‘Tis the season for spooks! Whether you’re looking for tricks, treats, or just some good chills, our city has Halloween celebrations for all ages!
Check out these 14 spooky spots around town.
1. Tombstones at Twilight
October 8-29
As the sun sets and darkness falls, walk among the final resting places of thousands of Murfreesboro’s citizens at Oaklands Mansion. Hear their stories and learn about Murfreesboro’s unique past! This exclusive tour offers the visitor a rare opportunity to learn about the history of Murfreesboro while experiencing the Evergreen Cemetery after dark on Fridays in October from 7-8 p.m.
2. War of the Worlds
October 14, 6 p.m.
Bloom Stage will present an experiential event and immersive theatrical production of Orson Welles' original 1938 broadcast of The War of the Worlds in conjunction with the Tennessee STEAM Festival. Join them at Walnut House as they recreate and record this broadcast before a live and participatory audience, with related exhibits and activities. Featuring Taylor Gentry in the infamous role performed by Orson Welles that launched a nation into panic!
3. Haunting on Front Street
October 15 & 16, 6-9 p.m.
Take a 30-minute walking lantern tour down Smyrna’s Front Street to view historic Depot District buildings and learn a spooky tale at each stop. Live Animal Shows at the Train Depot Stage: 6:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. This is an outdoor event and is cancelled if inclement weather. Cost: $3 per person. 5 years & younger will be Free of Charge. Food Vendors Include: Grady's Classic Concessions Food Truck, Janarty's Ice Cream, & Carpe Café.
4. Sam Davis Home Ghost Tours
October 15-23
Come for an evening of spooky fun for the whole family. Start your Ghost Tour with our hayride through the fields, then visit the historic house for a candlelit tour to hear of the ghostly encounters that have taken place in this home that is said to be one of the most haunted places in Tennessee. Bring your flashlight and dress for outdoor weather. Some yummy treats will be available for purchase and the Gift Shop will be open.
5. Mourning at the Mansion
October 19-29
Visit Oaklands Mansion from Oct. 19-29 and experience macabre traditions surrounding death in Murfreesboro in the 19th century. The lights are low, mirrors are draped in somber black fabric, and a coffin stands quietly in the parlor awaiting grieving mourners. You can almost hear a funeral dirge playing faintly in the distance! Self-guided experiences are offered during museum hours, Tuesdays through Fridays, to small groups of 20 guests or fewer. The mansion is open on the hour at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m.and 3 p.m. each day.
6. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow
October 20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Have you heard … “This sequestered glen has long been known by the name of Sleepy Hollow”?
Come to the Smyrna Outdoor Adventure Center to learn more about the headless horseman and his eerie fable at Sleepy Hollow. Practice your own ghostly story to share with others at this program!
7. Smyrna Halloween in the Park
October 23, 3-8 p.m.
Smyrna Parks and Recreation present Halloween in the Park 2021at Sharp Springs Natural Area with games, a costume contest, $2 corn maze, inflatables, $1 hay ride, food vendors, and over 80 booths. This is a free event, while there is a fee for additional activities. All Ages Welcome. Contact 615-459-9773 for more information.
8. La Vergne Goblins and Goodies at the Park
October 23, 1-3 p.m.
Come for a fun, safe environment for trick-or-treating at Veterans Memorial Park! Enjoy meeting hosts from area businesses at the booths and getting some sweets!
9. Inaugural Ghost Tours of Oaklands Mansion
October 23, 7-10 p.m.
Some say that Oaklands Mansion is one of the most haunted houses in middle Tennessee. Come for a visit and experience the first ghost tours ever offered of Rutherford county Tennessee’s most famous historic mansion! Walk the dimly lit halls as guides regale you with haunting tales of eerie bumps in the night and experience macabre traditions surrounding death in the 19th century. The lights are low, mirrors draped in black; a coffin sits quietly in the parlors awaiting grieving mourners. These exclusive experiences are offered on the evening of October 23, to small groups of 20 guests. Tours are on the hour from 7:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. Admission is $25 for adults and students ages 12 & up. This event is not recommended for small children.
10. MTSU College Panhellenic's Annual Trick or Treat on Greek Row
October 27, 5-7 p.m.
Ages 12 and under can enjoy trick-or-treating at MTSU’s Greek Row. Costumes are optional.
Free parking in the Rutherford Lot across the street from Greek Row on Rutherford Blvd.
11. Great Pumpkin Festival
October 28, 4-7 p.m.
Put on your Halloween costume and come to Discovery Center at Murfree Spring for outdoor family fun at the Great Pumpkin Festival! Enjoy a costume contest, a not-so-haunted walk-through experience, and more. With plenty of space for social distancing on our large outdoor patio and wetlands, families can enjoy hands-on activities, crafts, and critter encounters.
12. Spooktacular Toddler Halloween Party at PCC
October 28, 10 a.m.
Bring your toddler(s) for a spooktacular time at Patterson Park Community Center. There will be a parade, spooky pokey dance, candy, carnival style games, superhero obstacle course, prize drawings and costume contest. Admission is free with a canned food donation. Call 615-893-7439 for more information.
13. Family Night at the Museum: Victorian Halloween
October 29, 6:30 p.m.
Come to the Sam Davis Home for a “spooky” Night at the Museum. Learn and play some traditional Victorian parlor games, take a dimly lit tour of the historic house, and finish the evening by making a craft to take home. Halloween costumes encouraged!
14. Wild Rumpus
October 29, 5:30 p.m.
Where are the wild things? Dress up (non-scary costumes please) for a night of frolicking under the open sky! We will have a live animal program around the campfire, bat and snake crafts, a campfire with s'mores, self-led themed trail hikes, make your own trail-mix, hot chocolate and cider, sensory activities and more! This program is geared towards ages 2-10, accompanied by an adult. $3/person (includes adults), with a max of $10/family. Register by emailing hmeyer@murfreesborotn.gov or call 615-217-3017.
Laura Beth Payne is a writer and homeschool mama who lives in the Blackman community with her husband and two bouncy kiddos. Follow her at @murfreesboromama on Facebook and Instagram.