Fall Festivities for the Whole  

For some, Halloween is just another day on the calendar. For me, Halloween marks the beginning of three months full of fun and festivities. Each October, I drag countless storage boxes full of orange decorations from the attic and vigorously work at turning the house into the haunted mansion. Then we spend weeks making costumes, picking out pumpkins and planning the perfect route for trick-or-treating. When All Hollow’s Eve finally arrives, we head out for an evening of ghoulish costumes, spooky jack-o-lanterns and the ultimate in candy consumption. 

Fortunately, I live in a great neighborhood with tons of kids, street lights and sidewalks where this is easily possible. Trick-or-treating in my subdivision is like an episode of “Leave it to Beaver.” The streets are full of fun and laughter as families roam from house to house. It’s a night when our small community gathers together and celebrates what makes us more than just neighbors.

Whether you lives in a kid friendly neighborhood or an area where trick-or-treating is not available, Moore County offers a wide range of Halloween activities and fall festivals for the entire family. Here are a just a few:

Fall Festivals 

Middle Cross Baptist Church in West End will be hosting a Trunk-or-Treat festival on Sunday, Oct. 29th, from 6 – 8 p.m. for ages 1 to 14. Come and join the fun.

The Village Chapel in Pinehurst will hold their annual fall festival on Tuesday, Oct. 31st, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Dress up in your favorite costumes and enjoy carnival prizes, candy and food. Free and open to everyone. For more information, call 295-6003.

Aberdeen First Baptist Church will be sponsoring a Fall Festival for adult and children of all ages on Saturday, Oct. 28th, from noon to 3 p.m. Enjoy a great time with good food, music, games and prizes.

The First Missionary Baptist Church in Southern Pines will hold their fall festival on Saturday, Oct. 28th, from 6 – 8 p.m. Children are encouraged to wear biblical outfits and enjoy an assortment of games and refreshments.

Halloween Activities

Aberdeen Parks and Recreation will sponsor the 3rd annual "Not So Spooky Halloween Carnival" on Saturday, Oct. 28th, from 3 - 5 p.m. at Aberdeen Lake Park. This special event will include games, activities, a bounce castle, face painting and prizes for children ages 10 and under. There will also be music, activities, a costume contest and community resources for the entire family. Vendors will be on site selling food and drinks. Fees are $1 per child which includes all activities and games. This event is for children of all ages. Come enjoy this fun family event!  For more information, contact the Town of Aberdeen Parks and Recreation at 944-5902. Free Carnival at the Agricultural Center at the Moore County Office Park, Lake Luke Marion on Thursday, October 26th, at 6 p.m. for children ages 8 and under. Tons of activities, including face painting, glow necklaces, balloon sculpting, hay rides, goodie bags and more. All children must be accompanied by an adult. In case of rain, the Agricultural Building will be used to pass out goodie bags. For more information contact Moore County Parks and Recreation at 947-2504. 

The “Enchanted Evening” at Aberdeen Lake on Saturday, Oct. 28th, from 5 - 7 p.m. and enjoy an evening of activities for children ages 10-14. At 5 p.m. there will be registration for the costume contest. The awards will be made at 5:30 p.m. From 5:30 - 7 p.m. you can enjoy the enchanted trail and listen to ghost stories. Enjoy food from the vendors as well as fortune telling. Watch as the pumpkins come to life and illuminate the bridge, shoreline and trail. You will not want to miss this exciting event! For more information please contact Aberdeen Parks and Recreation at 944-5902.

Annual Pinehurst Halloween Fall Fest at FirstHealth Center for Health and Fitness on Friday, Oct. 27, 5:30 – 8 p.m. Free to the entire community. Games, candy, prizes and hay rides. For more information, call 295-2817.

“Halloween Tricks and Treats” on Friday, Oct. 27, from 4 to 6 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 28, from 9 a.m. until noon at the Train House sponsored by the Southern Pines Recreation and Parks. The two day program is for children ages 4 to 6.  Put fun and silliness into your Halloween adventure as you make window watchers, friendly ghost that fly, spider cookies and a treat bag. The cost is $20 for residents and $40 for non-residents. For more information, call 692-2463.

The Malcolm Blue Farm presents “Once Upon An Autumn Night,” an old fashioned Halloween for the child in everyone, on Friday, Oct. 27th, from 5 – 8 p.m. See Jebediah the two-story tall scarecrow and the witch trees. Moonlit Hayrides and marshmallow roasting for everyone. Enjoy a cup of the cauldron’s smoking brew. Take a stroll on the “Eerie Trail” and make your own cornhusk ghost! Join the fun at the Malcolm Blue Farm on 1177 Bethesda Rd. in Aberdeen. Admission is $5/child and parents are free.  Each sibling after the third is free. Admission will include everything but items from concession stand. For more information, call 944-7558.

Haunted Halloween Fun 

The Halloween Haunted Forest at Travel Resorts of America on Friday, Oct. 27, and Saturday, Oct. 28, from 7 – 10 p.m. A fun-filled weekend of nightmares. Enjoy a new haunted forest with professional special effects. Extremely scary so don’t go in alone! Not recommended for young children. Children under 9 will not be admitted. Cost is $6/person. All proceeds go the Leukemia Foundation. Just 20 minutes from Aberdeen off of U.S. Hwy 1. For more information, call (800) 370-1645.

The Haunted Maze and Trail at Gross Farms from Thursday, Oct. 26, until Tuesday, October 31. The trail opens each evening when the sun has set and the moon is out. Prepare for the fright of your life. Only the screams remain! The haunted maze is a separate attraction from the corn maze and cost $15/person. Because of the content, it is not recommended for children under 12. Located at 1606 Pickett Rd. in Sanford. For more information, call (919) 498-6727 or visit their website at www.grossfarms.com.

To locate addition haunts, visit www.hauntedhouse.com and click on North Carolina. Whether you’re a fan of witches and warlocks or just enjoy celebrating the arrival of fall, the surrounding communities offer a wide array of family friendly activities for kids of all ages. So grab the kids and head out for some fun!