Fall Fun & Halloween Events Guide 2007

Farms & Pumpkin Patches

Open for the Fall 2007 Season on weekends beginning Saturday, September 29, 2007.   Please visit the McKee CornField Maze website for more information.

Admission: General, $8.00, Children under 10, $6.00, Children 3 and under, free.

Hours:  September 29 - October 31, 2007:

Friday: 2-8pm
Saturday: 10am-8pm
Sunday: 1pm-7pm

Haunted Trail and Cornfield:  October 26th, 27th, 28th and 31st
from dusk to 9pm  ($10.00 admission - no discounts.)

Fall Family Fun Day/Night on October 28 (Sunday) 1pm - 5pm - pumpkin carving with judging at 4:00pm.

www.mckeemaze.com
(919) 732-8065.

Directions:
From Durham, take Guess Rd. approx. 10 miles to Hwy 57.  Turn left on Hwy 57.  Go approx. 2 miles.  Turn left on Kiger Rd.  Go 1.5 miles on Kiger.  Turn right on drive.  Watch for signs.

From Raleigh/I-40:  Take I-40 to Hillsborough. Exit off of I-40 on Hillsborough Exit.  Turn right on Hwy 86 traveling through downtown Historic Hillsborough.  Cross over Hwy 70.  Go 0.5 miles.  Turn right on Hwy 57.  Travel 8 miles to Kiger Rd.  Go 1.5 miles on Kiger.  Turn right on drive.  Watch for signs.

From Burlington/I-85:  Take I-85 to Hillsborough.  Exit off on Hillsborough Exit 164.  Turn left on Hwy 86 traveling through downtown Historic Hillsborough.  Cross over Hwy 70.  Go 0.5 miles.  Turn right on Hwy 57.  Travel 8 miles to Kiger Road.  Turn right on Kiger Road.  Go 1.5 miles on Kiger.  Turn right on drive.  Watch for signs.

2007 General Admission is $10.00 and includes hours' of fun activities for the whole family out on the farm.  The Hill Ridge Farms SUPERPASS is good every weekend during the Fall Harvest and Pumpkin Festival and includes the following:

- Hill Ridge Farms Express - unlimited train rides
- Unlimited time in the Kiddie Park
- One Hayride with FREE Pumpkin from the Pumpkin Patch
- One Gem Stone Panning Bag - sift the dirt into the water sieve for beautiful treasures!
- Unlimited rides on the Giant Slide!
- Farm Animal Corral
- Fish Feeding Dock
- Picnic & Playground Area

All for $20 per person.  (The $10.00 General Admission pass includes everything EXCEPT the Gem Stone Panning bag and the unlimited train rides.  Gem Stone Panning bag and unlimited train rides are included with the SuperPass.)

Nightime Hayrides at Hill Ridge Farms - Fun nightime Hayrides are available by special appointment.  Night Time Hayrides are for groups of 20 or more people and are available by reservation only. Tickets are $10.00 per person; Recommended age: 5 & up. Note: For safety reasons, free pumpkins are not included with Night Time Hayrides (October evenings are *very dark in the Pumpkin Patch*!)
Please note: There will be no Night Time Hayride on Halloween night (October 31.) Special Group Hayrides:
Groups of 15 or more may reserve their own picnic site and bonfire! - CALL FOR RESERVATIONS AND PRICING INFORMATION.  (919) 556-1771 OR (800) 358-4170. Remember to reserve early for the dates of your choice!
http://www.hillridgefarms.com/harvest.shtml
(Click on the link above for more information about the Halloween Hay Rides.)

