Be prepared to be scared, Halloween guide

As we all know, Halloween is just around the corner.

Maybe you already have the awesome costume. But is it any good if you have nowhere to go? If you’re still undecided, check out these cool Halloween events.

The faint of heart might want to sit this one out.

From Oct. 25-31 at 7 p.m., Cherokee Haunted Adventures is sponsoring a few events at the Oconaluftee Indian Village in Cherokee. There is a ghost walk of course, as well as a “Haunted Theatre” and a “Little Dorm of Horrors” event. Tickets range from $8 to $10.

The advertisement for the “Little Dorm of Horrors” claimed, “Hide or die. See if you can survive a horrific game of hide-n-seek in a dorm filled with your worst nightmares. If found, we will drag your dead body to the mortuary for a toe tag. If you survive, a treat awaits.”

Handholding is allowed. If you’re a chicken, that is.

For anyone scared by that simple description, how about a safe, family-friendly museum?

On Thursday, Oct. 31, the Swannanoa Valley Museum in Black Mountain will be open for trick-or-treaters. Starting at 5:30 p.m., there will be candy and possibly the appearance of ghosts and goblins. Also, trick-or-treaters can take a look at the haunted museum before it wraps up its season. The museum is also offering free admission.

During Halloween, there are always corn mazes. But have you ever been to one like this?

Eliada’s Annual Corn Maze in Asheville is a 12-acre maze with two different trails. That’s 4 miles of maze, by the way.

Besides the corn maze, there are also corn cannons with pumpkin men targets, a cow train, a hayride, a pumpkin patch, a hay bale maze and concession stands for food and drink.

Admission to the maze is $9 for adults (12 and over) and $6 for children (4-11). Through Oct. 27, Eliada’s will be open from 4 to 8 p.m. on Fridays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays.

Plus Eliada’s is partnering with the Asheville Grown Business Alliance, which supports independently-owned businesses in the community. Why not have fun while also supporting local businesses?

Last but not least is Stingy Jack’s Pumpkin Patch in the mountains of Pisgah Forest.

Based off an Irish legend, the park covers acres of farmland with a creek running through and two ponds. What is cool about Stingy Jack’s is that it is an illuminated pumpkin trail. Local artists create the trail out of pumpkins that light up when the sun goes down. Each part of the trail has a different themed patch of pumpkins like Under the Sea and an Amazon jungle.

On Oct. 18-9 and 25-6, you can walk through the Spooky Town Trail, catch a ride on the Enchanted Mystery Hayride, check out local vendors, run on the Human Hamster Wheel and even survive the Stingy’s Zombie Challenge. Enter the zombie maze and figure out how the people became infected in 30 minutes or less. Military personnel, slowly turning into zombies themselves, will guide you through the dark maze in order to reach the end. If you make it through, you get a special badge at the end of the course. Still not enough? There will be local entertainers, fire burners, dance groups and Stingy Jack himself to tell a few scary tales.

The park is family-friendly with the Spooky Town Trail and Zombie Challenge designed for older kids. Tickets are $12.95 for adults (13 and over) and $8.95 for kids (4-12).

Be sure to check out other Halloween activities on campus! The library will be hosting a “Haunted Library” event, and the University Center will screen the documentary “Birth of the Living Dead.” Places like Information Technology (IT) in the library usually sponsor Halloween-themed parties as well.

Stay scary, folks.