Calendar of Events

Buncombe County Parks & Recreation is excited to announce the 2023 Fall Kids Fishing Tournament which will be taking place at the beautiful Lake Julian Park on Oct. 7, from 8 a.m.-noon. Families are invited to join us for this semi-annual event where the love of nature and joy of fishing unite!

This event is for youth ages 15 and under. Young anglers will be divided into three age brackets for the competition: 0-5, 6-10, and 11-15. Participants can win prizes for the biggest fish, the smallest fish, and the most fish caught. Each fish caught must be brought to the designated measuring station one at a time. After measurement, the fish will be released back into the lake.

For a registration fee of $10, each young angler will receive a bucket, bait, and an assortment of snacks and refreshing beverages that will be available throughout the morning. Pre-registration is recommended but walk-up registration will be available on the day of the tournament. Registration will open at 7 a.m. Fishing begins promptly at 8 a.m. and will end at 11 a.m. Prizes will be handed out at 11:30 a.m. Winners must be present to accept the prize.?

No fishing license is required for residents under 16 years old. No boat fishing is allowed by competitors. All competitors must be accompanied by an adult, but the adult may not cast or reel. Only one fishing pole may be in the water per participant. Competitors are required to bring their own fishing poles and tackle.

Get ready to enjoy moments with fellow anglers, excitement, and friendly competition!

Before You Go:  

• Registration is $10 and includes bait, a bucket, snacks, and refreshing drinks.
• Participants must bring their own fishing pole and tackle.
• Category winners must be present to win.
• Competitors must be accompanied by an adult.
• No boat fishing allowed.
• Pre-registration can be found here. 

Included with admission

Embark on a scenic journey across George Vanderbilt’s Italy with a large-scale outdoor display that combines brilliant botanical designs with authentic messages written by Vanderbilt himself.

Beautifully handcrafted of natural elements, each sculptural postcard depicts a location or landmark Vanderbilt visited more than a century ago. This captivating complement to Biltmore’s Italian Renaissance Alive exhibition reveals Vanderbilt’s passions for travel, culture, architecture, and art as well as his personal experience of such renowned Italian cities as Milan, Florence, Venice, Pisa, and Vatican City.

Adding to the charm and visual appeal of Ciao! From Italy—sure to be a hit among kids of all ages—is the G-scale model train that travels in and out of each postcard in this enlightening display!

Join us on a journey into the world of butterflies and plants, and see the complex relationship between monarchs and milkweed. “Monarchs and Milkweed” explores how very survival of these majestic creatures has been shaped over time by one another, traveling through the seasons of a calendar year and revealing how both insect and plant grow and interact, culminating in a massive migration that crosses a continent.

The US Forest Service-Pisgah Ranger District and
Haywood Community College invites people of all ages to celebrate the forest heritage
of Western North Carolina at the Cradle of Forestry in Pisgah Forest, NC during the
annual Forest Festival Day on Saturday, October 7, 2023 from 10:00 am-5:00 pm.
This activity-filled, family event commemorates the traditions of mountain living and
craft in the Cradle’s unique and beautiful setting. Forestry students, a local author,
traditional craftsmen and exhibitors will be on site during the celebration.
At the event, six colleges and universities will compete for a trophy in the Annual John
G. Palmer Intercollegiate Woodsmen’s Meet, organized by Haywood Community College
in Clyde, NC. Participating colleges and universities include: Haywood Community
College (Host) from Clyde, NC; Penn State Mont Alto, from Mont Alto, PA; Montgomery
Community College from Troy, NC; Wayne Community College from Goldsboro, NC;
Mountain Gateway Community College from Clifton Forge, VA; and NC State University
from Raleigh, NC.
Festival-goers can cheer as forestry students compete during the Woodsmen’s Meet
that has the flavor of an old-time lumberjack competition. Students will test their skills
in a number of events including archery, axe throwing, crosscut sawing, wood chopping,
chainsaw, log rolling, pole climbing and pole felling.

