sugar skull: Chris Nickels

Against a backdrop of relatively cooler temperatures and the sudden appearance of persimmons, pumpkins and hurricane updates, autumn unfolds in “America’s Most Haunted City” a bit differently than in its Northern counterparts. Most of the city’s trees don’t shift into a glorious mélange of color, but as shadows grow longer and the cerulean skies darken, Savannah takes on a delightfully ominous tone for this most haunted of holidays beneath a backdrop of looming Victorian mansions and gas lamps flickering somberly upon brick and cobblestone. South has the inside scream–I mean scoop–on the best haunted events of 2012

Tricks: Adult-themed Festivities

Ghost Tours & Celebrations

“Hag Hunt” Guided Ghost Investigations
Time: Varies
October 1 – 31
$100 per person; Adults 21 and over
Dare to tackle the only thing in parapsychology that can follow you home: the dreaded night hag. Not your average haunted tour, Blue Orb sponsors regularly scheduled paranormal ghost investigations for the seriously adventurous, replete with the latest paranormal investigative equipment. Limited to 14 guests per investigation. Blueorbtours.com, 912.665.4258

Halloween Bash at The Jinx
127 West Congress Street
October 27 & 31 @ 10 p.m.
Join The Jinx for its ninth annual blood–wrestling competition on October 27; this year’s theme is Big Trouble in Little China. Patrons are encouraged to bedeck themselves in attire appropriate to the movie; Geoff Johnson’s photo booth will be available at a nominal charge. On October 31, come in your favorite costume for Halloween Band Tribute Night accompanied by the terrorizing tunes of unusual band hybrids. Past acts have included members of Niche, Hot Pink Interior, Lonesome Swagger and Damon & the Sh*tkickers performing their own renditions of Joy Division, Johnny Cash, The Cramps and Cheap Trick. facebook.com/pages/The-Jinx-Savannah-Events

Haunted Houses
Alee Terror Plantation
Alee Temple, Skidaway Road
October 12, 13; 19, 20; 26, 27; 29 – 31
$8 Adult; $6 Children under 12
The Shriner’s annual terror plantation features zombie brides and a chainsaw-wielding maniac with one intent: to scare you silly. This year’s theme focuses on zombies; expect to see all manner of the living undead garbed in gore. Facebook.com/aleeterrorplantation or contact 355-2422

Undead Cemetery Haunt
140 Brittany Lane, Guyton Georgia
October 31, 7 – 10 p.m.
Food Drive: Proceeds go to FORCE
For the past eight years, Keith and Martie Tompkin have turned their home into a Halloween tradition to celebrate spooky antics with fog machines, strobe lights, black lights and lots of undead volunteers. A walk-through maze features eight themed “scare zones” designed to scare and startle. Theundeadcemetery.blogspot.com

Treats: Fun and Frolic for the Family

Haunted Trail and Fall-O-Ween Festival
Skidaway Island State Park
October 25 – 27; 7:30 – 9 p.m.
$5 per person, $2 per child, $5 parking fee
To commemorate Halloween each year, Skidaway Island State Park sponsors Fall-O-Ween, a festival featuring a walk along a haunted trail, kid’s crafts, a pumpkin decorating contest, hayrides and trick-or-treating, all amid the backdrop of the sate park. Trick or treating throughout the campground is from 4 to 5 p.m. Gastateparks.com/SkidawayIsland, or contact 912-598-2300

Norwood Stables Annual Halloween Bash
2304 A Norwood Avenue
October 27; 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Norwood Stables’ annual Halloween celebration is highlighted by a parade of costumed horses and is open to the public. Other events include pony rides, hot dogs, kid’s costumes, treats and a petting zoo.
Norwoodstables.com, or contact 356-1387

Tricks, Treats & Trains at the Georgia State Railroad Museum
October 27, 10 a.m. to noon
$10 per child/adult; CHS member adults free
Come in costume and celebrate Halloween at the Georgia State Railroad Museum with pumpkin carvings, goody bags, activities and train rides and, of course, trick-or-treating. (912) 651-6823 x3 or info@chsgeorgia.org

Pet Fun

Savannah PAWrade
Jacob G. Smith Elementary School
October 27, a.m. to 3 p.m.
$8 pre-registration
Benefitting Jacob Smith Elementary School and local pet agencies, this annual pet parade and contest awards prizes for the best-costumed pets, which include free pet food for a year and gift certificates. The PAWrade also includes food, music and a children’s carnival, as well as a microchipping and vaccine clinic at reduced costs. Savannahpawrade.com

Mazes and Pumpkin Patches

Poppell Farms 12th Annual Corn Maze and Haunted Forest
Poppell Farms, Odum Georgia
Through Sunday, November 4
Featuring cow train rides, hayrides, steer roping and a petting zoo with ponies, llamas and donkeys, Poppell Farms offers up a festive celebration for kids of all ages. Picnic areas are available for use, as well as concession foods for purchase. Poppelfarms.com, or contact Tanya Poppell at 912.586.2215

Ottawa Farms Corn Maze
Bloomingdale, Georgia
Through November
$8 admission
Hayrides, inflatables and a 10-acre corn maze—this year’s design in the shape of a steam locomotive to commemorate the Ottawa Station depot that was previously located just across from the farm. Cow train rides, pig races and a corn cannon complete the scene. Ottawafarms.com

Boone Hall Plantation Pumpkin Patch
September 30 – October 31
$8 per person Monday, Wednesday; $10 Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Children under 2 admitted free
Featuring hay mountains, corn mazes, giant slide towers, spider webs made of rope and pumpkins by the pound, Boone Hall Plantation sponsors this annual autumn celebration for kids of all ages in the South. Wander their eight-acre interactive corn maze or take a hayride down “Monster Alley”, a kid-friendly excursion through the woods in pursuit of friendlier foes. Boonehallpumpkinpatch.com

Savannah’s Designated Halloween City Celebration Date
The city of Savannah takes a hands-off approach to when Halloween is celebrated with one exception: when the event falls on a Sunday, as it did in 2011. Because of conflicts with religious observations, the city elected last year to join the county’s consensus and formally announce celebrations for the Monday following, which caused a small amount of fuss. Bret Bell, Savannah’s public information director, advises that the city prefers to leave Halloween events up to Savannah residents, and does not announce an official date unless asked to rule on it. As Halloween falls on Wednesday this year, no official designation will be announced, and individuals—including neighborhoods and areas—are free to choose when to celebrate.