Fall has finally, without a doubt, arrived in Southwest Virginia and Halloween is just around the corner. So in this week’s very special HOT List we’re giving you the dish on all things Halloween, haunted and just plain fun! From haunted houses to monster museums, corn mazes to trick-or-treating “hot spots,” this is your guide to the best Halloween happenings Southwest Virginia has to offer! Enjoy and be safe!

HAUNTED THINGS

Starting with the HAUNTINGS, there are plenty of haunted houses, museums and even caves from the not-so-scary for the little ones to the down right terrifying. Here’s your local selection:

Bone-A-Part’s Nightmare Mansion Haunted House
206 North Main Street, Galax, VA
Wednesdays until October 29th, 5pm-11pm

Haunted Monster Museum
Hwy 130, Natural Bridge, VA
Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays until November 1st, 7pm-10pm, $10
A haunted house designed by the one and only Mark Cline, whose creatures have been seen in Alice Cooper’s stage shows, Six Flags theme parks and on NBC’s “Today” show to name a few.

ScareMare
2300 Carroll Avenue, Lynchburg, VA
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday until October 25th, 7pm-11pm, $6-$8
One of the longest running and scariest haunted houses in Southwest Virginia where “Every Room Remembers!”

Dixie Caverns Haunted Cave
5753 W. Main Street, Salem, VA
Fridays and Saturdays until November 1st, 7pm-11pm, $5-$10
Its back! Children are allowed at parental discretion.

Haunted Corn Acoustics Corn Maze
Mountain Meadow Farm and Craft Market, 84 Concord Road, Meadow of Dan, VA
Fridays and Saturday until October 31st, 8pm-10pm, $8
A corn maze called “Bluegrass Music: Old Time Ways” in the shape of a banjo, fiddle and guitar in the center of a six-acre challenge. Proceeds benefit the Vesta Rescue Squad and Meadows of Dan Fire Department.

Knights of Columbus Haunted House
Forest Knights of Columbus Hall, 201 Sweeney Circle, Forest, VA
Saturday and Sunday, October 25th and 26th, 6:30pm–9:30pm, $4
All proceeds will go to help the mentally challenged of Central and Southwest Virginia. Last year over 800 people attended and $3,800 was raised for this worthy cause. Children are recommended to be at least 8 years old.

Terror at the Station
Virginia Museum of Transportation, 303 Norfolk Avenue, Roanoke, VA
Wednesdays thru Saturdays until November 1st, 7:30pm-11pm, $9-$10
A haunted attraction, not intended for children younger than 10.

GHOST TOURS

Don’t dig the “staged” haunted houses but want to find out where the real ghosts are regulars? Try one of the local GHOST TOURS happening around the area.

Avenel Ghost Tour
Avenel, 413 Avenel Avenue, Bedford, VA
Thursday, October 23rd, 7pm, $15
Avenel is rumored to be one of the most haunted spots in Southwest Virginia. Presentations and room-by-room tours of the historic Bedford estate will be presented by the local group Ghostec. Seating is limited to 30 people per night, reservations are accepted.

Floyd Ghost Tour
Meet at Black Water Loft, 117 S. Locust Street, Floyd, VA
Fridays and Saturdays until November 8th, 7pm, $6
A one-hour walking tour through downtown Floyd featuring old houses and tombstones. 8pm tours also offered on October 24, 25, 31 and November 1.

Salem Museum Ghost Walk
Salem Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce, East Hill Cemeteries
Saturday, October 25th, 6:30pm–9:30pm, Suggested $6 Donation
A living history tour of the Historic East Hill Cemeteries of Salem in which the ghosts of Salem’s past (actually costumed re-enactors) tell about their lives and the history of the Roanoke Valley.

Ghosts and More Tour
Saturday, October 25th, 7pm, $13
Rocky Mount, VA
A vintage tour bus ride through Rocky Mount featuring more than 60 volunteers in 20 scenes telling stories of violent deaths, spirit sightings, unexplained happenings and more. Buses depart when the sun leaves the sky.

GHOST STORIES

Or maybe GHOST STORIES are your thing…

Spooky Ghost Stories at Peaks of Otter
Flat Top Room at the Peaks of Otter Lodge
Saturday, October 25th, 6:30pm–8pm, FREE
Supernatural tales steeped in the lore of the Peaks of Otter area. Costumes welcome; reservations accepted.

Appalachian Spooky Tales
Otter Creek Campground Campfire Circle, Milepost 60.8 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Big Island, VA
Saturday, October 25th, 7pm, FREE
An hourlong storytelling program featuring spooky stories and a discussion of how they might have changed from generation to generation.

SPOOKY SHOWS AND FILMS

Check out these stage SHOWS and films THAT FRIGHTEN and delight.