The Woodsmen’s Meet is held in the open field at the Pink Beds Picnic Area. This area
allows for the safety of participants and spectators while at the same time providing
opportunities to see all the action. Spectators are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket
for comfort. We are pleased to announce the return of STIHL as the event presenting
sponsor and Bojangles of Mills River will provide breakfast for each of the competing
students.
Festival goers can cut a tree “cookie” with a cross cut saw to take home. The following
community partners will also be joining us with information about their work/mission,
providing giveaways and other fun activities: STIHL, Society of American Foresters,
Hemlock Restoration Initiative, Muddy Sneakers, Local Author Gerald Ledford, Carolina
Mountain Club and FIND Outdoors.
Two presentations will be given during the event by local author, Gerald Ledford at
11:00 am and 1:00 pm in the sunken amphitheater of the Cradle Discovery Center. At
other times throughout the day, you can speak with Ledford as you climb aboard and
ring the bell of a 1914 Climax logging train engine permanently on site at the Cradle. A
PowerPoint presentation will feature railroad logging in the woods. Ledford’s paternal
grandfather Lewis Ledford worked as a mill superintendent for his brother-in-law Louis
Carr at Norwood Lumber at Forney Creek and Carr Lumber at Pisgah Forest, NC. His
father Bryson Ledford was born at Forney and named for Dr. Daniel Rice Bryson. Several
of Ledford’s great uncles were employed by the lumber mills at Forney, Ravensford,
Proctor and East LaPorte during the lumber boom of the early 1900s. The presentation
will feature many rare photographs of railroad logging in the Blue Ridge and Great
Smokies. Ledford enjoys hiking old railroad grades and has been researching the
logging railroads in western North Carolina for over 45 years. With Ron Sullivan, he has
co-authored five books of the history of logging railroads in western North Carolina
titled, “If Rails Could Talk….” The first 5 volumes are currently in print and are available
for purchase on site at the Cradle. Ledford has also provided information and
photographs for several authors as well as the Ken Burns Public Television series, “The
National Parks; America’s Best Idea.
The Trolley Company will provide a shuttle between the Cradle’s Forest Discovery
Center and the Pink Beds from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Pink Beds Picnic Area will be
closed to non-event use for the day.
Admission for this event is $10.00 ages 13 and up; $6.00 for youth ages 4-12, and $5 for
federal pass holders and Cradle season pass holders. Children under 4 years old are
admitted free. Tickets are available on-site at the Cradle the day of the event. Cash is
encouraged however, cards will be accepted. Learn more at:

Forest Festival Day & John Palmer Intercollegiate Woodsmen’s Meet

STATIONARY FUN – Creekside play area has a treehouse and wee slide ➤ The Big Barn has our Sound Silo full of instruments to play on and make noise, trikes on the trike track around a REAL tractor and cornhole boards(ask the staff for bags) ➤ On the grassy slope behind the Big Barn we’ve got our famous and fast culvert tunnel slides for all ages, hammocks on the hill and tetherball!

Availability: All stationary fun is available every day during business hours of 10-5, starting September 2nd, through the rest of the season- tetherball will be back in action starting September 6th!

ANIMALS TO SEE – We will have a brooder house full of chicks in various ages and stages all season, there will typically be mama pigs and piglets in agritourism pens on the hill, more rarely there will be grazing cattle in a nearby field.

FOOD TRUCK SCHEDULE

9/2 Sat  11-4 Fern Leaf CCS Food Truck

9/16 Sat 11-4 Milk & Honey Food Truck – they will be serving HNG beef for their all-American burger!

9/24 Sun 11-4 *Big Barn Market* Root Down Farm Food Truck

9/30 Sat 11-4 Milk & Honey Food Truck

10/7 Sat 11-4 Fern Leaf CCS Food Truck

10/14 Sat 11-4 Milk & Honey Food Truck

10/15 Sun 11-4 El Bodegon Food Truck

10/22 Sun 11-4 El Bodegon Food Truck

10/29 Sun 11-4 *Big Barn Market* Grush’s Cajun Dino Grill Food Truck

11/4 Sat 11-4 Fern Leaf CCS Food Truck

FALL SEASONAL OFFERINGS

APPLES – Our partners in Edneyville, NC, Lyda Farms, bring some of the best in the region. Local and low spray, folks come every year to get the best of fall in NC by the bag to bake, stew, butter, sauce and of course, crunch into while sitting on the farm.

Availability: Apples will be available to buy starting September 9th, they will typically run out Mid to late October.

FRESH PRESSED CIDER – We press fresh apple cider every year, comprised of our historical orchard apples on the Old Sherrill’s Inn property and apples from our partner Lyda Farms. This is a raw, unpasteurized product – delicious and changeable as the season, no added sugar or seasonings.

Availability: 1st pressing September 13th, bottled cider will be in the store for purchase September 14th!

