The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Staff, Wire Reports

Posted: Sunday, January 21, 2018 06:30 PM

Halloween Events Across East Tennessee

Fun and cool events highlight East Tennessee during the month of October for Halloween. Here are some examples:

Museum of Appalachia Tennessee Fall Homecoming
October 6-8
3-day tickets - $70
Friday full day tickets - $30, Friday evening tickets - $20
Saturday full day tickets - $35, Saturday evening tickets - $25
Sunday tickets - $20
2819 Andersonville Highway, Clinton

The Tennessee Fall Homecoming is one of the nation's largest and most authentic music and folk festivals. Each day, all day, musicians perform on outdoor stages. The weekend includes demonstrations of pioneer skills, a large craft fair with authentic Appalachian artisans and traditional Southern foods. Performances will be held by The Steeldrivers, Lee Ann Womack, The Earls of Leicester, and many more.
Purchase tickets here.

Tennessee Fall Homecoming's first-ever "Family Day" debuts on Sunday, Oct. 8. The weekend is capped-off with a day full of games, animals, storytelling, demonstrations and music. Parents are children can enjoy hands-on activities as they learn about Appalachian history and culture.


All Homecoming proceeds go towards the Museum's mission to preserve Appalachian culture and heritage. The Museum is an official affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.

Three Rivers Rambler All Hallow's Eve Special
Friday, October 13 - 6:13 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 18 - Friday, Oct. 20 - 6:13 p.m. (Friday sold out)
Saturday, Oct. 21 - 10:13 a.m., 1:13 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 22 - 1:13 p.m., 4:13 p.m.
Wednesday, Oct. 25 - Thursday, Oct. 26 - 6:13 p.m.
Friday, Oct. 27 - 4:13 p.m., 6:13 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 28 - 10:13 a.m., 1:13 p.m., 4:13 p.m.
Sunday, Oct. 29 - 1:13 p.m., 4:13 p.m.
Monday, Oct. 30 - 6:13 p.m.
All aboard the new "All Hallow's Eve Special," a family friendly Halloween train ride experience featuring whimsical decorations, special effects and festive treats. Trains feature a special audiotheatre presentation of the story "The Phantom Railway," written by Karen C. Bishop and narrated by Wendel Werner.


Come in your favorite costume, or just as you are. The event is for all ages. Purchase tickets here.

BOO! At the Zoo
3500 Knoxville Zoo Drive, Knoxville
October 13-15, 19-22 and 26-29, from 5:30 until 8:30 p.m. October 12 is reserved for zoo annual passholders.
Tickets cost $9 per person. Children under four are free, and parking is free. Annual passholders and U.S. Cellular customers receive $2 off admission.
BOO! at the Zoo will feature trick-or-treating through the zoo with costumed entertainers and characters along the way. The zoo also features the Scary-Go-Round, a haunted carousel, and the BOO! Choo Train.

The Tennessee Theatre presents the Rocky Horror Picture Show
604 S. Gay Street, Knoxville
October 21, 11 p.m. Doors open at 10 p.m.
Tickets cost $12, plus applicable fees
Come dressed to impress as your favorite Rocky Horror character and you'll be eligible to win door prizes from 10-11 p.m. The bar will offer thematic drink specials, and Willemina Snyder will kick off the stage show with the Mighty Wurlitzer at 11 p.m. The movie begins at 11 p.m., complete with a live shadow cast.

Approved props include the following: newspapers, water pistols (no larger than the palm of your hand), flashlights, rubber gloves, noisemakers, toilet paper, neoprene toast, party hat, bell, cards, hot dogs (neoprene only) and prunes (neoprene only).

The following items will not be allowed in: rice, candles, confetti, glitter, real food items such as toast, hot dogs or prunes.

Ijams Nature Center Halloween family activities
2915 Island Home Avenue, Knoxville

Ijams Family Creepy Crawl
October 21, 6-8 p.m.
$7
Families will set out on a short hike where along the way they will meet some spooky characters. Those characters will put phobias at east with some cool facts about themselves and the critters they call friends. Come early or stay after the hike to make and take creepy crafts. Treats will be offered for kids, and costumes are encouraged. Hikes leave every 30 minutes, beginning at 6 p.m. Register to attend here.