Vollmer Farm Back Forty Playground 2007 Season:
September 22 - October 31, 2007
Sat.: 11am - 8pm
Sun.: 1pm - 5pm

Vollmer Farm - Farmer John's Market & Pick Your Own  2007 Season:
Opens September 17, 2007 
Monday - Saturdays 9am - 6pm; 
Sundays1pm - 6pm

Farmer John's Country Caf?
Opens September 17, 2007
Mon-Fri: 10am-2pm Sat: 10am-6pm Sun: 1pm-6pm

New for 2007 - The Great Pumpkin Jump!  From the website: "The Great Pumpkin Jump is a 40' x 70' in-ground jumping pillow that is a fabulous fun and fitness activity for ALL ages! We put it in August 10th and all our farm-hands, family and friends have been busy jumping. The other good news is this is the safest playground equipment in the world!  Jumping Pillows have been popular for years in Europe, Australia and New Zealand and have been gaining popularity in campgrounds and farms across North America. The Great Pumpkin Jump is the largest pillow in North Carolina; we hope you'll agree it's fabulous!!"  Also new this year in the Back Forty is the Udder Run Barrel Train and Uncle Russell's Snack Shack. 

During your visit to Vollmer Farm, visit Uncle Russell's Snack Shack, and Farmer John's Country Caf?and Farm Market (opens for the season September 17, 2007) for homemade sandwiches, soups, desserts and ice cream.
Market Hours: Mon-Sat, 9-6, Sun 1-6 
Caf?Hours: Mon-Fri, 9-2, Sat, 9-6, Sun 1-6

www.vollmerfarm.com
(919) 496-3076.

Halloween Events at 
Local Museums, Zoos and Amusement Parks

Boo at the Zoo at the North Carolina Zoological Park
4401 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro, NC 27205.
Saturday, October 27- Sunday, 28 - BOO at the ZOO - A magical weekend featuring, games, music, face painting, treats, costume contest and plenty of Halloween fun.  One of the zoo's most popular events!  This safe daytime addition to nighttime trick-or-treating will be presented in the plaza areas of the zoo. Clowns, jugglers and magicians will rove these areas entertaining visitors of all ages.
(800) 488-0444.

INFORMATION TO BE UPDATED FOR 2007; Not yet available from Morehead Planetarium as of 9/22/07.

"Scare-o-lina Skies" presented by Morehead Planetarium and Science Center, 250 E. Franklin St., Downtown Chapel Hill, NC.

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center will present ?Scare-o-lina Skies,? a special, extra-scaru version of MPSC's popular star show ?Carolina Skies,? to celebrate the Halloween season. The special show, subtitled ?Madness and Mayhem in the Night Sky,? will feature Halloween-themed ancient sky legends. MPSC's skywatching instructor, Amy Sayle, will be presenting the two night shows and giving a first-hand look at some of the most graphic tales from a variety of cultures from all over the world and even some from modern science as well, like the phenomenon of black holes.

?Scare-o-lina Skies? will show on Saturday, Oct. 28 at 8 pm (for adults and children 12 and up).
A tamer version that is more family-oriented and more suitable for younger children will be presented Sunday, Oct. 29, at 4:30 pm.

Standard planetarium show admission prices apply.

www.moreheadplanetarium.org
Info hotline: (919) 549-6863
Main office and reservations: (919) 962-1236

What Happened to the Lost Colony? at the NC Museum of History 
5 East Edenton St., Raleigh, NC

Tuesday, Oct. 3, or Tuesday, Oct. 10
10:00 a.m.?10:45 a.m.
Ages 3?5 with adult
To register, call 919-807-7992.

Featuring David LaVere, Professor of History, University of North Carolina at Wilmington.  The Lost Colony is North Carolina's legendary whodunit. Join LaVere as he presents his theory about this centuries-old unsolved mystery.
www.ncmuseumofhistory.org
(919) 807-7968

Natural History Halloween at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences
11 W. Jones St., Bicentennial Plaza, Raleigh, NC 27601
A Museum Halloween celebration for kids ages 2 to 12. Change your fears to fascination while meeting snakes, spiders, gators and other live animals from the Museum's collection. Special games and fun activities will make this a Halloween to remember. Enter the annual costume contest by 3 p.m. and you might win a prize. Lunch, cold drinks and home-baked goodies will be available for a small fee (proceeds benefit the Museum's Junior Curator program).
Free
(919) 733-7450 ext. 503.