JACKOLANTERN PUMPKINS – We work with several WNC veggie farmers in the area, including Hawkins Farms. We’ll have pumpkins arranged all around the Farm Store to display their beauty AND make sure you get *just the right one*. The seeds are dynamite when roasted, too…

Availability: Coming Mid-September, they will typically run out by end of October so make sure you get yours! 

EDIBLE SQUASH & DECORATIVE GOURDS – From Mr. Anthony Cole’s farms, we have some long-lasting festive gourds to decoarate for the season, and a broad variety of edible squashes and pumpkins perfect for pies, soups and pasta.

Availability: Coming Mid-September.

Travel back to Colonial times and the American Revolution! Experience skirmish reenactments, music, spinning, candle dipping, weaving, and more!

Tickets are good for the entire weekend’s activities, including the Saturday night Bluegrass concert. Wristbands will be given for return admission.

Tickets at the gate are $15 per adult and $10 per child. Purchase online before 10/1 for $3 off per ticket.

No refunds

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7
GATES OPEN AT 10:00AM

11:00AM Junior Regiment Drills; Front Lawn

1:00PM Re-Enactment of 

“Bloody Bill” Cunningham’s Raid; Front Lawn

2:30PM Live Auction; The Pavilion 

GATES CLOSE AT 5:00PM

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8
GATES OPEN AT 10:00AM

11:00AM Junior Regiment Drills; Front Lawn

1:00PM Re-Enactment of 

“Bloody Bill” Cunningham’s Raid; Front Lawn 

GATES CLOSE AT 4:00PM

CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES (Sat & Sun)

Hornbook making

Quill writing

Colonial toys

Tricorn hats

Candle dipping

FOOD available for purchase!

Credit Cards accepted at Gate, Concessions, and Gift Shop.
Living Historians may be cash only.

Take a 90-plus minute stroll along 7th Avenue/Historic Depot District, where the action was when the first steam engine locomotives rolled into town starting in 1879 bringing hundreds of tourists. The district surrounding the historic Railroad Depot was where it was happening in the Gilded Age of Hendersonville from 1879, when the first steam locomotive arrived with hundreds of tourists daily, till the Crash of 1929 … learn about the drays, the hustle, the inns, the summer visitors, the shoot-outs, growth of agriculture, and popular candy stores.  These 90-plus minute walks occur rain or shine.  Please make a reservation, 828-545-3179.

All tours: $10 per person age 10 and over.  Children under 10 yrs. free with paying adult.

Meeting Place:  Hendersonville City Hall, front steps  (at corner of 5^th Ave. E. and King St.)

Schedule a private tour anytime for your group.

Reservations/information:  828-545-3179

Ooh La La Curiosity Market is an artist’s market that takes place in Pritchard Park, located in the center of beautiful downtown Asheville and will showcase the work of more than a dozen local artists. Taking place on Saturdays throughout Summer and every Saturday in October. Ooh La La will feature works by local painters, leather smiths, jewelry makers, potters, up-cycled crafters, and other curious delights, all beneath the colored canopies of large market umbrellas. In addition to the artists, the market will also feature live local music with three musical acts performing each Saturday and will include everything from a solo saxophonist to folk, blues, acoustic and jazz acts.

Stop by and play a round of cornhole or badminton at the library any Saturday this fall.

We’ll have a variety of fun  games set up outside for anyone to  enjoy from open to close when the weather is clear.

Bring a picnic and enjoy the beautiful mountain views!

HAYRIDES – Brought to you by Project HNG our sister nonprofit! Proceeds go to Project HNG. Suitable for all ages, babies in arms are free, 16 people per ride.

Availability: every Saturday & Sunday starting September 2nd through November 11th. 11am-4pm, last ride goes out at 3:30pm. May be cancelled due to tremendous weather conditions.

PONY RIDES – Brought to you by Project HNG our sister nonprofit! Proceeds go to Project HNG. Suitable for young children, supervision and helmets provided. If you’re interested in riding lessons or trail rides please reach out to [email protected]

Availability: every Saturday & Sunday starting September 2nd through November 11th. 11am-3pm. May be cancelled due to tremendous weather conditions

Join a certified forest therapy guide for a relaxing 2.5-hour stroll through the forest on the peaceful Arboretum grounds. Through a series of invitations, you’ll have the opportunity to be present in the moment, deepening your connection with nature and community, and enjoying the many gifts nature has to offer. Your guide will share mindfulness practices designed to connect you more deeply to your inner landscapes, as well as the world around you. Inspired by Shinrin-Yoku, the Japanese art of immersing oneself in a forest environment, a forest bathing walk invites you to spend time in nature in a way that invites healing for ourselves, our fraught ecosystems, and our community. It is true nature therapy!

