DeKalb County Halloween is for the brave and the healthy of heart.
City events coordinator Christopher Madden said Chamblee's annual Halloween Spooktacular, held the Saturday before Halloween, provides parents of younger kids the opportunity to avoid the late night, scarier events — though he admits he may have overdone the haunted house last year.
"Last year was my first year doing it, and I think I might have made it a little bit too spooky," he said. "So I've toned it down this year. I'll say it's appropriate for all ages as long as they're a little bit brave."
The Spooktacular starts with a 5K and fun run — with many participants in costume — and ends in a festival area with treats, activities and prizes. Madden said the fun house, which is more little kid friendly this year, has a line out the door from start to finish.
Connect Church's Fall Festival in Decatur drew nearly a thousand people last year to the parking lot across from North DeKalb Mall, according to even coordinator Nick Crawford. He said the focus is on fun with costumes, free food, special guests, a bounce house and face painting.
The festival also has a more serious side. Last year, vendors offered insurance and health information, plus HIV and blood pressure testing. Crawford sees the church's Halloween event as a bridge connecting local businesses, social services and the community.
"That's what Jesus was, he was a bridge," Crawford said. "And that's what we desire to be."
The festival features trick-or-treating at every vendor booth.
There are plenty of other DeKalb County Halloween events this year.
Stone Mountain Pumpkin Festival
10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays; 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays; 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Stone Mountain Park, 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain, Ga. 30083. 1-800-401-2407. www.stonemountainpark.com/Events/Pumpkin-Festival.aspx?cid=eml_003599
The festival costs $31.95 for those 12 and older; $25.95 for kids 3-11; $21.95 Adventure Pass on weekends for those in costume (no face masks allowed). If you have a Mountain Membership or Adventure Pass, park entrance and the Pumpkin Festival are included.
New this year is Spookley's Fantastic Kids' Carnival, which includes inflatables, candy, boardwalk games and more. The Pumpkin Festival also features a kids' costume parade and Adventure Tales Storytelling.
Tour of Southern Ghosts
7-9 p.m. Thursdays and Sundays; 7-9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 30. Stone Mountain Park, Historic Square1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain, Ga. 30083. 770-469-1105. http://artstation.org/portfolio_page/a-tour-of-southern-ghosts/
For the 31st consecutive year, ART Station will conduct A Tour of Southern Ghosts, the story-telling festival hosted by Stone Mountain Park. This unique event celebrates the delightful Southern tradition of telling stories about ghosts, spirits and other apparitions, ranging from scary to funny. These tours start every five minutes and last 45 minutes. The cost is $8 for children younger than 12, $17 for adults. Discounted, presale tickets are available online at ART Station. Sundays are children's group nights (minimum group size 10), when tickets are $4 per child. Stone Mountain Park requires a parking permit of $15 per car.
Halloween Night on Callanwolde Mountain
6-9 p.m., Oct. 28. Callanwolde Fine Arts Center. 980 Briarcliff Road NE, Atlanta, Ga. 30306.
404-872-5338. http://callanwolde.org/event/halloween-night-on-callanwolde-mountain/
This event includes trick-or-treating (6-8:30 p.m.) on the former Coca-Cola president's historical estate, music by the Callanwolde Concert Band, a professional DJ and Braves' organist Matthew Kaminski (7-9 p.m.), spooky storytelling, and a costume contest (7:30 p.m.). A food truck and cash bar will be on site. The cost is $4 in advance, $5 at the door, but parking is free.
Chamblee's Annual Halloween Spooktacular
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 29. Keswick Park, 3496 Keswick Drive, Chamblee, Ga. 30341
770-986-5016. www.chambleega.com/index.aspx?NID=187
Keswick Park Community Building shuts down during October and transforms into the Spooky Fun House, which includes an indoor maze. Many people run the 5K (at 10 a.m.) and fun run (10:30 a.m.) in costume, then join the Spooktacular festivities. This all-ages event is free, but there are charges for the fun house ($2), pumpkin painting and build a bat ($1), and concessions. Race registration can be done in advance or at 9 a.m. that day.
Connect Church annual Fall Festival
1-6 p.m. Oct. 30. Connect Church. 2853 Candler Road, Decatur, Ga. 30034
678-705-8121. www.volunteermatch.org/search/opp2129057.jsp
This free, all-ages event includes a bounce house, face painting, music, prayer booth, special guests, trunk-or-treating, pony rides and more.
Decatur Haints and Saints Halloween Parade
4 p.m., Oct. 30. Parade starts at the Decatur Post Office, 520 W. Ponce de Leon Ave., Decatur, Ga. 30030 and ends on the Square. http://decaturhalloweenparade.com
What began as a small foot parade in 2011 now features floats, bands, classic cars and more. The parade is followed by a jam session with the Wasted Potential Brass Band, the Common Ground Collective and the Black Sheep Ensemble taking turns on the bandstand. Parade lineup at 3 p.m.,;groups of five or more can register online.
Decatur Presbyterian Church Trunk or Treat
5:45-7 p.m., Oct. 26 in the church parking lot, 205 Sycamore St., Decatur, Ga. 30030. 404-378-1777, Ext. 230. www.dpchurch.org/event/trunk-or-treat/
If you would like to have your vehicle be in the trunk or treat, please RSVP to jbutcher@dpchurch.org by Oct. 24.
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