Schedule of Fall & Halloween Events
(also see the CHillKids Festivals & Events guide for more listings)

An Evening at the Homestead - Duke Homestead and Tobacco Museum, 2828 Duke Homestead Road, Durham, NC 27705.
Saturday, Oct. 20, 2007, 2-6pm.
Join the Duke Homestead junior interpreters for an
afternoon program featuring traditional music, wagon rides, fall foods, and 19th century games. 2-6 p.m.  Bring a picnic for dinner on the grounds.
(919) 477-5498.

Town of Chapel Hill Fall Carnival
Northside Gymnasium at Hargraves Community Center, 216 N. Roberson St., Chapel Hill
Friday, October 27, 2006,   7 - 9pm
Fall Carnival features lots of fun activities for families (recommended ages for activities is 6-10 years).
(919) 969-6961.

Fri., Oct. 26, 2007

Halloween Stories Under the Stars hosted by Weaver Street Market - Stories, Puppets, and Costume Contest!
Weaver Street Market Lawn, Downtown Carrboro, 101 East Waver St., Carrboro 
Friday, October 26, 2007,   5:30-7:30pm
Plan on spending the night under the oaks in your Halloween Costume listening to Willa Brigham tell great seasonal tales. Tim Stambaugh and Donovan Zimmerman will set the stage with spooky music and scary puppets at 5:30. Willa will thrill us all with her tales of adventure at 6:30. The winners of the costume contest will be announced at 7:15. Free Cookies and Cider! This event is co-sponsored by the Town of Carrboro and Weaver Street Market.

Costume Contest Rules:
Enter in one category only: 0-5 year-olds or 6-10 year-olds. Costumes will be judged on MOST ORIGINAL, FUNNIEST, AND SCARIEST. All participants must register by 6:45 pm. Winners will be announced at 7:00. For more information call 929-0010 ext 115.
(919) 929-0010

Hillsborough Halloween Event Hosted by Downtown Hillsborough Merchants
Downtown Hillsborough, NC
Friday, October 26, 2007,   6-9pm

Haunted Halloween at the Orange County Historical Museum: The Orange County Historical Museum announces its annual celebration of Halloween during Last Friday, October 26, 2007, 6-9 p.m. The Museum will have treats for kids inside the Traveling Trunk and the basement will be decorated as a haunted house. Costumes encouraged. Admission to the Museum is free. For more information call (919) 732-2201 or visit www.orangecountymuseum.org.

For more information contact the Alliance for Historic Hillsborough/Orange County Visitors Center at 732-7741 or Julia Williams at 245-0062.

?Scare-o-lina Skies? will show on Friday, October 26, 2007 at 8 pm and Saturday, October 27, 2007 at 8 pm (for adults and children 12 and up).
A tamer version that is more family-oriented and more suitable for younger children will be presented Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007 at 4:30 pm.

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center will present ?Scare-o-lina Skies,? a special, extra-scaru version of MPSC's popular star show ?Carolina Skies,? to celebrate the Halloween season. The special show, subtitled ?Madness and Mayhem in the Night Sky,? will feature Halloween-themed ancient sky legends. MPSC's skywatching instructor, Amy Sayle, will be presenting the two night shows and giving a first-hand look at some of the most graphic tales from a variety of cultures from all over the world and even some from modern science as well, like the phenomenon of black holes.

Standard planetarium show admission prices apply.

www.moreheadplanetarium.org
Info hotline: (919) 549-6863
Main office and reservations: (919) 962-1236

Gaelic Festival 2007:  Myth & Mayhem, A Celebration of Halloween through the Ages at Regency Park in Cary, NC 
Saturday, October 27, 2007, [TIMES TO BE ANNOUNCED]

[The following information was for the 2006 Gaelic Festival - TO BE UPDATED.  (Updated information not available as of 9/22/07). 

Presented by IrishEventsNC.com and the NC Historical Enrichment Society, the Gaelic Festival 2006 will celebrate Halloween, a traditional Celtic holiday, with lots of fancy dress, and live Irish music, both local and international. Great Family Halloween Fun!!!  (Many of our Halloween traditions began in Ireland; originally in Ireland they carved turnips, but when the Irish came to America they began carving pumpkins.)  Celtic Story  tellers and dancers. food and drink games. In the evening enjoy Celtic Bands and spooky happenings, including a Haunted House, Haunted Trail, Pub, Jugglers, Games and more.  Costume contests, pumpkin painting contests, and lots of Halloween fun!  A great big family day is in the planning featuring Celtic Halloween traditions and the more modern ways of trick or treating.  