• Special, discounted rate of $45/person (includes parking!)
• Occurs on select dates each month
• Max group size is 15 for a more intimate experience

Hit the trails and learn more about The North Carolina Arboretum’s botanically diverse forest with a guided trail walk! April through October, this free hiking program is led by trained volunteer guides who take small groups of participants along woodland trails and through a variety of forest types. Depending on the season and each guide’s area of expertise, topics of discussion may include wildflowers, plant and tree identification, natural history and more.

Guided trail walks are limited to 15 people, including the guide, and are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age. Groups depart from the Baker Visitor Center Lobby on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m..

Walks last 1.5 – 2.5 hours, are approximately one to two miles in length. As this program is held rain or shine, all participants should dress appropriately for the weather.

There is no pre-registration; walks are first-come first served and sign up sheets are located in the Baker Visitors Center.

Walks are FREE; however, donations to The North Carolina Arboretum Society are appreciated. Regular parking fees apply. Arboretum Society Members always park free.

Know Before You Go

• Guided Trail Walks are not recommended for guests under 16 years of age.
• Guided Trail Walks are rain or shine and all participants should be dressed comfortably and for the weather.
• Hikes cover 1-2 miles and last 1.5-2 hours.
• Well-behaved leashed pets are welcome to accompany their owners. In the rare case that a pet is disruptive or negatively impacts the experience, the pet and its owner may be asked to excuse themselves from the guided walk.
• COVID-19 Safety: In order to hear the guide and fully participate in the trail walk, participants will be in close proximity to one another for extended periods of time. While face coverings are not required, participants should use their best judgement to keep themselves and others safe while enjoying the trails. Individuals who are experiencing flu-like symptoms or suspect they may have been exposed to COVID-19 should not participate.
• At this time, no more than 6 spaces may be filled by a single family/group through pre-registration for any one Guided Trail Walk. If additional spaces are available on the day of the Walk, additional members of the family/group may participate. We apologize for any inconvenience and look forward to welcoming larger groups in the future.

A spin off of the German Oktoberfest, the Asheville Oktoberfest will feature 15+ breweries and craft beverage makers. There will also be a festival games section, hosted by Asheville Sports and Social Club, local food vendors, and music by Lagerhosen!

Presale tickets on sale August 1st, with vendors to be announced in waves.

General Admission tickets to be on sale August 8th.

VIP tickets will include early access to festival (1pm-2pm), VIP tent with food and full pints, and even more!

Asheville Baroque Concerts: The Return of Zephyrus
Molly Quinn, soprano; Daniel Swenberg, lute and theorbo; Gail Ann Schroeder, viola da gamba
Works by Tromboncino, Dowland, Caccini, Clerambault

Asheville Baroque Concerts presenting early music on original instruments

We are committed to ensuring that programs remain accessible to all members of the community. In the spirit of inclusivity and equity, PAN HARMONIA offers donation-based, pay-as-you-can community concerts. All are welcome.

Wanna hear the best local music ​and​ drink the best local beers? Hop aboard LaZoom’s Purple Bus and rock out with a local band while we take you on a journey to Asheville’s premiere local breweries.

