Halloween events
Howl-O-Ween Doggie Costume Contest, Gainesville. 6 p.m. today, Laurel Bark Park, Laurel Park, 3100 Old Cleveland Highway, Gainesville. $5 per dog; $8 for two dogs. 770-535-8280.
Spooktacular, Gainesville. Costume contest. 9 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday-Saturday, Pier 29 on Lanier, Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville. $5.
The Piedmont College Haunted Museum, Demorest. Special tours for younger visitors and kid-friendly activities; adult tours. 8-11 p.m. Friday, Getman-Babcock residence hall, Piedmont College, 165 Central Ave., Demorest. 706-768-2400.
Family Fun Festival, Braselton. Hayride, carnival games, gospel music, outdoor movie. Bring blankets or chairs. 5-7:30 p.m. Oct. 30, Christian Life Center, 8383 Ga. 53, Braselton. Free; some food costs. 678-947-1685.
Trunk or Treat, Murrayville. Games, food and candy. 6-9 p.m. Oct. 30, Murrayville Congregational Holiness Church, Ga. 60 across from Yellow Creek Road, Murrayville. Free. 770-718-9886 or 706-892-5928.
Fall Fest, Gainesville. Trunk ‘n treat, games, food, costume contest, pony rides, cake walks and live music. 5-7 p.m. Oct. 31, Redwine United Methodist Church, 3285 Poplar Springs Road, Gainesville. 770-536-5164.
Guided walking ghost tours, Flowery Branch. Through Nov. Friday-Sunday nights, times flexible. Downtown Flowery Branch. Six person minimum; call for reservations. $10 adults, $8 children and senior citizens. E-mail info@fifthrowcenter.com.
Haunted Nights of Lights, Buford. Animated Halloween lights, haunted maze, pony rides, pumpkins, carnival rides, marshmallow roast and shopping. 7-11 p.m. nightly through Oct. 31, Lake Lanier Islands Resort, 7000 Holiday Road, Buford. $20 per car Monday-Thursday, $25 per car Friday-Sunday.
Haunted Laser Tag, Gainesville. 7 p.m. Friday-Oct. 31, Funtastik! Family Entertainment Center, 2317 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville. $10. For ages 11 and older. 770-536-5563.
Trick or Treat on the Square, Gainesville. Children can trick or treat at downtown businesses. The center of the square will feature music, face painting, a train ride and a bouncy inflatable. 3-5 p.m. Friday, Gainesville's downtown square.
The Fresh Green Market and Festival, Dawsonville. Master gardener projects for kids, Trick-or-treating booth, in-season produce and honey, recycling and used electronics donation area. 4-7 p.m. today, Tractor Supply, 6921 Dawsonville Highway, Dawsonville. 770-887-0051.
If spine-tingling, goose-bump inducing ghost stories are your cup of tea, then you'll probably want to head over to the Northeast Georgia History Center Friday or Saturday.
This weekend, the center will be hosting its seventh annual Ghost Walk.
"The tour will feature old legends as well as newly discovered ones," said Julie Carson, history center education and volunteer coordinator.
Tour guides will lead groups from the center on 322 Academy St. in Gainesville to each of seven story-telling stations where they will learn about the area's paranormal history. The tours will leave every 20 minutes - rain or shine - between 6 and 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
This year, the walks will include representatives from the Southeastern Institute for Paranormal Research, or SIPR.
Several SIPR were featured on an episode of the Food Network's Ace of Cakes, when they investigated paranormal activity at Charm City Cakes in Baltimore.
One of the ghost stories that participants will hear involves the enigmatic Dr. Hilbert Black Tingley. Tingley's tale started with a surprise discovery of his New York death certificate in a box of papers at the history center.
According to Kathy Amos, director of the Brenau University Learning and Leisure Institute who helped compile the stories, Tingley's story is both "eerie and fascinating."
Because the stories include walking and standing for almost two hours, organizers say the Ghost Walk isn't recommended for participants with mobility issues.
And because some of the stories may be more frightening than others, the tour isn't recommended for children younger than 10.
Groups are limited to 20 to 25 participants each, so center staff strongly encourage advance reservations. To save your spot, and to buy the $10 tickets in advance, call 770-297-5900.