Photograph by Matt Walljasper
Family Friendly
Magic Monday: Historic Halloween
10/10
Your preschoolers will have a barrel of fun listening to spooky stories and marching in the costume parade at the Atlanta History Center. They’ll also be able to enjoy arts and crafts and trick-or-treating.
Boo at the Zoo
10/22-23 and 10/29-30
See the animals, trick-or-treat, and make crafts during Zoo Atlanta’s annual Halloween festivities. Twice-daily costume contests and an inflatable corn maze add to the fun.
Fernbank BOO-seum Trick-or-Treat
10/29
Candy for the kids, music, games, as well as the museum’s normal exhibits, await your family at Fernbank.
Halloween Hikes
10/21-22 and 10/28-29
Looking for something a little less spooky this season? How about a hike through the forest at the Chattahoochee Nature Center? Your family will learn about the wildlife, enjoy a campfire, and maybe even meet a few fun costumed characters along the way.
Haunted Houses
Netherworld
If you’re not easily scared, challenge yourself to arguably one of the top haunted houses in the country. Live actors, chilling creatures, and extreme effects will get your heart palpitating during two floors of fright.
13 Stories Haunted House
Named after the mythical haunted house so scary you’d get your money back if you made it through every floor, this Newnan attraction brings the fear. Inside, you’ll find anything from monsters to zombies to snakes, spiders, and roaches. The only comfort we can offer comes from the FAQ: “No animals, if inside, would ever be close enough to bite you.”
Gates of Misery
A nearly century-old building serves as the backdrop for haunts, chills, and thrills in this Rome haunted house. New for this year, the Schoolhouse of Horror ups the ante with even more opportunities to confront your worst nightmares.
Fear the Woods
Not only can you explore a haunted house in Stockbridge, you’ll also find outdoor scares on the “Haunted Trail,” and a zombie combat experience.
Camp Blood
In Carrollton, you’ll find a bizarre mix of humor and horror as you encounter “haunted hillbillies and dead rednecks,” an odd formula that has been tried and tested for 26 years. The site’s four attractions will keep you on your toes, especially when you can’t decide if you should laugh, scream, or both.
Scary Fun
Run Like Hell
10/15
Look, when the zombie apocalypse comes, only those who outrun and outlast will survive. You might as well start prepping now with this spooky 5k race. The course runs through Grant Park, along MLK Drive, and finishes at Oakland Cemetery.
Pumpkin Class at Decatur Glassblowing
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays
Learn how to make your own glass pumpkin in this unique glassblowing experience. After watching a demo, you’ll get to create your own glass masterpiece in a one-on-one session with the instructor. No prior glassblowing experience needed.
Walker Stalker Con
10/28-30
Big fan of The Walking Dead? Then don’t pass up this chance to meet cast members (including Norman Reedus and Andrew Lincoln), pick up some awesome merch, and get to know your fellow Dead-heads at the Georgia World Congress Center.
Fright Fest at Six Flags Over Georgia
10/7-31
This month, the scariest things at Six Flags won’t be the roller coasters, but rather the beasties and baddies that will try to scare you in the park. During the day, enjoy more family friendly frights, but at night, well, that’s when things go bump. Don’t miss the new gargoyle-themed VR rollercoaster.
Little 5 Points Halloween Festival and Parade
10/15
Enjoy the parade, vendors, food, and all the fun that L5P throws into the holiday it was born to celebrate. Just make sure you line up early to get a good spot for the parade.
Halloween in Chamblee
10/29
With a slew of events including a 5K, hay rides, and a costume contest, you’ll have a blast at this annual event in Keswick Park.
The Sleepy Hollow Experience
9/29-11/6
Not quite a haunted house, not quite a play, this blend of storytelling and scares at Serenbe offers a unique roving experience set to the legend of the Headless Horseman.
Spooky Stories
Atlanta Horror Film Festival
10/13-16
Catch a selection of horror flicks and shorts at the Plaza Theater and Mammal Gallery during the 10th annual Atlanta Horror Film Festival. Expect to see anything from slashers and ghost stories to the odd blend that is comedy-horror.
Dracula: The Awakening
10/14-29
This 4D experience at the The Venue at Southern Performing Arts Academy in Lawrenceville aims to scare you by stimulating all of your senses. Your hair will stand on end as you watch the horror story unfold on stage and feel the chills created by the immersive experience.
Macbeth
10/14-30
Double, double, toil and trouble . . . okay, maybe this Shakespearean classic isn’t the scariest thing out there, but murder, paranoia, and the descent into madness certainly fit the Halloween season.
Halloween Parties
A Nightmare on Peachtree Street
10/29
Five DJs, three rooms of music, and a $1,000 costume contest will give you a night to remember at 200 Peachtree Street. VIP packages available.
Saints and Sinners Ball
10/29
Live music from Foals, Bear Hands, and Kiev headline the entertainment at Park Tavern. Themed drink specials and other surprises should keep the party going.
A Social Mess Halloween Party 7
10/29
Come party at the Buckhead Theater with A Social Mess’s seventh offering of their popular Halloween party. Multiple DJs and live bands will keep the dance floor lively.