Oct. 31 isn’t just Nick Saban’s birthday in Tuscaloosa. It’s also Halloween.
Although the temperature may still be in the 90s and the University of Alabama football coach is a few weeks away from turning 71, Halloween events will begin soon. The Horror Tuscaloosa, a haunted house, begins on September 30 and other events will be spread throughout October.
This year’s Halloween highlights in the Tuscaloosa area will also include a pumpkin patch, a ghost hunting event at the Drish House, witches on bicycles, the city’s Tech or Treat night and an interactive screening of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” at the Bama. theater
Costume shoppers take note: Spirit Halloween is at 1825 McFarland Boulevard North, Suite 150, in the Northridge Center Plaza this year. Two other stores that were not open last year but may be of interest to Halloween shoppers are Party Wow at 2610 McFarland Blvd. And at the former Stein Mart location in McFarland Plaza and Party City at 1800 McFarland Blvd. And at the former Nike Factory Store location in Midtown Village.
Also of note are ghosts, goblins, monsters, witches, wizards and zombies everywhere: Halloween falls on a Monday this year.
Here’s a look at this year’s Halloween and fall-related events around T-Town:
Events for children
The Tuscaloosa Barnyard, a hands-on petting farm at 11453 Turner Bridge Road, will hold its annual pumpkin patch beginning the last week of September and continuing through the second week of November. The fall-themed event will also include hay rides, pillow jumping, a petting zoo, a cow train, pony rides and other interactive activities. Admission is $12. The Tuscaloosa corral will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the pumpkin patch. For more information, go to www.tuscaloosabarnyard.com.
Fall on the Farm, set for Oct. 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., will feature a craft festival and pumpkin patch at Wilderwood Farm, 12611 Coyote Trail, Ralph. Admission is $7; children from 1 year free entry. The festival features craft vendors, hayride, bouncy house, farm animals, craft demonstrations, farm crafts and farm games. Supplement for pumpkins and horse or pony rides. Email wilderwoodfarm@gmail.com. www.wilderwoodfarm.com.
The T-Town Witches Ride, sponsored by the Arch of Tuscaloosa, will take place on October 16th from 3pm to 6pm at Government Plaza, 2106 Sixth St. The event will feature participants dressed in witch costumes and riding decorated bicycles through the streets of Tuscaloosa to raise money for the Arc, an organization that helps people. with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The ride starts at 5pm and the cost to enter is $25. Spectators are welcome. For more information, call 205-556-4900.
The Practical Children’s Museum will host a Spooktacular Carnival on October 20 from 5 to 8 p.m. There will be games with prizes, a costume contest, a haunted hallway and DJ Wade and the Monster Masquerade. Wristbands for unlimited games are $15. The museum is located at 2213 University Blvd. For more information, go to www.chomonline.org.
The City of Tuscaloosa’s sixth annual Tech or Treat event will be Oct. 25 from 6 to 8 p.m., with free admission for all ages, at the Gateway Innovation and Discovery Alberta Center, 2614 University Blvd. E. Similar to Trunk-or-Treat, Tech-or-Treat allows costumed children to go from table to table to collect candy while being introduced to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities through interactions with city departments and community organizations. .
The Alabama Panhellenic Association’s Trick or Treat on Sorority Row is scheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 25 on the University of Alabama campus. More than 500,000 candies will be distributed by students dressed in Halloween costumes at Magnolia, Colonial and Judy Bonner unit sorority houses. Attendance is free and is intended for children 12 years and older. Children must be accompanied by parents and the costume must be appropriate for school and no masks. Bring one bag per child to collect candy. For more information, go to the UA Panhellenic Association Facebook page, www.facebook.com/UAPanhellenic.
Midtown Village will host Harvest Jam from 5:30-8:30pm on October 28th on the Mall Green, 1800 McFarland Blvd. The event will feature live music, a farmer’s market, a pumpkin patch and a craft beer tasting. A portion of the proceeds from the craft beer tasting and pumpkin patch will benefit Child Abuse Prevention Services. Admission to the Harvest Jam is $5 and tickets are available at eventbrite.com.
“Boo! In the Park,” hosted by the Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon Oct. 29 at Munny Sokol Park South, 5901 Watermelon Road. The free event is designed for children ages 4-13, but all ages are welcome. Costumes are encouraged. “Boo! In the Park” will feature carnival-style fun, including games, a Halloween-themed story walk, sack races, a photo booth, bouncy houses and more. New this year will be “Touch A Truck” with 15 heavy duty vehicles – concrete mixers, farm tractors, fire trucks and more – for kids to explore. For more information, go to tcpara.org.
Skate-O-Ween will be held at 2pm on October 30, with games and prizes, at Super Skate, 5900 McFarland Blvd. E.
A free Halloween carnival sponsored by the Tuscaloosa Police Department is scheduled for Oct. 31 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Snow Hinton Park, 1000 Hargrove Road E. Children are invited to trick-or-treat with TPD and the carnival will include candy, games and food trucks.
Haunted houses
The Horror Tuscaloosa will offer two themed experiences from September 30 to October 31 at its haunted house, 5477 Skyland Blvd. E., Cottondale. Tickets $25 or more, and tickets each night will be limited. Hours will be 7:00 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, Sept. 30-Oct. 29 and from 7 to 10 p.m. October 20, 27, 30 and 31. www.thehorrortuscaloosa.com. There are also jobs available for crew and customer service positions; I will see www.thehorrortuscaloosa.com/jobs.
The Southern Ghost Girls will host an interactive ghost hunting event starting at 7:00pm on October 8th at Tuscaloosa’s historic Drish House, 2300 17th St. Admission is $50. For more information, go to https://southernhostgirls.com/events.
For adults
The 15th annual screening of the “Rocky Horror Picture Show” is scheduled for October 29. The Pink Box Burlesque presents the 1975 musical comedy/horror film at 8pm at the Bama Theatre, 600 Greensboro Ave. Accessory bags will be available while they are available. last Doors open at 7:00 p.m., the costume contest will be at 8, and the movie starts at 8:30. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. The activity is for people over 21 years old. For more, see www.pinkboxburlesque.com.