Pumpkin Fest is a fun, family friendly and fantastic artistic event or great date night with 18 beautiful artist-designed lighted carved pumpkin displays on a newly-paved short walking trail. The event includes talented local musicians, food trucks and coffee house, games, storytelling, face painting, white squirrel scavenger hunt, games, dress ups, and the Silvermont historic mansion and second floor museum open for tours. New exhibits from 2022 (“Syd’s Silvermont Adventure”) and 2021 (the spectacular “White Squirrel Circus”) are returning, as well as 16 other lighted pumpkin displays such as Butterfly Garden, Pirates Cove, Under the Sea, Witches Garden, Ghost Circle, Totem Garden, and more.
A new 2023 exhibit has been developed by Friends of Silvermont’s Pumpkin-teers: “Land of Waterfalls”, featuring the unique places and features that make Transylvania County so beautiful and special for locals and tourists alike. A new social media photo-op site with a Silvermont Pumpkin Fest background will also be set up between the dress up and face painting areas near the tennis courts. There will be lots of activities for young and old alike- with fun for all ages! Silvermont Park has a newly paved 1/3-mile trail that works much better for strollers, walkers and wheelchairs.
Pumpkin Fest is a Fundraiser for Friends of Silvermont to help maintain and improve the Silvermont Park and the 106-year-old historic mansion, which houses the county senior center and a history museum. Friends of Silvermont was in 1981 to help save the mansion and has continued to make significant financial contributions to both the mansion and park each year.
Location- Silvermont Park 364 E. Main St. Brevard, NC 28712.
Admission $7 per person (ages 13 and over), $5 ages 3-12, and under 3 is free. We accept cards, cash or check with ID. Volunteers receive free admission. Contact [email protected] if interested in volunteering for event nights or setup/teardown starting Sept. 23 thru Nov 3.
Onsite parking cost is $5 cash per car. Free parking is available offsite on nearby streets and at churches and the Comporium and church parking lots 1 block away. Handicap sticker- free parking onsite.
Music and Food Schedule:
Date Time Music Schedule Food Trucks plus Cup and Saucer
Oct. 6 Friday 6-9 pm Two Step Too Feta Flav, Jenny’s Mini Donuts
Oct. 7 Saturday 6-9 pm Big Eyed Rabbit Southern Hawg BarBQue, Jenny’s Mini Donuts
Oct. 13 Friday 6-9 pm Nikki Talley and Jason Sharpe Feta Flav, Jenny’s Mini Donuts
Oct. 14 Saturday 6-9 pm Andrew Thelston and Carrie Morrison Haus Heidelberg
Oct. 20 Friday 6-9 pm Nikki Talley and Jason Sharpe Toasted Cuban, Jenny’s Mini Donuts
Oct. 21 Saturday 6-9 pm Unpaid Bill and the Bad Czechs Feta Flav
Oct. 27 Friday 6-9 pm McIntosh and the Lionhearts BBQ Shed, Jenny’s Mini Donuts
Oct. 28 Saturday 6-9 pm McIntosh and the Lionhearts Toasted Cuban, Feta Flav
Website: Pumpkin Fest | Friends of Silvermont https://silvermont.org/pumpkinfest/ Facebook: SilvermontPark: https://www.facebook.com/silvermontpark/

StrathSpan creates a musical tapestry of the rich tones of cello interwoven with the lyrical voice of the violin. The sound of StrathSpan starts with traditional Scottish pipe and fiddle tunes, layering innovative harmonies and rhythms. The repertoire ranges from elegant marches and strathspeys to driving reels, from lively jigs to soulful airs, with occasional forays into Irish, Scandinavian, and Breton traditions. The resulting music evokes the timeless sensations of heartbeat and laughter, waves and sea creatures, joyous dance and ancient ceremony.

John Devlin, conductor
Christylez Bacon, beatbox and rap
Caroline Shaw: Entr’acte
Evan Meier/Christylez Bacon: Migrations in Rhythm: A Concerto for Beatbox and Rhyme
Dmitry Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5

Caroline Shaw’s Entr’acte is a Haydn-inspired strings-rich piece that will pull you in. It’s what critic James Bennett called “juicy and ebullient…culminating with a succession of full-bellied chords that I may one day make my ringtone.”

Washington DC native and Duke Ellington School for the Arts alum beatboxer Christylez Bacon has created something totally new with this intersection of symphonic and hip hop tradition. You may have seen this Grammy nominee onstage with the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center.  He says, “The music is the lure and the lyric is the education that will destroy the many barriers that prevent us from recognizing our connections with each other.”

Soviet composer Dmitry Shostakovich premiered his fifth symphony in 1937 to overwhelming acclaim, with the audience standing to applaud for more than 40 minutes. This darkly dramatic work is the best one to start with if you’re experiencing Shosty (as musicians have nick-named him) for the first time. A simple internet search will reveal more details of the political turmoil surrounding Shostakovich’s previous compositions and the safety he reclaimed after writing this symphony, so do yourself a favor and dig in to what it was like to be an artist in 1930s Leningrad.