Featured performers:  Albannach - Tribal Scottish Pipes and Drums; Martin Furey -  Ireland, Craic Wisely, Winner of the Battle of the Gaelic Bands; also featuring Jennifer Licko, Ghosts of Erin (Chapel Hill); Mick Bermingham (Ireland), Gerry McCrudden (Belfast ,Ireland) ,Na Gael, Irish Pipes and Drums (Charlotte, NC), Baile Daire, Traditional Irish (Raleigh), Kilcurragh: Songs & Stories from Hunter and Mark (Raleigh), Hercules Mulligan: Ballads & Pub Sing ALongs, Hywl (Wales); Irish & Scottish Dancers, The Apple Chill CLoggers, Ceili Dancing

Admission info TO BE ANNOUNCED for 2007  (Tickets available through Regency Park and Ticketmaster in Advance, and will be available at the Gate.)

Please check www.irisheventsnc.com for updated information.\

www.irisheventsnc.com/

www.historicalenrichmentsociety.org

www.ncrenfaire.com

Contact Annie Nice, IrishEventsNC.com, (919) 881-8336

?Scare-o-lina Skies? will show on Friday, October 26, 2007 at 8 pm and Saturday, October 27, 2007 at 8 pm(for adults and children 12 and up).
A tamer version that is more family-oriented and more suitable for younger children will be presented Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007 at 4:30 pm.

Morehead Planetarium and Science Center will present ?Scare-o-lina Skies,? a special, extra-scaru version of MPSC's popular star show ?Carolina Skies,? to celebrate the Halloween season. The special show, subtitled ?Madness and Mayhem in the Night Sky,? will feature Halloween-themed ancient sky legends. MPSC's skywatching instructor, Amy Sayle, will be presenting the two night shows and giving a first-hand look at some of the most graphic tales from a variety of cultures from all over the world and even some from modern science as well, like the phenomenon of black holes.

Standard planetarium show admission prices apply.

www.moreheadplanetarium.org
Info hotline: (919) 549-6863
Main office and reservations: (919) 962-1236

Boo at the Zoo at the North Carolina Zoological Park
4401 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro, NC 27205.
Saturday, October 27- Sunday, 28 - BOO at the ZOO - A magical weekend featuring, games, music, face painting, treats, costume contest and plenty of Halloween fun.  One of the zoo's most popular events!  This safe daytime addition to nighttime trick-or-treating will be presented in the plaza areas of the zoo. Clowns, jugglers and magicians will rove these areas entertaining visitors of all ages.
(800) 488-0444.

Fearrington Halloween Pumpkin Carving Display and Pumpkin Fest at Fearrington
Dozens of elaborately carved jack-o-lanterns will be on display throughout Fearrington Village from Monday, October 29th - Wednesday, October 31st. The jack-o-lanterns, intricately carved by the Fearrington gardening staff and The Fearrington House chefs, will be lit each evening from sundown until 10pm.  On Tuesday, October 30th there will be Kids' Halloween Activities including Spooky Storytime at McIntyre's Fine Books from 6.30pm-7.30pm, a Hay Bale Maze, and a visit from our Belted Galloway Cows and Tennessee Fainting Goats. Local Bluegrass Band Guilty Pleasures will entertain the ghosts and goblins with a free outdoor concert in the village center on Tuesday, and Wednesday from 6-8pm. The Old Granary Restaurant & Bar will be open from 5.30-8pm for casual fare Tues-Wed, and The Belted Goat will be open for salads, sandwiches, wine and coffees and the village stores will remain open each evening until 8pm. Call (919) 542-2121 for details.  For more details visit www.fearrington.com.