Here Come the Mummies
Friday, October 24th, 8pm, $25
Awful Arthur’s Towers, 2229 Colonial Avenue, Roanoke, VA
Perhaps you’re feeling philanthropic this Halloween season. Check out this fun, funky and outrageous show with 15 Nashville based artists dressed in Mummy attire, including a 6 member horn section- the show cannot be missed and all profits go directly to purchasing two grand pianos for both city High Schools.

Mr. Ekshon’s Spook Show
Friday and Saturday, October 24th and 25th, 9pm, $10
Dumas Center, 108 Henry Street NW, Roanoke, VA
Bonedaddy Entertainment presents creepy conundrums and fantastical frights. Witness the bloodiest prophecy ever made! Be awed by mysterious macabre! Beware of killer clowns! Including dancing zombie girls. May not be suitable for ages 14 and under.

The Halloween Connection
Greene Memorial United Methodist Church, 402 Second Street, Roanoke, VA
Wednesday, October 29th, 8pm, FREE
Featuring a showing of the 1920 silent film “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” while Richard Cummins improvises an organ accompaniment to the famed horror film. With a guest appearance by the Greene Memorial church ghost.

Spirits of the Valley
Fleming High School’s Dickinson Auditorium, Roanoke, VA
Friday, October 31st, 7pm–9pm
This performance will be a Halloween Happening featuring dances based on the ghost stories and and history of the Roanoke Valley.

“Rocky Horror Picture Show”
Friday and Saturday, October 31st and November 1st, 10pm, $3 admission, $1.50 survival pack
Squires Commonwealth Ballroom, Squires Student Center, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA
The famous cult movie returns for Halloween showings with a live cast and audience participation. Friday night’s theme is “Storybooks and Fairy Tales.” Saturday’s theme is “Christmas Comes Early.” Audience is encouraged to come in costume.

Killer Klowns From Outer Space: Halloween Midnight Movie
Friday, October 31st, Just before Midnight
The Grandin Theatre, 1310 Grandin Road SW, Roanoke VA
Don’t be scared–yet! KILLER KLOWNS FROM OUTER SPACE will be shown in the main auditorium on Halloween night!

COSTUME CONTESTS AND HALLOWEEN PARTIES

COSTUME CONTESTS and HALLOWEEN PARTIES abound. What will you be? The most popular costume choices this year, according to ezinearticles.com, will be Batman, The Joker, Indiana Jones, and Transformers.

Collab Fest Costume Party FEATURING: The Situationist & Nancy & 2 Meteors
The Water Heater, 813 5th Street, Roanoke, VA
Wednesday, October 22nd, 7pm-10pm, $3 recommended donation
A costume party event with collaborative interactive art and works created and displayed by local subterranean artists.

Howl’oween Ball
Franklin County Y Essig Center, Rocky Mount, VA
Saturday, October 25th, 6pm–10pm, $25
With music by Smokehouse Brown and Friends, food, entertainment by Elvis impersonator and DJ Blaine Compton, dancing, a costume contest, silent auction, cash bar and more to benefit the animals at the Franklin County Human Society’s Planned Pethood Clinic and Adoption Center.

6th Annual Silver Screen Soiree: Remember the 70’s?!
The Grandin Theatre, 1310 Grandin Road SW, Roanoke VA
Saturday, October 25th, 7:30pm–9:30pm, $60-$70
Dig out your bell bottoms for a fun filled 70’s evening with music and dancing! Peace out with great food and drinks. Groovy entertainment provided by Big Lick Conspiracy. All sorts of cool items that will trip you out: fantastic original art work and hip gifts to adorn your pad. Show your love power for the art house theatre that offers you the hippest cinema experience in the region, the Grandin Theatre. Flash back to your favorite 70’s film and come in costume if you like.

Hillbilly Opry’s Haunted Halloween Dance
4929 State Park Road, Dublin, VA
Saturday, October 25th, 7:30pm–10:30pm, Admission at door
Costume contest, prizes, food and more for all ages. No smoking or drinking.

Halloween Blast
Salem Civic Center, Salem, VA
Saturday, October 25th, 8pm–1:30am, $10
With music by Burning Bridges. Ages 21 and older only.

Strange Design Halloween Bash
The Lantern, 211 Draper Road, Blacksburg VA
Thursday, October 30th, 8pm

Market Square Costume Contest
East Market Square, Downtown Roanoke, VA
Friday, October 31st, 11:30am–1:30pm, FREE

Monster Tribute Halloween Bash 2008
Friday, October 31st, 7pm–2am, $5 with costume-$8 without
Awful Arthur’s Towers, 2229 Colonial Ave SW, Roanoke, VA
Hollywood Guns (Guns N’ Roses Tribute feat. members of Red Clay River) & Sucker MC’s (Run-DMC Tribute by Illbotz)

Square Society’s Halloween Party
Blue 5, 312 2nd Street, Roanoke, VA
Friday, October 31st, 8pm
WJJS will DJ the event.

