As soon as the clock strikes October, consider it officially “Halloween season.” Though Halloween won’t officially begin until the last day of the month, there are plenty of Tennesseans who insist on celebrating all month long—and that’s completely OK! If you want to create an unforgettable experience this year, start the party with these 9 must-do activities for the ultimate Halloween in Tennessee.
This Gatlinburg tradition is the premiere place to start your Halloween sugar rush. They’ve got all your classic favorites in stock, along with special Halloween candies like handcrafted creme pumpkins and candy corn, gummy pumpkins and bats, and pumpkin spice taffy. Careful though—one taste of these decadent sweets and you may never reach for a bag of store-bought chocolate again.
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It just isn’t Halloween without a trip to a haunted house, and FrightWorks might just keep you up overnight. Touted as one of the spookiest, most original haunted houses in the state, you’re in for the fright of your life.
Don your favorite costume and experience Halloween from some of the best bar parties in the city. This mid-day event takes you to some of Nashville’s best bars, complete with special potions, giveaways, games, and best of all, ghost stories.
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Looking for a truly frightening ensemble? Want to be the Belle of the Ball? Hoping for a costume that doesn’t look like it came from your local big box store? Pay a visit to Mr. Lincoln’s. Here you can get a unique costume and all the fixings to create whatever look you choose. From masks to makeup and more, it’s the perfect place to create a brand new version of yourself.
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If you don’t put much stock into ghosts, a trip to Wheatlands Plantation might make you a believer. More than 70 people have been murdered in the house. The site has seen two war battles, and it’s said that 28 Cherokees were killed near the creek that runs adjacent to the property. With this kind of gruesome history, it’s no wonder dozens of people have reported ghost sightings and other eerie occurrences.
It just isn’t Halloween without a paranormal encounter, and a ghost tour in Knoxville might be your best chance. Here you take your pick of adventures that take you to some of the city’s most famous haunted spots, including sites within the famed Market District that hold an unknowingly grim history.
The Chattanooga Ghost Tour company offers much more than your typical ghost tour. When you embark on their Ultimate Ghost Hunt, you become part of the paranormal investigation, using the same sophisticated equipment as the pros on TV to track down spirits and capture the proof.
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If you’ve never experienced the beauty and serenity of the underground Ruby Falls, there’s no better time than Halloween. That is, if you can survive Dread Hollow, the terrifying attraction full of special effects and horrors that make this spot one of the scariest in the state.
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Part of the spooktacular action of Miller’s Thrillers, this epic hayride gives you a chance to hone your zombie apocalypse survival skills as you pummel the undead with paintball rounds. If you protect the city, you’ll be a hero. But if you miss your targets, you might just be their next meal!