Spence's Farm 21st Annual Fall Harvest Festival
Sat., October 27, 2007 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm, then a bonfire!
Enjoy a great afternoon and evening of fun featuring hayrides, face painting, pony rides, food, live music, hay maze in the barn, barnyard animal feeding/play, arts & crafts vendors, bonfire, and much more fun for the entire family!   The Spence's Farm annual Harvest Festival is a fundraiser to help bring more children out to enjoy and experience the farm.  Feel free to wear your Halloween costume (no scary costumes please).  Admission fee.
Located near NC86 & I-40 at 6407 Mill House Road, Chapel Hill, 27516.
(919) 968-8581.

Meadowmont Halloween Celebration
301 Old Barn Lane, Chapel Hill, NC 27517.
Saturday, October 27, 2007, 4 - 6 pm
Featuring games and crafts at the Meadowmont Club house, hayrides around the neighborhood, and pumpkin carving.  (Please RSVP for activities at the Club.)

Halloween Train Rides at the New Hope Valley Railway, Bonsal, NC (25 miles south of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill)
Saturday, October 27, 2007, Times: 4 pm, 5:15 pm, 6:30 pm, 7:45 pm
Hour-long train rides through the spooky woods in Chatham County. 
Tickets must be purchased in advance - click here or see below for ticket locations.

From the website:

Saturday October 27, ghosts and ghouls come out to the New Hope Valley Railway. Halloween rides are pre-sold at participating ticket outlets - details coming soon! 

"Trains will operate Saturday Oct. 27 departing at 4:00PM, 5:15PM, 6:30PM, and 7:45PM with each ride taking about an hour.
The fare is $8.00 for all passengers of all ages, and tickets are available ONLY by advance purchase at five convenient locations:

Tom's Trains in Cary
Nick's Trains in Raleigh
ToyTown Hobby Shop in Fuquay-Varina
Fusions in Pittsboro
Paperback's Plus in Siler City

Tickets will also be available to the public at the ticket office in Bonsal, NC (just south of Apex, NC)
on the next regular monthly ride day Sunday, 7 October 2007."
www.nhvry.org
(919) 362-5416. 

Pumpkin Run 4K hosted by the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA 
Saturday, October 27, 2007 5PM

The Pumpkin Run?4k (2.5 miles)

The Pumpkin Run 4K (2.5-mile) trail race will be held as a single race (men and women running together), on the scenic woodland trails and rolling hills north of Horace Williams Airport in Chapel Hill.  According to the website, "The registrations for this year's Pumpkin Run are coming in fast - much faster than anticipated. Sign up soon if you want to run the race!"

* No strollers allowed in the race
* No dogs allowed in the race
* No mountain bikes in the race

Where: University Woodlands Trail at Carolina North off of Municipal Road in Chapel Hill, NC (with registration, parking, and bathroom facilities at the YMCA on Airport Road). Be sure to check out the map of the course and how it was created. 

Carrboro Halloween Carnival
Carrboro's Halloween Carnival is held each year on October 31st. from 6 until 8:30 pm at the Carrboro Town Commons. Ghosts and goblins of all ages come out for lots of free games and fun!  Best costumes are awarded with prize ribbons, and activities include a cake walk, howling at the moon, games, prizes, and many other fun-filled activities. The whole family can enjoy this annual event.
Halloween 2007:  Witness the true magic of Merlin's Owl.
(919) 918-7364.

Trick or Treating in Chapel Hill (the Chapel Hill Town Hall has confirmed that the official day for trick-or-treating in Chapel Hill this year is Wednesday, October 31, 2007.)

Halloween Festival 2007 on Franklin St., Downtown Chapel Hill - Not for young children!
On Halloween, Franklin St. is blocked off and becomes the site of Halloween reveling, drinking and HUGE crowds.  Not for children, and not for those who dislike crowds.  (The streets of downtown Chapel Hill will be closed to traffic at 9 pm.  Residential streets near downtown will also be closed except to residents of those streets and their guests.)  Alcohol is not permitted in the festival area.

Blueberry Forest Toys
Beautiful high quality silk costumes!  Locally-based online toy store offers beautiful 100% silk costumes, dragonfly wings, butterfly wings, fairy wings, mermaid costumes, wizard costumes, wizard hats, capes, knight costumes, and more!
www.BlueberryForest.com