CLICK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CONDUCTOR & GUEST ARTIST

https://krugerbrothers.com

Born and raised in Europe, brothers Jens and Uwe Kruger started singing and playing instruments at a very young age. Growing up in a family where music was an important part of life, they were exposed to a wide diversity of musical influences. The brothers were performing regularly by the time they were eleven and twelve years old, and they began their professional career in 1979. Jens’ and Uwe’s first public performances were as a duo, and in just a few years they were busking on the streets of cities throughout eastern and western Europe.

CBS Records contracted with Jens and Uwe when Jens was just seventeen years old, and shortly thereafter, the Krugers hosted a radio show on SRG SSR, the Swiss Public broadcast group. Several years later, the brothers teamed up with bass player Joel Landsberg, a native of New York City who also had a very extensive musical upbringing in classical and jazz music (studying with jazz great Milt Hinton), thus forming a trio that has been playing professionally together since 1995. Together, they established the incomparable sound that The Kruger Brothers are known for today. The trio moved to the United States in 2002 and is based in Wilkesboro, NC.

Since their formal introduction to American audiences in 1997, The Kruger Brothers’ remarkable discipline, creativity and their ability to infuse classical music into folk music has resulted in a unique sound that has made them a fixture within the world of acoustic music. The honesty of their writing has since become a hallmark of the trio’s work.

In their ever-expanding body of work – Jens Kruger (banjo and vocals), Uwe Kruger (guitar and lead vocals), and Joel Landsberg , (bass and vocals) – The Kruger Brothers personify the spirit of exploration and innovation that forms the core of the American musical tradition. Their original music is crafted around their discerning taste, and the result is unpretentious, cultivated, and delightfully fresh.

All Ages are Welcome!

Advance Seated Tickets: $35

Day of Seated Tickets: $40

Advance Premier Seated Tickets: 45

Day of Premier Seated Tickets: $50

Advance Standing Room Tickets: $25

Day of Standing Room Tickets: $30

Written by Will Storrs
Directed by Deanna Braine Smith
Just in time for Halloween, local playwright Will Storrs brings us this World Premiere reimagining Alice and the characters of Lewis Carroll’s story in a seasonally-appropriate way. Sure to be a horribly good time!
 
All shows will run Fridays through Sundays and all will be presented at 7:30pm and prime seats can be reserved.

Montford Park Players has been bringing some of theater’s greatest works to Western North Carolina for over 50 years. Montford Park Players continues its mission of bring free theater to the community. The summer season allows everyone to come spend an evening under the stars, seeing some of the best live performances presented in Asheville.

Step into a world of magic, mystery, and self-discovery with the Tony Award-winning musical, Pippin. This Broadway classic, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson, tells the captivating story of a young prince on a daring quest for the ultimate meaning of life and fulfillment. From spectacular circus-inspired performances to stirring, emotionally-charged songs, “Pippin” unfolds as an exploration of the highs and lows of glory, love, and ambition. It’s a compelling narrative that continually asks one poignant question: is it more rewarding to live a simple life or to persist in relentlessly pursuing extraordinary feats? With its rich, allegorical storyline and memorable melodies, Pippin promises to enchant audiences, leaving them musing long after the final curtain call.

A talkback with the cast & crew of Pippin will be held following the performances on September 17th & 24th.

Theme Park Transforms from Wild West by Day to Ghost Train at Night

The spooktacular season of Tweetsie’s Ghost Train^® Halloween Celebration, a popular fall family tradition, begins Friday, September 22, and continues every Friday and Saturday night through October 28.

Daytime guests can still enjoy all of Tweetsie’s Wild West adventures, rides and attractions. . . but when the sun goes down, the park gets a full makeover complete with costumed characters, decorations, music and Halloween-themed attractions.

Younger children will love the dance parties, trick-or-treat stations, themed photo opportunities, and the Palace Spooktacular Show.

Braver kids and adults will appreciate the scary night-time journey on the Ghost Train, walking through the hallowed halls of the Haunted House and exploring the murky Freaky Forest.

And, everyone will love the park’s most popular amusement rides after dark in the Creepy Carnival.

The park opens at 7:30 pm with the first train scheduled for 8:00 p.m. On October Saturday nights starting on the 14, 21, and 28, the park opens at 7:15 p.m. with the first train scheduled for 7:30 pm.

Tickets are $60 for adults, $40 for children (ages 3-12) and free for children age 2 and under. They are sold in advance for a designated night with a scheduled train ride departure time. A limited number of guests will be admitted each evening, so visitors are encouraged to purchase tickets well beforehand to avoid missing out on all of the spooky fun.