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A survey of Halloween

Posted on October 30, 2010October 30, 2010 by Staff

Maybe someday the grownups will squeeze all the fun out of Halloween; but until then, all you freaks (preferably of local origin) are hereby invited to cram into downtown Chapel Hill on Sunday evening Oct. 31 to gawk at each other and make some noise.

The official rules – some of them, anyway – are listed below; but in general, don’t bring a big stick or a broadsword and be polite to the people dressed up as law-enforcement officers.

If you’re looking for some Halloween fun but aren’t into making the trek down to Franklin Street, there is plenty to do closer to home. Following are some of the highlights from the weekend’s events:

Carrboro
The Youth Performing Arts Conservatory is hosting the 2nd annual Fright Night for teens at The ArtsCenter on Saturday from 8 p.m. to midnight.

The evening features teen bands The Verge and About Gravity along with a DJ and dance party, a creepy café, a photo booth and classic horror movies all night. Tickets are $5 in advance or $6 day of the shindig.
On Sunday night at the Carrboro Century Center, there’ll be a showing of the 1922 horror classic Nosferatu with an accompanying original score by the band Vamplifire, which includes Peter Estep on piano, Billy Sugarfix on Theremin, Wendy Spitzer on oboe and David Morris on tuba.

Chapel Hill
Now remember, it’s like when we beat Duke or win the East Regional, so behave yourselves and don’t set anything on fire.

Since reaching a peak at 80,000 partiers in 2007, the town has moved to make this a more “homegrown” event. At the same time, it’s Halloween in a town with 20,000-plus people between the ages of 18 and 22. The result is a curious mix of accommodation and restriction aimed mainly at making it difficult to get a vehicle downtown and then damn impossible to park it.

For a complete rundown, visit townofchapelhill.org/index.aspx?page=512. Following are a few salient points:
• This year, the town’s official policy is go home early. Really. Police plan to reopen Franklin Street at midnight;
• Lane and street closures into downtown start at 7 p.m. and downtown streets will be closed to traffic at 9 p.m.;
• Vehicles parked on streets to be closed will be towed beginning at 6 p.m.; and
• No shuttle buses, but Safe Ride routes will operate for students;

This is the official list of what you can’t bring: “Alcoholic Beverages, Weapons, Glass Bottles, Paint, Fireworks and Explosives, Flammable Substances, Animals, Coolers, Items, even as part of a costume, which can be used as weapons or could reasonably be mistaken as weapons will be confiscated. This includes items made of wood, metal, cardboard or hard plastic.” Sorry, Darth.

Hillsborough
Friday night features the Spirits of Hillsborough Halloween Tours through the town’s haunted historic district; the annual Spooktacular for kids at the Central Recreation Center; the arrival of “Vlad the Impaler,” a mysterious black cat at the Hillsborough Presbyterian Church; the Haunted Hallways of Coldwell Banker HPW on West King Street; a talk and signing with Dan Gordon, co-author of Field of Screams: Haunted Tales from the Baseball Diamond, the Locker Room, and Beyond at the Masonic Lodge; and a showing of Nosferatu with accompanying music by Vamplifire.

On Sunday, it’s the 2nd annual Halloween Bash at The Myers House with Halloween memorabilia giveaways, costume contests, a carved-pumpkin contest and outdoor showings of Judith, Halloween and Trick ‘r Treat. Bring your own lawn chairs, blankets and a flashlight.

Visit historichillsborough.org/content/halloween-happenings-hillsborough for details

Chatham County
Pumpkinfest – intricately carved jack-o-lanterns – will be on display in the Fearrington Village Center from Friday to Sunday. Kid’s Night on Friday night features live bluegrass music, a visit by belties and Tennessee fainting goats and Spooky Story Time at McIntyre’s Books.

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