(ATLANTA, Geor.) – October is officially here, which means Atlanta is starting to look a little more Halloween-ish.
If you're trying to make plans for the week of October 9-17 without spending a ton of money, there are actually quite a few options — including several that won't cost you anything to get in.
Here are some of the ones worth checking out.
Start the weekend with a free Halloween night
If you have kids, the Cowart Family YMCA in Brookhaven is hosting Y-Toberfest from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, October 9.
The free event includes games, face painting, crafts and a floating pumpkin patch in the pool. Costumes are encouraged, and food trucks will be on site if you get hungry.
Cost: Free
For more information, visit: YMCA of Metro Atlanta
You don't have to pay to hear live music all day
Oakhurst Porchfest is back Saturday, October 10, and it's one of those events where you can pretty much just show up and wander around.
About 200 bands and performers are expected to play on porches throughout the Oakhurst neighborhood from noon to 7 p.m. There are no tickets, fences, or gates — just music happening around the neighborhood.
It isn't technically a Halloween event, but if you're looking for something to do during the day before getting into the spooky stuff later, this is an easy, free option.
Cost: Free
For more information, visit: https://www.oakhurstporchfest.org/faqs
Photo Credit: Zapp Event Website | photo of attendees of the previous year's Fall Festival on Ponce.
The Fall Festival on Ponce takes over the Olmsted Linear Parks on October 10 and 11.
There will be artists and craft vendors, live acoustic music, food, and a children's area. Admission is free, so you can walk around, browse, and decide whether you actually want to spend money on anything or just enjoy the ambiance.
Cost: Free
For more information visit: https://www.zapplication.org/event-info.php?ID=13943
Want Halloween without paying for a haunted house? The Little Five Points Halloween Festival and Parade is probably the best choice.
The festival runs October 17-18 and is free to attend, with more than 100 art vendors, live music, and other activities. The Halloween parade is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m., with this year's theme centered on “Cryptids, Creatures and Community Legends.”
Photo Credit: Little Five Points website| LFP Youtube| A photo of one of the attractions at last year's parade.
If you're the type who would rather people-watch a bunch of elaborate costumes than actually have something jump out at you, this is probably your kind of Halloween activity.
For more information, visit: https://www.little5pointsofficial.com/halloween
Cost: Free
There's also a free Halloween festival in Cherokee County. The Great Pumpkin Fest is happening Saturday, October 10, at Cherokee Veterans Park in Canton.
The family-friendly festival has craft vendors, food, a DJ, hayrides, games, bounce houses, and trick-or-treating. Admission is free, although you'll want to bring some money if you plan to buy food or anything from the vendors.
Cost: Free
For more information, visit: https://www.eventeny.com/events/copy-of-the-great-pumpkin-fest-32639/?srsltid=AU7gw4Ujkmj9n4CI-ihKOS8Ea6-TCkikyFwx5BHzWB9YCuYQlMcVsa_-&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic_search
Photo Credit: Netherworld Website Gallery | A photo of one of the attractions from last year's event.
If you actually want to be scared, that's where Netherworld comes in.
The Stone Mountain haunted house is celebrating its 30th season this year and is open October 9-12 and again October 14-17. This year's main haunt is “Curse of the Collector,” and there is also a second haunt, “Beyond Oblivion: Legacy of Evil.” (Fear World)
General admission for the main haunt starts at $35 and $48 for a combo-timed entry.
Cost: Starting at $35
For more information, visit: https://fearworld.com/wordpress/tickets/
Photo Credit: Stone Mountain Park website | A photo of a massive pumpkin tower at a previous year's event.
Stone Mountain is doing the whole pumpkin thing. If you're looking for something more Halloween-themed but not quite ready to get chased through a haunted house, Stone Mountain Park's Pumpkin Festival runs during this entire stretch.
The festival has daytime fall activities and a nighttime “Glow by Night” experience with pumpkins, lights, and Halloween-themed entertainment. Tickets start around $39.99 for visitors 12 and older and $36.99 for children ages 3-11, according to current listings.
The festival is running October 9-11 and October 16-17 during this particular week.
Cost: About $37- 40, depending on age
For more information, visit: Stone Mountain Park)
And if you just want to make a day of it...
There are plenty of regular fall festivals happening around Atlanta that weekend, including Chalktoberfest in Marietta, Lilburn Daze, and the St. Elias Mid-East Festival. Several are free to attend, so you can make a day out of walking around, listening to music, and grabbing something to eat without buying an event ticket.
Basically, you don't have to spend $50 on a haunted house to get into the Halloween mood. There are free festivals happening all over the metro, and once it gets dark, that's when the haunted houses and other spooky attractions start taking over.
Honestly, October in Atlanta is a pretty good excuse to get out of the house.
To add to or correct information in this report, please contact me at mia.s@lead4earth.org.
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