A stroll through the stores tells me it's finally the holidays after an exceptionally long year: Christmas trees sparkle behind Halloween ghouls, and pumpkins are just... everywhere. While social-distancing and COVID concerns will still shape our community's festivities, there's no doubt that there's still plenty of fun to have come the mysterious and magical week of Halloween.
Whether your crew loves a trunk-or-treat, a costume contest, or just a good spook, check out these 13 fun Halloween Haunts for families coming up!
1. Light in the Night Trunk or Treat
Family Worship Center
5 p.m., October 31
FREE
facebook.com/fwcmurfreesboro
2. Trinity UMC Drive-Thru Trunk or Treat
Trinity UMC
1-3 p.m., October 31
FREE
facebook.com/TrinityUMCBoro
3. Sam Davis Home Ghost Tours
Historic Sam Davis Home
6 p.m., October 16, 17, 23, 24
Regular admission rates apply
facebook.com/SamDavisHome
4. Flashlight Nights in Oaklands Mansion
Oaklands Mansion
7 and 9 p.m., October 17, 24, 30, 31 (register for times)
$15 ages 12+; $10 ages 6-11
https://bit.ly/37ctc10
5. Drive-Thru Trunk or Treat
Smyrna-TN First United Methodist Church
5-7 p.m., October 25
FREE
https://bit.ly/2SVlVKN
6. Goblins and Goodies at the Park
Veteran Memorial Park, La Vergne
1-3 p.m., October 24
FREE
https://bit.ly/33ZKf4u
7. Cars and Coffins: Trunk or Treat
Flashback Arcade
5-9 p.m., October 31
FREE
https://bit.ly/317rDxB
8. Trunk or Treat
Lighthouse Family Church
2-5 p.m., October 24
FREE
https://bit.ly/3dvQTCq
9. Trunk or Treat
Rover Baptist Church, Eagleville
3 p.m., October 18
FREE
https://bit.ly/344EWRn
10. Fall Fest
Springhouse Worship and Arts Center
6-9 p.m., October 31
FREE
https://bit.ly/3dtjHf4
11. Toddler Halloween Party
Patterson Park Community Center
10 p.m.-midnight, October 29
FREE for ages 2-5
https://bit.ly/31t7i6b
12. Great Pumpkin Festival
Outdoors at Discovery Center at Murfree Spring
4-7 p.m., Thursday, October 29
$4 (FREE for members)
https://explorethedc.org/pumpkinfest/
13. Sharp Screams Haunted Trail
Sharp Springs Park
5-10 p.m., October 23 and 24
$5
https://bit.ly/2H3CWQ9
Know of another great Halloween event that everyone and their kids should know about? Please share a link below!
Laura Beth Payne is a writer mama and Murfreesboro native who lives in the Blackman community with her husband and two children. Follow her at @murfreesboromama on Facebook and Instagram. Got a column idea? Email her at laurabethpayne@gmail.com.