Trick or Treat

Smell my feet. Give me something good to eat. But if you’re not into door to door groveling for candy, what is an adult to do to celebrate Halloween in Charlottesville?

Albemarle - Charlottesville Historical Society’s 14th Annual Spirit Walk. October 24-26. Tour historical Charlottesville with faces of the past as your storytellers. When the sun goes down, the County Courthouse and Maplewood Cemetery take on an eerie tone. But not to be mistaken with a ghost tour, this is a serious trip back to early 18th century through the 20th century and actual accounts of our town’s history. Click here for ticket information.

DRACULA now playing at the Play On! theater. October 23 - Nov. 1. Sitting in a dark theater wondering if a vampire will come around the corner…what a way to celebrate All Hallow’s Eve. Special Midnight showing on October 31. Click here for directions and ticket information.

Tricks, treats, and Devils at X-Lounge. Still like dressing up for Halloween? There are prizes for the best costume, so get crackin’ and celebrate at one of Charlottesville’s best night spots. Maybe I can recycle my J-Lo costume for the seventh year, whattya think? Single guys…start growing out the stubble and dress up like Indiana Jones. Every girl has had a crush on Indy.

Charlottesville Ghost & Murder Walking Tour. I’ve seen this guy walking the mall with his top hat and cape, always curious to know what it was about. When better than Halloween? Follow the path of a 1904 high profile murder as well as other ghosts and ghastly tales. Meet in front of the very scary York Place (perhaps after some dumplings?) at 8pm every Thursday, Friday & Saturday through October. More info here.

Scream Forest. Take a short trip towards Richmond (6 miles West of I-295) for one of the scariest and least family-friendly haunted houses around. Scream Forest is not for the timid. A hayride takes you into the forest where they leave you on foot to fend for yourself. I went here in college with friends. I tripped and fell in the forest, and my best friends kept running. It is that scary.

University of Virginia’s Alien-themed Virginia Film Festival. With a schedule full of both classics and premieres, you are sure to enjoy this year’s Halloween while watching the carefully selected alien-themed films of the Virginia Film Festival. It kicks off with an airing of Orson Welles’ War of the Worlds at the McCormick Observatory on Thursday, Oct. 30 at 7pm. Of both the extra-terrestrial and foreign type, the alien characters are sure to intrigue. More info here on tickets and locations.