What to know about Asheville Halloween, trick-or-treating, parties and more
It's officially spooky season, and locals want to know where all the good places are to celebrate Halloween. Below are some tips and trick-or-treating ideas for adults and children to safely enjoy the upcoming holiday.
For adults
Explore Asheville, a local guide to all things Asheville, put out a Halloween roundup list. Below are some of the events.
Halloween marquee masqueradeat the Marquee: Oct. 27 from 6-9 p.m. at 36 Foundy St. Admission to get in is free and masquerade goers should expect music, drinks, a 360-photo booth and a costume contest.
Halloween Bar Crawl with the Catawba Brewing Company: The sixth annual Catawba Halloween bar crawl will be held Oct. 27-28 from 2-10p.m., starting at 32 Banks Ave. This includes two full days of bar crawl fun. Admission is $10-15. Find out more on the Facebook page Halloween Bar Crawl - Asheville (Fri & Sat) - 6th Annual | Facebook.
Halloween ghost tour and costume contest with Asheville Free Walking Tours: Oct. 28-31 from 7-9 p.m, the address is shared after booking the event, which is $25. It's the only ghost tour in town that goes through the cemetery. Prizes will be available for the best costume, learn more and book at Ghost Tour Halloween Costume Contest | Asheville, NC's Official Travel Site (exploreasheville.com).
Vampire Ball at Black Mountain Center for the Arts: Oct. 28 at 225 West State St. from 7-10 p.m. The center is doing a fall fundraiser for the arts by holding a ball. The invitation says to dress to impress in Halloween attire. The ticket, which is $20, will include entry and one beverage.
For kids
Halloween falls on a Tuesday this year, and some locals want to know if people are trick-or-treating on the weekend or on the actual day of Halloween.
It looks like the answer is ... both! People will be trick-or-treating the weekend before Halloween, and on Oct. 31, squeezing in as much candy as possible before waiting another year for the fun.
Places to trick-or-treat
The WNC Farmers Market: Oct. 28 at 570 Brevard Road is holding a trick or treat event from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m., it's a family event for kids to enjoy, the flyer said.
Asheville Outlet Mall: Oct. 31 on 800 Brevard Road, the mall will host its annual "Boo Bash Halloween" from 5-7 p.m. Families can trick-or-treat around the center of the mall. There will be music and a festive photo booth. For more information, visit Asheville Outlets Asheville NC (shopashevilleoutlets.com). Admission is free.
Halloween on Vermont Avenue: Oct. 31 located in West Asheville; Vermont Avenue will host more than 2,500 people, according to its Facebook page. The streets of Vermont Avenue are closed, and it runs from 5-9 p.m. Locals can support Vermont Avenue Halloween by donating money, candy or volunteering. Check out the community Facebook page for more info at https://www.facebook.com/vermontavehalloween.
Buncombe County Sheriff's Office: Oct. 28 at 35 Woodfin St. The department is hosting a trunk or treat event from 1-3 p.m. Over 30 community partners will be in attendance, including United Way of Asheville and Buncombe County, YMCA of Western North Carolina and Buncombe County Government and County Commissioners, according to the event Facebook page.
White Oak Road and Buena Vista Road: Oct. 31 in Biltmore Forest, the neighborhoods will close the streets from 5:30-9 p.m. for trick-or-treating. On the Biltmore Forest website, safety tips are listed such as: wear reflective clothing, make sure children have a flashlight or glow stick to make them more visible. Always inspect children's candy.
Kenilworth Central Asheville: Oct. 31, people will be trick-or-treating in the Kenilworth neighborhood. It has sidewalks and is a great place for families to go trick-or-treating, according to the Family Fun Asheville website, a resource for local families.
Hall Fletcher Elementary School: Oct. 27 from 4:30-6:30 p.m., the school is having its fall festival with pizza, games and trunk-or-treating. Costumes are strongly encouraged, according to ACS spokesperson Avery Greene.
Montford District: Oct. 31. The historic district just north of downtown Asheville was founded in 1893, according to Explore Asheville. The residential neighborhood is a great place for trick-or-treating with Victorian architectural styles. Riverside Cemetery is also located in Montford. The cemetery is still active, with more than 13,000 people buried there, according to its website.
Safety tips
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is reminding pedestrians and drivers to be safe on Halloween, especially since the holiday can include drunken drivers on the streets, NHTSA said.
For drivers
Be alert for trick-or-treaters and slow down in areas where sight distances are limited.
There will likely be more pedestrians on the roads on Oct. 31 and in places where they aren't expected, so drive slowly.
Stay off the cellphone and pay attention to the road.
If a drunken driver is on the road, contact law enforcement.
For pedestrians
Walk on a sidewalk if one is available and use crosswalks when possible.
Have a "buddy system" to make sure all your friends and family get home safely.
More: 10 best places to visit in fall named by USA Today readers: Where does Asheville rank?
More: Fall and Halloween events across Western North Carolina
McKenna Leavens is the education reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at mleavens@citizentimes.com or follow her on Twitter @LeavensMcKennna. Please support this type of journalism with asubscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Halloween in Asheville: Where to go trick-or-treating and what days
