With fall starting, finally, to nip the air, and trees starting to hint at autumn colors, Halloween activities have cranked up here in Blount County. Winifred Sanderson might complained, in Hocus Pocus, “All Hallows’ Eve has become a night of frolic, where children wear costumes and run amok!” And we say, bring it on!
Mark your calendar for the Spooktacular Extravaganza! This annual event fills up downtown Maryville with music, dog costume contests, carnival games, and, of course, trick-or-treating with local businesses and nonprofits. Spooktacular is Friday, Oct. 25, from 4:30-7:30, along West Broadway, rain or shine.
Spooktacular is coordinated by Maryville-Alcoa Parks and Rec.
Halloween has become an all-ages (and pet) holiday, and these activities are great for children and their families.
It doesn’t feel like fall without a Corn Maze, and you can find it at Maple Lane Farms, 1112 Maple Lane, Greenback. There’s also a Kiddie Maze, designed for children under age 5. Other activities include hayrides to the pumpkin patch, bounce houses and slides, bonfires, face painting, cornhole and other games, and fall food and shopping. Admission to the farm is free, with specific ticket prices for specific attractions. The Farm closes in rainy weather, so check with them if things get soggy.
Beware! The Corn Maze turns haunted at dusk starting on Oct. 18!
For hours and specific prices, call 865-856-3511 or visit https://tnmaplelanefarms.com/hours-directions/
The Blount County Public Library’s annual Fall Festival is Saturday, Oct. 19, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., with shopping, music, cosplayers, food trucks and balloon twisting. There’s no charge for this event, which takes place outdoors in the parking lot at the BCPL Learning Lab. Find out more by calling 865-982-0981,
For hands-on fun, try Creative Spark‘s DIY Spooky Books workshop, Oct. 11, 12 and 25, at 5:30-7:30 p.m. Kids and adults alike can upcycle old books into creepy new creations. Creative Spark supplies the materials, and you’ll get a great Halloween prop or décor to take home. The class costs $40; reservations are required. For more details, call 865-995-6001. Register Here!
Halloween parties can be big fun for the littles, like the one Maryville’s Play Station is hosting on Saturday, Oct, 19, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The indoor playground features a 40-foot-long inflatable obstacle course and other attractions inside their 5,000-square-foot facility, at 1070 Hunters Crossing, Alcoa. Tickets are $12 for the first child and $8 for additional siblings. (Members of Play Station pay $5.) Check out their Facebook event.
You can also party with the young’uns at Modern Design Aquascaping (761 Disco Loop Rd., Friendsville) on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 4:30 p.m. into the night, with pumpkin painting and costume contests to lawn games and sweet treats. Get more info!
Food City invites children to a Halloween Costume Contest on Saturday, Oct. 26, between 6 and 7 p.m. Every child will get candy, and there will be prizes for costumes in three age categories.
Blount County Public Library will host its annual Trick or Read on Halloween itself, Oct. 31, during open hours (9 a.m.-7 p.m.). All children can visit the children’s department (ideally, in costume!) to receive a free book! The books will be designed for children ages 3 to 10, but all kids are welcome.
Maybe you want to party a bit differently? These shows and concerts offer Halloween fun for teens and grownups.
The Trash Panda Players present Young Frankenstein on Friday, Oct. 11, and Saturday, Oct. 12. This shadowcast brings actors in full costumes going through the motions along with a film, with a slapstick twist. Audiences are encouraged to yell at the actors (a la The Rocky Horror Picture Show). With advance reservations, you get a special goody bag and a commemorative badge. (If you have badges from prior Trash Panda Players events, wear them for bonus door prize tickets.) Find it at The Bird and the Book, 1509 E. Broadway Ave. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.; shows start at 8:00 p.m. Tickets cost $15 (cash only); reserve a spot by calling 865-984-4847. See sneak peeks and full info.
Blount County Public Library will rock a Teen Halloween Party, along with the Rock and Metal Academy, on Thursday, Oct. 24, 4-6 p.m., in the library’s Kelly Teen Room. Ages 13-17 are welcome, free of charge. For more, see the library’s Facebook event.
Later on Oct. 24, test your wits with Spooky Book Trivia at The Bird and the Book, along with a costume contest and prizes of cash and food, and maybe a surprise or two. The quiz costs $1 and starts at 7 p.m., 1509 E. Broadway Ave. Food and drinks will be for sale.
More music can be had at Walloween, a special all-ages music show hosted by Wally Miles of Miles/Ingle. Bands includes Failure to Conform, 13 Spiders, Welcome Eternity and We Lye Cold. The show takes place on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 6-11 p.m. at The Bird and the Book, 1509 E. Broadway. Admission is free! Food and drinks (vegan and non-, alcoholic and non-) will be sold throughout the evening.
Nobody parties like Brackins Blues Club, and they’re hosting their annual Halloween Party and show, this year featuring The Doug Harris Band, from 8 p.m. on Halloween night until 1 a.m. Brackins, 112 E. Broadway, Maryville, will offer a great menu and drink specials.
All the yard skeletons and cute babies dressed as pumpkins can make you think Halloween is all friendly fun these days. Not to worry: There are plenty of opportunities for real scares in a Blount County Halloween.
Be warned: Most of these events are for adults only (and older teens, at your discretion). Spooks incoming.
The Bird and the Book‘s monthly Weird Movie Wednesday has Halloween flavor this month. Host Lea Yoder screens Idle Hands, a stoner horror-comedy about a teenager’s disembodied hand wreaking havoc. There’s no cover charge for the show, starting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 1509 E. Broadway Ave.
The Maple Lane Farms Corn Maze is only family-friendly during the day. The maze turns haunted at sunset, starting on Oct. 18, with new hours and ticket prices. For hours and rates for the Haunted Maze, call 865-856-3511.
Knoxville Horror Film Fest brings horror, classic and new, to the Parkway Drive-in, 2909 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy. for two days of chills and thrills. On Thursday, Oct. 17, at 7:30, relish some touring short films and the wild work of the Grindhouse Grind-out Filmmaking Contest, followed by a screening of John Carpenter’s seminal horror movie, The Thing, at 9 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 18, the Parkway celebrates the great Wes Craven with a Triple Feature: A Nightmare on Elm Street, Wes Craven’s New Nightmare and the underrated Shocker! The shows start at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets to the Parkway Drive-in screenings are included in the Knoxville Horror Film Fest weekend passes, but you can also buy one-night ($25) or two-night ($45) passes.
If you prefer your scares in person, not on screen, check out AMS Haunted Attractions, with two new features: Crumpet Family Circus, “the deadliest show on earth,” and Hillside School for the Strange and Unusual (“Warning: Do not eat the lunch”). AMS promises a scare around every corner.
AMS Haunted Attractions are located at 3661 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy., Maryville, and tickets start at $16.90. You can upgrade your scares with touch passes, line jumper features or season tickets. More details are available on their website: https://www.amshaunts.com/