci-fi event
October 17 – 19, 2014
Walker Stalker Con has panels, celebrities, vendors, and a party in Building 2 at the Atlanta Convention Center at AmericasMart. Discount tickets are available at Goldstar and Groupon.
Latino Film Festival
October 17 – 19, 2014
Northern Atlanta locations
The Georgia Latino Film Festival shows films directed, produced, acted, and written by Latinos.
Scottish Festival
October 17 – 19, 2014
Hear Scottish pipes and drums, eat Scottish food, watch athletic games, browse artisan booths, and see tartan-clad dancers at the Stone Mountain Highland Games at Stone Mountain Park.
Art Downtown
October 17 – 23, 2014
Elevate Atlanta offers music & dance performances, public art installations, gallery exhibits and street art in downtown Atlanta involving 100 artists. Free.
Halloween Cemetery Tour
Oct. 17 – 19 and 23 – 25, 2014
Buy tickets in advance for one-hour Capturing the Spirit of Oakland Halloween Tours to hear stories about the Oakland Cemetery’s famous residents and see candlelit mausoleums.
Family Halloween Hike
Oct. 17 – 18 and 24 – 25, 2014
A guide leads you on a well-lit trail to meet costumed creatures of the woods at the non-scary Halloween Hikes at Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell.
Horror Show
October 17 – 25, 2014
Creatures dance and perform acts of horror onstage and around you to music at Dracula: Come Into The Night in Lawrenceville; 30 minutes. Discount tickets.
Family Haunted House
Oct. 17-18, 24-25, 31 & Nov. 1, 2014
35 miles north
If you crave a fun haunted house without the guts and gore, head to the $5 Hayes Haunt in Cumming.
Dawsonville Haunted Trail
October 17 – Nov. 2, 2014
Hell’s Gates [sound] is an outdoor trail that leads you through nine shocking scenes with live actors and special effects in Dawsonville.
Halloween Festival and Parade
October 18, 2014 (noon to 11 p.m.)
Enjoy food and drink, live entertainment, pumpkin carving, street vendors, and a 4 p.m. costume parade at Little 5 Points Halloween Festival and Parade. Free.
Decatur Beer Festival
October 18, 2014 (only VIP tickets left)
Decatur Craft Beer Festival features 100 craft beers, live music, and food for sale in downtown Decatur.
Moonshine Festival
October 18, 2014
Taste 50 kinds of moonshine, meet the distillers, take a seminar, with live music at the Andrews Moonshine Festival at East Andrews Cafe. Discount tickets
DeKalb Festival
October 18, 2014 (12 to 6 p.m.)
Enjoy music, dance, food, and crafts from around the world at DeKalb International Food And Music Festival at Northlake Mall in Tucker.
Festival on Ponce
October 18 – 19, 2014
Fall Festival on Ponce features fine arts and crafts, folk art, a children’s area, food trucks, and acoustic music in historic Olmsted Linear Park at N Ponce De Leon Ave NE. Repeats in April. Free.
Air show
October 18 – 19, 2014
Wings Over North Georgia has aerobatic performers, the Thunderbird squadron, aircraft on display, and a BBQ in Rome.
Boo at the Zoo
October 18-19 and 25-26, 2014
Boo at the Zoo is a Halloween festival with costume contests, treats, magical paths, decorations, music, and kid crafts at Zoo Atlanta.
Marietta Music Festival
October 19, 2014 (12 to 6 p.m.)
Boxerstock promises a variety of music, food trucks, dog supply vendors, and a kids’ village in Marietta.
Top Things to Do This Weekend in Atlanta, Oct. 17-19
