Halloween makes Atlanta come alive with ghosties and ghoulies and long-legged beasties and things that go bump in the night…
Halloween is a favorite holiday in many cities and not just for the kids. Adults love the excuse to get together with friends, dress up (maybe) and simply have a good time. However, in a city like Atlanta, Halloween is a major event. With the city’s rich and often bloody history, its popularity as a filming spot for some blockbuster movies and its wide variety of attractions, there’s a Halloween experience that is guaranteed to curl your toes, whether you’d like your scare extreme or a bit more sedate.
Historical
For a historical Halloween, there are several areas that will satisfy your desires. Lawrenceville, the oldest town in metro Atlanta, delivers a ghost tour that details not only stories of past residents of the old jail, but also tells about the night that the dead walked down Main Street. If you’re simply interested in walking among the dead, the oldest cemetery in Atlanta, Oakland Cemetery, is hosting a ‘Capturing the Spirit of Oakland’ tour, special for Halloween. A costumed docent guides guests through the cemetery after dark, telling tales of the folks who enjoy their final rest here–many who are integral to the history of Atlanta. There is also live music and a fortune teller, to set the mood. This tour takes place every year and often sells out (tickets go on sale in July), but last minute cancellations do happen.
Major Attractions
Atlanta is full of major attractions, creating plenty of things to do while you’re in town. During Halloween, many of these locations also get dressed up and put on a show; it’s a great way to explore a different side of museums, zoos and other attractions. Six Flags Over Georgia sheds its family-friendly side for adults-only revelry with Fright Fest, which turns the theme park into a haunted maze with plenty of scares. The Georgia Aquarium transforms its Sips Under the Sea into an evening of cocktails with a murder mystery to solve and Fernbank will be pouring creepy martinis as part of its weekly Martinis & IMAX. For music lovers, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra is presenting Danny Elfman’s music from Tim Burton’s films and the B-52s will be at the Fox.
In the Neighborhood
Depending on which neighborhood you plan to haunt for the evening, there will be plenty of good old partying and carousing for every taste. In Buckhead, Atlanta’s largest adults-only party is back and it’s sure to be ‘A Social Mess’ for yet another year. Seven bars in The Highlands are combining forces for a wicked good time and East Atlanta Village is starting early with EAV-o-Ween. However, the real party is down in Little Five Points. Named one of the Top 10 Halloween events in the country, Little Five’s parade and festival attracts more than 35,000 people each year–a true feat for an area who’s denizens seem to be celebrating Halloween most of the year.
Of course, these are just some of the events taking place in Atlanta for Halloween. There are also 5K races and fun runs, plenty of family friendly events and, for those who are fans of the undead, Walker and Stalker Con indulges in everything zombie. There is no shortage of things to do in Atlanta for Halloween.
Want to indulge in the spooky side of Atlanta during other times of the year? Take a tour of the zombie film locations in Atlanta–there’s a lot of creepy to enjoy.
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