The pumpkins are plump and a few local farms are in full fall celebration mode:
Batey Farms Corn Maze
The folks at Batey Farms have opened a pumpkin patch and corn maze at their Wilkinson Pike location. The 14-acre corn maze (the state’s largest, they say) pays tribute to Charlotte’s Web. Festivities also include a hay tower, hay rides and fire sites available to rent. Hours of operation are 4–11 p.m. on Fridays, 10 a.m.–11 p.m. on Saturdays and 1–8 p.m. on Sundays. The site is located just off of Medical Center Parkway behind the Chamber of Commerce building. For more information, visit bateyfarms.com.
Walden Farm
Walden Farm (8653 Rocky Fork Rd., Smyrna) has plenty of pumpkins available for picking and purchase, along with gourds, Indian corn and other fall harvest items. Walden offers hayrides and treats such as pumpkin fudge, roasted pumpkin seeds, funnel cakes and more. There will be crafts, a corn maze, a hay mountain, a 40-foot slide and many other activities. October hours are 3–6:30 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; 9 a.m.–6:30 p.m. Saturdays; and 12–4 p.m. Sundays. For more information, call (615) 220-2918 or visit waldenfarm.biz.
Lucky Ladd Farms
Lucky Ladd Farms (4374 Rocky Glade Rd., Eagleville) is open through the spring and summer, featuring a playground, petting zoo and splash pad, but fall is when the pumpkin princess comes out. Pumpkin picking and wagon rides are part of the fun, and Lucky Ladd also offers scavenger-hunt-style games for kids in the corn maze, where participants use clues and animal tracks to solve a mystery. Giant tire swings, mega-slides, lawn checkers, a huge playground and more make the farm a fun family destination. Hours are 10 a.m.–6 p.m. Wednesdays through Saturdays, and 12–5 p.m. Sundays. For more information, call (615) 274-3786 or visit luckyladdfarms.com.
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2016 Trunk-or-Treat events planned for the Murfreesboro area include:
Oct. 15 – The Pentecostals of Murfreesboro, 1800 Lascassas Pike. Fall fest, 2–5 p.m.
Oct. 28 – Daymar College, 415 Golden Bear Ct., Murfreesboro, 5–8 p.m. – Free food, trunk-or-treat and an outdoor movie, Hocus Pocus, at 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 29 – Blackman United Methodist Church, 4380 Manson Pike. Chili and hot dog dinner, hayrides, trunk or treat, begins at 6 p.m.
Oct. 29 – Eagleville School, 500 Old Hwy. 99, Eagleville. Trunk or treat hosted by Eagleville wrestling, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Oct. 30 – Belle Aire Baptist Church, 1307 N. Rutherford Blvd. Trunk or treat, 6–8 p.m.
Oct. 30 – World Outreach Church, 1921 New Salem Rd. Hoedown with slides, inflatables and lots of candy, all afternoon.
Oct. 31 – Lighthouse Baptist Church, 3145 N. Thompson Ln. Trunk or treat, 6–8 p.m.
Oct. 31 – Mall-O-Ween at Stones River Mall, Old Fort Pkwy., 5–7 p.m.
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More Fall Fun for Kids of All Ages:
Oct. 8 – Fall Festival and Fish Fry
Good Shepherd Children’s Home (203 Woodcraft Dr.) will host a fall festival and fish fry from 11 a.m.–6 p.m. with activities for kids, food and entertainment beginning at 3 p.m. ($10 per plate) with a benefit auction at 4 p.m. Auction items include various themed baskets, dinner packages, travel packages, sports packages and much more. For more information, call (615) 896-1459.
Oct. 14 – Zombie Glow Run
Stewarts Creek High School DECA and HOSA will host their second annual Zombie Glow Run 5K. The run will take place on Friday, Oct. 14, 30 minutes after the home football game. Registration is $25. Pick up a registration form for the event from Dr. Stewart in room 411 at Stewarts Creek High School, from the Hawks Nest in the back of the cafeteria, or call (615) 904-6771 for more information.
Oct. 19–22 – Haunted Hayride
Join Old Scream Road, Murfreesboro’s scariest hayride, at Barfield Crescent Park (697 Veterans Pkwy.) from dark to 9 p.m. Oct. 19–22. Admission is $5 per person. For more information, call (615) 890-5333.
