Looking for some thrills, chills and scares this weekend before you and the kids go collecting candy on Halloween? Here’s a list of the local haunted tours, trails and rides:
Historic Salisbury’s Haunted Trolley Tours — 7 and 8:30 p.m., every Friday-Saturday in October. One hour narrated trolley tour through Historic Downtown Salisbury begins and ends at the Visitors Center, 204 E. Innes St., adults $15, students $12, 5 and under free. 1-800-332-2343, murguz@visitsalisburync.com
PPT’s Haunted Theater — 7-10 p.m., Oct. 27-31, also 3-5 p.m. matinee Oct. 29. All tickets $8 available at the door. Meroney Theater, 213 S. Main St., 704-633-5471, www.piedmontplayers.com
Zombies’ Night Out — Second annual Downtown Salisbury Zombie Walk (DSZW), 7 p.m. Friday. Starts at Dead Ed’s Alternative Clothing store, 123 E. Innes St. Registration is a $5 donation to the Humane Society of Rowan Co. Registration & Make Up from 3-7 p.m. Tips encouraged for artists donating their time and resources 8 p.m., dinner with Zombies’ Night Out staff at Uncle Buck’s (all ages). 9 p.m. after party at Club 315 (18 & up), featuring The Graveyard Boulevard, with special guests The Body Bags. Free entry with DSZW armband.
Halloween carnival at JF Hurley Family YMCA — 5-7:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 31: free for all ages, games, food, fun costume contest 1st-2nd-3rd prizes. 828 W Jake Alexander Blvd., 704-636-0111.
Halloween FunFest — 3-6 p.m., Saturday Oct. 29: Children dress up for costume contests, games for kids, Haunted Trolley rides, Trick or Treat for 12 and under (in costume and accompanied by parent) with downtown merchants from 4-5. Sponsored by Salisbury Parks and Recreation Dept., First Bank parking lot, 215 W. Innes St.
Forbidden Forest Horror Trail — Oct. 27, 28, 29, 31, from dark-until. $13, proceeds go to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Concession proceeds go to the Michael Yang Foundation. 14210 Old Beatty Ford Road, Rockwell. 704-223-2765, www.forbiddenforesthorrortrail.com
Boogerwoods Howl-o-ween Spooktacular for the cure of Cystic Fibrosis — Oct. 28, 29, 31: Five nights only. Tickets go on sale at 2 p.m. each day for that night only. Reviewed as one of the top haunts in the Carolinas. New scenes include Booger North Pole, Booger Express, The Asylum and more. Info at 704-855-7922, www.boogerwoods.com or www.boogerwoods.org
Scarrigan Farms, Mooresville — Through Oct. 31: Psycho clowns, the tragic bus, 3-D maze, corn maze. Also available Old Fashioned Night Time Hayride and Bonfire. Scarrigan Farms $20, Pumpkin Patch Hayrides $9. www.Scarriganfarms.com or Facebook.
Fright Night at the Magic Kastle — 6:30- 9 p.m., Thursday-Friday, Oct 27-28: Looking Glass Artists Center’s black box theater hosts guided tours by Igor, the Spooky-Wooky Narrator. Professional scenery provided by the local Pendragon special event group. Each tour ends in a Magic Kastle performance. $6. per person per tour. For an additional fee, spirit photos will be offered by photographer David Lamanno on Friday night using an antique camera and special technique to capture your image so that you appear to be ghostly. 704-633-2787,www.salisburyartists.com
Historic Gold Hill Ghost Stories Tours — Check-in 6-9 p.m., Saturday, Oct 29: Guided tours feature the tale of Aaron Klein and his beloved bride-to-be Elizabeth Moyle and the ghostly apparitions that appeared following his disappearance. $5 admission, under 6 free. 704-267-9439, www.HistoricGoldHill.com
Salisbury Ghost Walk — 7 and 8:30 p.m., Oct 28, 29, adults $10, students $5, Meet at 130 W. Innes St., reservations and information 704-642-1734, boo@salisburyghostwalk.com
Wrenn House Paranormal Investigation — 9 p.m.-midnight, Friday, Oct. 28, $25 per person. Reservations and details 704-213-4232, boo@salisburyghostwalk.com
The Halloween Train — Saturday, Oct. 29: The N.C. Transportation Museum hosts the Halloween Train full of friendly ghosts and witches handing out Halloween treats for the kids, followed by a trip to the Roundhouse full of Halloween goodies, coloring and miniature haunted house. Annual costume contests held on the Turntable at noon. 411 S. Salisbury Ave., Spencer, for schedule and fees 704-636-2889, www.nctrans.org
Art gallery and paranormal tours — Highland Avenue Art Gallery and More. Art gallery hours Tuesday through Saturday, noon -6 p.m. Paranormal tours Monday-Saturday 8:30-10 p.m., reservations required. 1031 Highland Ave., 704-636-8134 to schedule tour.
