Halloween in Nashville: Choose your own adventure
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Ghosts and pumpkins are popping up in front lawns in Old Hickory, Richland-West End and Inglewood, and autumnal celebrations are spiking in every direction.
The big picture: Nashville offers something for every style of Halloweener this year, and we want to help our readers choose their own adventures.
😱 Cinephiles: The Belcourt's annual 12 Hours of Terror this weekend is sold out, but the indie theater's Shocktober series launches next week, with classic selections like "Poltergeist," "The Omen" and "Corpse Bride" playing through the end of the month.
- If you missed seeing "Sinners" in theaters earlier this year, it will make a big-screen comeback on Oct. 27.
🧑🧑🧒🧒 Family outings: Boo at the Zoo, the ultimate tradition for animal lovers of all ages, starts Friday and runs through Nov. 1. There are trick-or-treating stations, costume parades and nightly animal shows.
- The Light the Nations celebration on Saturday will feature live music, food trucks and local artisans. The Nations will keep the party going Sunday with Southern Grist's free, family-friendly Fall Fest.
- Goblins and Goodies is expected to draw thousands to Veterans Memorial Park in La Vergne on Oct. 25 for "zombie dances" and trick-or-treating along a hiking trail.
- Dress up your dogs at Cheekwood's Halloween Pooch Party Oct. 25-26.
🫀 Adrenaline junkies: The brave among us could try Nashville Nightmare in Madison, which is billed as the city's biggest haunted house.
- If you're eager to see a werewolf running a 5K, the Spooky Sprint Saturday at Two Rivers Park is your best bet. Running from monsters could help you reach a personal best.
📚 History buffs: The Tennessee State Museum is hosting its free Haunted Museum storytelling festival Oct. 25.
- The Hermitage offers lantern-lit ghost tours that recount creepy stories throughout Andrew Jackson's historic estate.
🍽️ Foodies: Michael Myers is returning to Schulman's Neighborhood Bar in East Nashville starting Oct. 23. The bar will be transformed into a world based on the scary movie "Halloween," with themed cocktails.
- The Hidden Bar at Noelle is also hosting a pop-up. "Oath and Fang" features crimson cocktails served in blood bags. The menu includes savory roasted bone marrow and vampire-proof garlic dip with veggies.
🙀 Scaredy cats: Skip the scares and enjoy a candlelit concert at The Parthenon, where a string quartet will perform classic songs like "Thriller" and "Ghostbusters."
- Tickets for the Oct. 24-25 shows are selling fast.