Charlotte, NC

Wanna have some safe Halloween fun on Wednesday? No need to go batty; these things spook for themselves! So don’t be so grave about it — they’re all “clean” (no bier or other rotten stuff). So, after goblin your supper, head on down to one of these! And, if you’ve got a cold (like the Relic’s been fighting) just take something to control your coffin and check these out:

First, there’s the Haunted Mill, at 6325 Wilkinson Blvd. in Belmont. Now in its eighth year, this walk through the “darkside” is definitely not for the faint-of-heart! You have hardcore scares, the Mirror Maze, the Dark Maze and the not-so-romantic Tunnel of Torture. Now, if it’s a little too scary for you, there’s also a blacklight mini-golf course and a horror museum. Bloody good fun, no matter how you slice it. The Mill runs nightly through Wednesday. Tickets are $14 for the Haunted Mill, $7 for mini-golf, $3 for their museum, while combo tickets are $19. And you get discounts for ages 9 and younger (if they’re impressionable, just proceed to the mini-golf. Trust me.).

Another really ghoul idea is to take the Rosedale Grounds Ghost Tour at the Historic Rosedale Plantation. You’ll hear spine-tingling tales about ghostly events that folks have had at the former plantation, where those long-since-dead once worked, played, lived … and died. Don’t be afraid … it’s only an hour long: from 6-7 p.m. and 7-8 p.m. Wednesday. The Plantation’s located at 3427 N. Tryon St., and the tour is only $5.00!

Of course, the traditional “trick-or-treat” posses will be out, dressed as witches, goblins, and all sorts of characters and waiting for the candies to be dropped into their little buckets. Now, while some businesses, like shopping centers and malls, will have a time and place for these little rascals to collect, a few parents might opt to let their kids go “door-to-door”. With that being said, PLEASE read the following CAREFULLY:

GO WITH YOUR CHILDREN TO SUPERVISE AND, ESPECIALLY, MAKE SURE THEY’RE SAFE! If you can’t make it, please send an adult whom you trust completely to go with them.
KNOW YOUR CHILDREN’S ROUTE TO THE LAST STEP! Don’t send them into unfamiliar territory! If they go, it should be ONLY to the residences you know personally and are friendly with!
GIVE THE OLDEST ONE OF THE BUNCH YOUR CELL PHONE, with directions on calling you with updates — or 9-1-1 if there’s anything suspicious!
ONCE THEY’RE HOME, CHECK ALL GOODIES, WHETHER WRAPPED OR UNWRAPPED! It doesn’t matter if it’s a simple tangerine or apple. If it looks suspicious, make a note of it, where they got it, then throw it away! They won’t go by that house again next year …With a little “prior preparation,” you can “prevent problem points” before they occur.

Oh … one more thing: Teens, if you see little guys out there canvassing the ‘hood for candy, give ‘em the right-of-way, okay? C’mon … it won’t hold you back but just a couple of minutes! Let the kids have their fun!

With all that in mind, have a safe and happy Halloween, Charlotte!