1968 original ‘Night Of The Living Dead’ — 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 27, free, limited seating, first come, first served. Preceded by the zombie short film ‘See the Dead,’ director Robert Fillion on hand for Q and A. Davis Theatre, 65 Union Street S., Concord, 704-920-2787, www. modernfilmfest.com
Halloween TEAM Scream Contest and Fall Festival — Team Chevrolet, 10 a.m. -2 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 29: Games for children and adults: paint a pumpkin, go fish, cake walk, palm readings, hay search, ring toss, face painting, petting zoo; snakes and spiders from Dan Nicholas Park, Salisbury Fire Department trucks and smoke house. Throw pies in the faces of Sheriff Kevin Auten and Salisbury Police Chief Rory Collins for $1. Live radio broadcast from the dealership, Jake Alexander Blvd. The loudest, most horrifying Halloween scream wins the Halloween Scream King/Queen, two competitions, adults and children, male and female winner from each. Entry fee benefits the United Way. Get a hot dog and a Cheerwine for $1. All proceeds benefit United Way of Rowan County.
Halloween and crime prevention event — 6-9 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 29: Fun and educational program for youth sponsored by JC Price American Legion Post 107 and Auxiliary. Dancing, deejay Wade, face painting, food, door prizes, best costume contest, Salisbury High JROTC, fire and crime prevention display by the Fire and Police departments. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult. 1433 Old Wilkesboro Road, 704-640-6360.
NC Rowan County Anime Group cosplay contest— 1-5 p.m., Sunday , Oct. 30: Dress as your favorite anime, manga, video game character, for ages 10 and up. Salisbury Mall. www.groups.yahoo. com/group/NCRowanCountyanime/
Happy’s Farm Haunted Western Town — 5-9 p.m., Oct 30-31: Visit the saloon, tour the haunted hotel where visitors check in but don’t check out, walk through haunted geometric gardens, country candy store, horse rides, register to win a free tutoring Session or camp day in Happy’s jail gameroom. Donations only. 985 Parks Road off Mt. Hope Church Road, 704-279-5268.
Halloween at the Maize Maze — Wear costumes to Huntersville’s Amazing Maize Maze Halloween weekend, be eligible for prizes in Best Costume, Funniest Costume, Most Creative. Prizes include Amazing Maize Maze T-shirts, tickets to Rural Hill Sheepdog Trials on Nov. 12- 13, tickets to a future maze. Complete information and advance tickets at www.ruralhill.net Flashlight Maze tickets available at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 28 and will be sold to all in line by 8:30 p.m. Bring your own flashlight. The three classes will be awarded at 8:30 p.m. Friday for Flashlight Maze contestants. The costume judging on Saturday and Sunday will be held throughout maze hours (10 a.m.–6:30 p.m). 704-875-3113.
Slaughter Woods Haunted Hayrides — 6:30-10 p.m. Oct. 27 and 31, 6:30-10:30 p.m. Oct. 28 and 31; 1260 Dial Street, Kannapolis, off North Cannon Boulevard; sponsored by Downtown Kannapolis Inc., part of the proceeds will benefit the drama department at a local high school; minimum recommended age is 7.