Halloween in Tuscaloosa: It's not just Nick Saban's birthday

Oct. 31 isn't just Nick Saban's birthday in Tuscaloosa. It's also Halloween.

While the temperature may still be in the 90s and the University of Alabama football coach has a few weeks before he turns 71 years old, Halloween events will crank up soon. The Horror Tuscaloosa, a haunted house, begins Sept. 30 and other events will be spread throughout October.

This year's Halloween highlights in the Tuscaloosa area will also include a pumpkin patch, a ghost-hunting event at the Drish House, witches on bicycles, the city's Tech or Treat night and an interactive showing of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" at the Bama Theatre.

Costume shoppers take note: Spirit Halloween is at 1825 McFarland Boulevard North, Suite 150, in the Northridge Center Plaza this year. Two other stores that weren't open last year but may be of interest to Halloween shoppers are Party Wow at 2610 McFarland Blvd. E in the former location of Stein Mart in McFarland Plaza, and Party City at 1800 McFarland Blvd. E in the former location of the Nike Factory Store at Midtown Village.

Also of note for ghosts, goblins, monsters, witches, warlocks and zombies everywhere: Halloween falls on a Monday this year.

Here's a look at Halloween and fall-related events this year around T-Town:

Kid-friendly events

The Tuscaloosa Barnyard, a hands-on petting farm at 11453 Turner Bridge Road, will hold its annual pumpkin patch beginning the last week of September and continuing through the second week of November. The fall-themed event will also include hayrides, pillow jumping, a petting zoo, a cow train, pony rides and other interactive activities. Admission is $12. The Tuscaloosa Barnyard will be open from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays for the pumpkin patch. For more information, go to www.tuscaloosabarnyard.com.

Fall on the Farm, scheduled for 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 1, will feature a craft festival and pumpkin patch a Wilderwood Farm, 12611 Coyote Trail, Ralph. Admission is $7; children 1 and younger admitted free. The festival includes craft vendors, hay ride, bouncy house, farm animals, craft demonstrations, farm craft and farm games. Extra charge for pumpkins and horse or pony rides. Email wilderwoodfarm@gmail.com. www.wilderwoodfarm.com.

The T-Town Witches Ride, sponsored by the Arc of Tuscaloosa, will be held from 3-6 p.m. Oct. 16 at Government Plaza, 2106 Sixth St. The event will feature participants dressed like witches costumes and riding decorated bikes through the streets of Tuscaloosa to raise money for the Arc, an organization that helps people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The ride starts at 5 p.m. and the cost to enter is $25. Spectators are welcomed. For more information, call 205-556-4900.

The Children's Hands-on Museum will host a Carnival Spooktacular from 5-8 p.m. Oct. 20. There will be games with prizes, a costume contest, a haunted hallway and DJ Wade and the Monster Masquerade. Armbands for unlimited game play cost $15. The museum is at 2213 University Blvd. For more information, go to www.chomonline.org.

The city of Tuscaloosa’s sixth annual Tech or Treat event will be 6-8 p.m. Oct. 26, with free admission for all ages, at the Gateway Innovation and Discovery Center in Alberta, 2614 University Blvd. E. Similar to trunk-or-treat, Tech-or-Treat allows costumed kids to go from table to table to collect candy while being introduced to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) activities through interactions with city departments and community organizations.

The Alabama Panhellenic Association's Trick or Treat on Sorority Row is set for 6 p.m. Oct. 25 on the University of Alabama campus. More than 500,000 pieces of candy will be distributed by students dressed in Halloween costumes at sorority houses on Magnolia, Colonial, and Judy Bonner drives. The event is free to attend and is designed for children 12 years old and younger. Children must be accompanied by a parent and costumes should be school appropriate with no masks. Bring one bag per child to collect candy. For more information, go to the UA Panhellenic Association's Facebook page, www.facebook.com/UAPanhellenic.

Midtown Village will host Harvest Jam from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 28 on the green of the shopping center, 1800 McFarland Blvd. The event will feature live music, a farmers' market, a pumpkin patch and a craft beer tasting. Some proceeds from the craft beer tasting and the pumpkin patch will benefit Child Abuse Prevention Services. Admission to the Harvest Jam is $5 and tickets are available at eventbrite.com.

"Boo! In the Park," organized by the Tuscaloosa County Park and Recreation Authority, will be held from 9 a.m. until noon Oct. 29 at Munny Sokol Park South, 5901 Watermelon Road. The free event is designed for 4- through 13-year-old children, but all ages will be welcomed.  Costumes are encouraged.  "Boo! In the Park" will feature carnival-style fun, including games,  a Halloween themed story-walk,  sack races, a photo booth, inflatable bounce houses and more. New this year will be "Touch A Truck" featuring 15 heavy vehicles --  concrete mixers, farm tractors, fire trucks and more -- for kids to explore. For more information, go to tcpara.org.

Skate-O-Ween will be held at 2 p.m. Oct. 30, featuring games and prizes, at Super Skate, 5900 McFarland Blvd. E.

A free Halloween carnival sponsored by the Tuscaloosa Police Department is set for 6-8 p.m. Oct. 31 at Snow Hinton Park, 1000 Hargrove Road E. Kids are invited to trick-or-treat with TPD and the carnival will include candy, games and food trucks.

Haunted houses

The Horror Tuscaloosa will offer two themed experiences Sept. 30 through Oct. 31 at its haunted house, 5477 Skyland Blvd. E., Cottondale. Tickets $25 and up, and admissions each night will be limited. Hours will be 7 p.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays, Sept. 30-Oct. 29, and 7-10 p.m. Oct. 20, 27, 30 and 31. www.thehorrortuscaloosa.com. Jobs are also available for crew and customer service positions; see www.thehorrortuscaloosa.com/jobs.

The Southern Ghost Girls will host an interactive ghost-hunting event beginning at 7 p.m. Oct. 8 at Tuscaloosa's historic Drish House, 2300 17^th St. Admission is $50. For more information, go to https://southernghostgirls.com/events.

For adults

The 15^th annual showing of the "Rocky Horror Picture Show" is set for Oct. 29. The Pink Box Burlesque presents the 1975 musical- comedy/horror film 8 p.m. at the Bama Theatre, 600 Greensboro Ave. Prop bags will be available while supplies last. Doors open at 7 p.m., the costume contest will be at 8 and the movie begins at 8:30 Tickets cost $20 in advance and $25 at the door. The event is for those 21 yeas old and older. For more, see www.pinkboxburlesque.com.

This article originally appeared on The Tuscaloosa News: Halloween in Tuscaloosa: It's not just Nick Saban's birthday