Halloween Hop
Friday, October 31st, 8pm–12am
Vinton War Memorial, Vinton, VA
Fun dance, DJ Joe Nicely, costume contest, appetizers, prizes, silent auction and cash bar. Benefits the Vinton Dogwood Festival.

FOP Costume Bash
Danville FOP Lodge, 664 Hunter Street, Danville, Virginia
Friday, October 31st, 8pm–2am, $15-$20
Proceeds from this event will benefit community organizations and Shop with a Cop

K92 Boo Bash Halloween Party
Awful Arthur’s Downtown Roanoke & Awful Arthur’s Blacksburg
Friday, October 31st, 9pm–2am, Admission at door
Party and costume contest hosted by Danny, Zack and Miss Monica.

Gillie’s Halloween Bash
Gillie’s Restaurant, 153 College Street, Blacksburg, VA
Friday, October 31st, 9:30pm–2am
Featuring the Accordion Death Squad with Rock and Roll Cannibals and a costume contest.

Boogieburg Presents “GRAVEYARD FUNK”
Friday, October 31st, 10pm, $5
Cabo Fish Taco, 117 South Main Street, Blacksburg, VA
Costume Contest, Spooky Decor & Visual Projections. 21 and up.

TRICK-OR-TREATING AND KID FUN!

TRICK-OR-TREATING and events for the kiddies! Check the dates because you can definitely trick-or-treat more than one night this year!

Marion Halloween Madness
Downtown Marion, VA
Saturday, October 25th, 11am–1pm, FREE

Zoo Boo
Mill Mountain Zoo, Roanoke, VA
Saturday, October 25th, 1pm–4pm, $4.75-$7
A “not so scary” treat at Mill Mountain Zoo, enjoy candy stations, crafts, educational animal and enrichment activities and a unique costume contest at 3pm.

2nd Annual Community Trunk or Treating
Bethany Christian Church, 3115 Fleming Avenue NE, Roanoke, VA
Saturday, October 25th, 6pm–7:30pm, FREE

Trick or Treating in Downtown Vinton
Downtown Vinton, VA
Thursday and Friday, October 30th and 31st, 2:30pm–4:45pm
Over 40 businesses handing out treats in downtown Vinton to children 12 and under. Participants should bring a bag for the goodies. Some streets closed for safety.

Halloween Safety Party
VFW Post Home, 390 N. High Street, Christiansburg, VA
Thursday, October 30th, 6pm–8pm
For children ages 12 and younger and their accompanying adults. With refreshments, trick-or-treat bags, games, prizes and Crime Dog Scruff McGruff.

Halloween Carnival
Friday, October 31st, 4pm–8pm
Blacksburg Farmers Market parking lot, Blacksburg, VA
Trick-or-treating for elementary school-aged children (4 pm to 6 pm), plus entertainment, children’s activities, an all-ages costume contest and more.

Tanglewood Trick-or-Treat
Tanglewood Mall, Roanoke, VA
Friday, October 31st, 5pm–7:30pm, FREE
This night of Halloween fun for families includes trick-or-treating with mall tenants from 5-7:30pm, games and other activities from 5-7pm, and a Costume Contest at 6:30pm.

Trunk or Treat Halloween Carnival
New Century Church, Melrose Ave. beside Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Roanoke, VA
Friday, October 31st, 5pm–8pm, FREE
A Free Event for your entire family and a Safe and Fun Place for your Kids to go on Halloween!

Carnival Candy Circus
1820 Second Street, Radford, VA
Friday, October 31st, 6pm–8:30pm, FREE
All children ages preschool-12 are invited and must be accompanied by an adult. Admission, candy, food, drinks, carnival games and inflatable games are all free.

Safe Treat
Pheasant Ridge Assisted Living Community, 4435 Pheasant Ridge Road, Roanoke, VA
Friday, October 31st, 6pm–7:30pm, FREE

2nd Annual Holyween
Grace Baptist Church, 337 Lakeview Drive, Madison Heights, VA
Friday, October 31st, 6:30pm–8pm, FREE
For your children ages 5th grade and under, an exciting night of carnival games, luscious cotton candy, fun hayrides, and candy galore!

HAUNTED GETAWAYS!

Or maybe you want to get away for a HAUNTED WEEKEND with the whole family.

Halloween Spooktacular
Wintergreen Resort, Wintergreen, VA
October 24th thru October 26th
3 full days of Halloween activities featuring a haunted house and ghost express chairlift rides, mask-making workshops for kids, pumpkin carving workshops, kids’ Halloween party and more.

Have a HAPPY HALLOWEEN everyone!
Your friends at myScoper.com