Oct. 18 – Pumpkin Party!
Chick-fil-A (2005 Old Fort Pkwy.) Kids Club is celebrating fall with a night of creativity. Come dressed in your favorite costume and craft a one-of-a-kind pumpkin from 5 to 7 p.m.
Oct. 2–22 – Barfield Halloween Bash and Twilight Trail
Enjoy games, prizes, costume contests, candy, food, music, dancing and cakewalks at Barfield Crescent Park (697 Veterans Pkwy.) Join a happy hayride in the back country with games, puppet shows, story time, live animals and fun for the whole family at Barfield Crescent Park (697 Veterans Pkwy.) from 5–7 p.m. Oct. 21 and 22. (Hayride admission is $4 per person.) For more information, call (615) 890-5333.
Oct. 21 & 22 – Haunted Murfreesboro
For one weekend only, join the BoroTellers on the Murfreesboro Square at Sugaree’s. The first tour departs at 7 p.m., with additional tours departing every half hour until 9 p.m. Tours last approximately 1 hour and the walk is about a mile. Cost is $5 per person.
Oct. 21, 22, 28 and 29 – Ghost Tours
Join a haunted tour of the Sam Davis Home and Plantation (1399 Sam Davis Rd., Smyrna) with ghost stories and hayrides from 7–10 p.m. Admission is $10 per adult 12 and up and $5 for ages 5–11. For more information, call (615) 459-2341 or visit samdavishome.org.
Oct. 22 – 40th Annual Harvest Days Celebration
Celebrate fall in true pioneer fashion with music, clogging, pottery demonstrations, broom making, crafters, food vendors, hayrides, blacksmith demonstrating, an antique auto show and an art league show at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 22. Admission is free. For more information, contact (615) 890-0355 or shodges@murfreesborotn.gov.
Oct. 22 and 29 – Sam Davis Fall Festival
Enjoy tours, stories, food, vendors, games and trick or treating at the Historic Sam Davis Home and Plantation (1399 Sam Davis Rd., Smyrna) from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 22 and 29. Admission is $5 per guest. For more information, call (615) 459-2341 or visit samdavishome.org.
Oct. 27 – Great Pumpkin Festival
Test out your Jedi skills at this year’s Star Wars themed Great Pumpkin Festival at Discovery Center at Murfree Spring (502 SE Broad St.) from 4–7 p.m. Dress up and compete in a costume contest; attend a Jedi training course; or create works of art. Admission is $4 per person. For more information call 615-890-2300 or visit www.explorethedc.org.
Oct. 28 – Spooky Splash
The Patterson Park Community Center pool (521 Mercury Blvd.) hosts a spookin’ good time on Friday, Oct. 28, from 6–9 p.m. featuring swimming, craft time, pizza and a pudding surprise. Bring a white T-shirt to tie-dye. Ages 7–13. For more information, contact (615) 893-7439 or cclemmons@murfreesborotn.gov.
Oct. 31 – Fall Celebration and Hayride
Come out and enjoy an afternoon filled with fun, stories, games, laughs, hayrides and candy at Cannonsburgh Village (312 S. Front St.) from 2–5 p.m. on Oct. 31. Admission is $2 per person. For more information, contact (615) 890-0355 or shodges@murfreesborotn.gov.
Throughout October – Oaklands Mansion Fall Tours
Come explore the unusual mourning customs and superstitions of the Victorian era at Oaklands Mansion (901 N. Maney Ave.) during the month of October. The clocks are stopped at the hour of your death, the curtains are drawn and the mirrors draped in black when the house is in mourning. Guided tours of the mansion are offered Tuesdays–Saturdays 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and Sundays 1–4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, and Friday, Oct. 28, will be Flashlight Night from 7–10 p.m. Tours of Evergreen Cemetery are Saturday, Oct. 29, at 6 and 7 p.m. Trick-or-treating begins on Halloween night, Monday, Oct. 31, at 4 p.m. until all the candy is gone. For more information, visit oaklandsmansion.org or contact info@OaklandsMansion.org or (615) 893-0022.