Ghoulish Fun and Frolic

originally published October 24, 2007

For Families

COMMON GROUND HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL

Celebrate Halloween with Common Ground Athens and find out more about local activist groups affiliated with the resource center. Pumpkin carving contest (bring your own), costume contest, haunted house, food, doorprizes and more! Bring a favorite fall dish to share. Common Ground Athens on Sunday, Oct. 28 at 4:30 p.m. FREE! 706-548-6011.

HAUNTED HOUSE

Rocksprings Park Haunted House with a tour of fright through a cemetery, a demon's lair, a forest and more! Pool house at Rocksprings Park on Oct. 25–26, 29–30, 6:30–8 p.m. $2 for 8 and older, $1 per child 7 and younger. 706-613-3603.

JACK-O-LANTERN JOG

Four-mile race, One-mile Goblin Fun Run, costume contest (ages 10 and under), lots of goodies for entrants, and awards for winners. Sandy Creek Nature Center on Sunday, Oct. 28. Cost: $10– $20. Register online at www.active.com. For more info, call 706-613-3615.

"ONE SPOOKY NIGHT"

The Library hosts an evening of spooky fun for the kids. Trick or Treating (non-food treats) and more. Come in costume! Adult caregiver must be present. For all ages. ACC Library on Wednesday, Oct. 24, 6:30–8:30 p.m. Halloween stories at 7 p.m. FREE! 706-613-3650.

PUMPKIN CARVING

Annual Pumpkin Carving Workshop for children ages 12 and younger. Pumpkins and tools provided. Sandy Creek Park on Thursday, Oct. 25, 4:30–5:30 p.m. Cost: $5. Pre-registration required, 706-613-3631.

SPOOKY STORY CONTEST

Writers ages 6–16 are invited to unleash their inner Edgar Allan Poe in a competitive writing contest. Prizes for the top two finishers. Stories due by Friday, Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. Turn in at the Broadacres Community Center, 706-613-3600; Parkview Community Center, 706-613-3601; or Rocksprings Community Center, 706-613-3602.

TRIP TO THE PUMPKIN PATCH

Children ages 6–12 enjoy a visit to Washington Farms to select the perfect pumpkin for a Jack-O-Lantern. Parkview Community Center on Wednesday, Oct. 24; 706-613-3601. Rocksprings Community Center on Friday, Oct. 26; 706-613-3602. Each date is from 4–5:30 p.m. $2–$5 dependent on the size pumpkin selected. Space is very limited.

TEEN SCARY MOVIE NIGHT

Teens aged 11–18 are invited to Scary Movie Night. Showing When a Stranger Calls, snacks and beverages provided. Also, announcing the winner of the "I've Created a Monster" art contest. Oconee County Library on Monday, Oct. 29, 7–9 p.m. FREE! 706-769-3950.

TYCHE'S GAMES

Halloween Horror Game Demo Night on Friday, Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. FREE! 1056 S. Lumpkin St., 706-354-4500, www.tychesgames.com.

For the Adult in You

BOOBUTANTE BALL

The 7th annual BOObutante Ball: A Benefit for the Boybutante AIDS Foundation, Inc. Event includes performances by local bands, Boybutante Divas Drag Show and Costume Contest. Tasty World on Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 9 p.m. $5 for 21 & up; $7 for 18–20. For more info, call 706-227-3530 or visit www.boybutante.org.

GHOULS GONE WILD!

A scary performance by Effie's Club Follies burlesque troupe. Live music by Packway Handle Band and Bling the Children Back Home. Costume contest! Georgia Theatre on Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 9 p.m. Cost: $10. www.effiesclubfollies.com.

MR. BLANK'S CARNIVALE OF BLACK HEARTS

Mr. Blank & The KinetiCorpse, Bugg the Rabblerouser, The Damnesia Carnies, Sadistic Scenic City Sideshow, The Amazing Musical Rat Babies, Shitty Candy & The Circus Peanuts, Smokestack & the Foothill Fury, Effie's Club Follies, Chop Top, Black Daniels, The Black Heart Aerials, The World's Tiniest Queer Circus, and carnivale games and prizes. Tasty World on Oct 27. Also, pumpkin carving contest that night, see below. www.carnivaleofblackhearts.com.

PUMPKIN CARVING CONTEST

Mr. Blank's next Carnivale of Black Hearts show will be hosting a pumpkin carving contest. Carve a pumpkin (any size and design) and bring it to Tasty World on Saturday, Oct. 27, 6–8 p.m. Pumpkins will be on display at Tasty World until 2 a.m. on Oct. 28. Prize may be anything from cash to gift certificates from local businesses. Winners will be notified after the show and posted on www.carnivaleofblackhearts.com.

Halloween

Wednesday, October 31 -- Downtown Athens

originally published October 24, 2007

Think Halloween is scary for you? Imagine what it's like for a bartender. A row of fiends staring you down, bloodlust and desperation in their eyes… and they're wearing frightening costumes, too! ("Wackity-schmackity-doo… ") But if I may be serious for a moment here, folks, Halloween finds itself particularly inspired in Athens, and downtown is awash with folks doing alternately totally great or completely awful things, all with the convenience of mandated disguise. You're likely to find a few spooky things going on the Friday and Saturday before Halloween, but the real deal's on the real date: Wednesday, Oct. 31.

Due to the downtown area's separation from the safer, family-oriented outer 'burbs of Athens, the boundaries of good taste, at least when it comes to costuming, are rendered entirely malleable. Sure, for your average co-ed, there's the old standby of "Sexy [Whatever]." But it seems that for every two traditional Universal monster-movie characters on any given patch of sidewalk, there's one completely bad-ass, homemade work of art that blows your mind. Who could forget the Unabomber who wandered around Athens for hours on end - by himself? And who could forget seeing a life-size Katamari Damacy dude strolling out of the 40 Watt Club a few years back? Remember, originality is the word, so with all due respect, I would like to formally request the retirement of Team Zissou. Please?

Speaking personally, this will be my fifth year celebrating Halloween in downtown Athens and I wouldn't have it any other way. It bowled me over the first year and hasn't disappointed since. As for advice, who you take candy from is your business, but please, over-tip your bartenders. You are scaring the shit out of them.

Numerous Halloween parties and costume contests for adults take place all over Athens on All Hallows Eve, check out ads from your favorite night spots in this issue to find out where you want to show off you creativity (or bad taste, you decide) on Halloween and maybe win some prizes!

Jeff Tobias