Ijams Haunted Lantern Tours
October 21, 7-9 p.m.
$10
Ages 12 and up
Hikers will be guided through the woods by a hike guide, who will attempt to get participants past some spooky legends and terrifying folk lore. Guided lantern tours leave every 30 minutes, starting at 7 p.m.
Register to attend here.

Sugar Skull Halloween Workshop
October 28, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
$15
Learn a little about the history of the Day of the Dead and make a Sugar Skull for your own celebration. All supplies are included in the cost of admission.
Register to attend here.

Howl-O-Ween Pooch Parade and Pet Expo
University of Tennessee Gardens
2518 Jacob Drive, Knoxville
Sunday, October 22, 1-5 p.m.
Free to attend, free for parade participants; costume entries are $10 each in advance or $15 at the event
This fun event with a spooky twist will include a judged costume parade with prizes, an expo of educational booths, pet businesses, rescue groups, food trucks and more. The event will be held rain or shine.

The Pooch Parade will begin at 2:30 p.m., and pre-registration is requested. Entrants can register on-site until 2:15 p.m. Costume entries can include multiple dogs, so long as they will be judged together. Each entry must be accompanied by at least one adult.

Prizes will be awarded to the winning pets in each of the following categories:
• Bad to the Bone (scariest costume)
• Funny Bone (funniest costume)
• Do(g) It Yourself (homemade costume)
• Pop Culture (pop culture/character costume)

Top entries in each category will win prizes. Several Judges' Choice awards will also be handed including Best in Show.

Click here for more information.

Autism Site Knoxville (ASK) Halloween Party
4028 Papermill Drive, Suite 20, Knoxville
Friday, October 27, 7:30 -9:30 p.m.
Ages 10 and up
Children and teens of all abilities, age 10 and up, are invited to ASK's free Halloween Costume Party. Please bring a spooky snack or candy to share! Register for the event here.

Blount Mansion Halloween tours
200 West Hill Avenue in Downtown Knoxville
Saturday, October 28: tours start at 8, 9 and 10 p.m.
Monday, October 30 and Tuesday, October 31: tours start at 8 and 9 p.m.
Tickets cost $10
Have you ever wondered about the mysterious past of the Blount Mansion? This annual Halloween event will be bigger and more exciting than ever before, including ghost stories, scary legends, history about death and dying in the 18th and 19th centuries, and more! The event will have candy for the kids and some fun with the on-site Craighead-Jackson House, one of the most haunted sites in Knoxville.

Horse Haven of Tennessee's Boo at the Barn
2417 Reagan Road, Knoxville
Saturday, October 28, 2-6 p.m.
$10 per car. RVs and pets not allowed.
Activities include pony rides, petting zoo, games, a carousel and Paint the Pony. Kids will be able to trick-or-treat at each stall, so don't forget the candy buckets! The event will also have horses in costume. For more information visit the Facebook event page.

Tennessee Theatre's Costumes and Classic Cartoons Open House
October 28, 11 a.m.
Free event

The open house will pay homage to the memorable Saturday morning clubs that offered children's programming, movies and cartoons. Children (age 12 and under) are welcome to come dressed in family-friendly Halloween costumes. A short reel of Warner Bros. cartoons will be shown at intervals between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Each screening will be introduced with organ music played by house organist Bill Snyder on the Mighty Wurlitzer. There will be face painting stations for children and old-fashioned candy treat bags provided by Mast General Store.

The theater will be open to the public for self-guided tours, including dressing rooms. The tour entrance to the dressing room area is located in the lower lobby. All activities are free, and popcorn and soda will be available for purchase with all proceeds going to the Historic Tennessee Theatre Foundation.

Nick At Nite Halloween Bash at the Open Chord
8502 Kingston Pike, Knoxville
Tuesday, October 31, 8 p.m. start
$5 cover, all ages allowed

All Nickelodeon covers, all night long! Dress up as your favorite Nickelodeon character and come jam! Featuring members of the Holifields, Tanner Rutherford and Night Colors. click here to purchase tickets.

Haunted Knoxville Ghost Tours

Haunted Knoxville Ghost Tours books public and private tours for those wanting to get a little spooky in Knoxville. Public tours take place in the Market District, where investigators can visit ground zero locations including where a famous three-way homicide took place, where the dead were prepared, where the children's spirits are at play and where a notorious fire occurred that claimed many lives. Book a tour for your Halloween celebration online.