The fall is a social season unto itself. And nowhere is that more apparent than in West Columbia.
Aside from a vibrant nightlife at the State Street restaurants, the smells of fried chicken and barbecue rise from Triangle City.
And it’s a time to get outdoors. Nothing is more calming and beautiful than the reflection of the changing leaves on the Congaree River, while on a on a crisp Autumn stroll on Riverwalk.
And there are planned events. West Columbia will host its own Fall Back Festival on Nov. 3. But before that is Halloween.
If you live in West Columbia, there are a number of very close family fun chances to enhance the Halloween experience.
Boo at the Zoo
Riverbanks Zoo offers one of the most-popular seasonal events in Boo at the Zoo. It’s 6 p.m. Until 9 p.m. and begins Friday (Oct. 20) just across the Saluda River from West Columbia.
Boo at the Zoo is described as 11 wild nights of Halloween fun offering guests safe, affordable, family-friendly festivities.
Boo at the Zoo incudesTrick-or-treat throughout the zoo.
“We give out 300,000 pieces of candy every year,” said Susan O’Cain
public relations manager at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. She said it’s a safe and fun opportunity for families.
Boo at the Zoo also includes Frankenstein’s Foam Zone, a Spooky Safari, and Halloween hocus pocus with Ray’s Moonlight Magic and rock the night away at Mummy’s Eeky Freaky Dance Party.
Guests are also are invited to toast s’mores, and take a spin on the Haunted Carousel or hop aboard the Spooky Spots and Stripes Railroad.
Boo at the Zoo has been going on since 2003 O’Cain said.
“We welcome about 30,000 visitors a year to it,” she said. And attendance has been pretty consistent over the years.
And weather does not scare these spooky hosts.
Boo at the Zoo is held rain or shine –
O’Cain said tickets are limited and should be purchased in advance. Advance admission is $9 for Zoo members and $11 for the general public. Children under 2 are admitted free. If tickets remain on any night of the event, those will be sold for $13 at the gate.
O’Cain also notes that trick-or-treating is reserved for kids 12 and under. Children should bring their own reusable bags or containers. Costumes are encouraged, but adults are asked not to cover their faces with masks. Parking for Boo at the Zoo is available on the zoo side only at 500 Wildlife Parkway in Columbia.
EdVenture Children’s Museum Halloween Hoopla
On Halloween night (Tuesday, Oct. 31) EdVenture Children’s Museum is presenting Halloween Hoopla.
EdVenture invites all families to a night of Halloween fun at the museum’s Halloween Hoopla celebration on October 31, from 4-8 p.m. It’s a family-friendly Halloween spectacular and it’s free and open to the public, for children 12 years and younger.
Admission for 13 years and older is $5.
At Haloween Hoopla, surprises await trick or treaters behind more than 15 doors at EdVenture.
Halloween Happening features pumpkin smashing, spooky science experiments and scary amounts of candy.
Those who come are invited to be in their best Halloween attire. And EDDIE®, EdVenture’s world’s largest child, will be showing off his Halloween mask.
EdVenture will close to the general public at 2 p.m on the day of Halloween and and it will reopen at 4 p.m for the event.
S.C. State Museum’s “Growl at the Moon” for adults at Halloween
Just across the Gervais Street Bridge, in the sight line of West Columbia, the S.C. State
Growl at the Moon. SC State Museum
Museum will welcome guests to “Growl at the Moon”from 7 p.m. Until 10 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26.
It is the fourth year of the event and it features the Wizard of Oz 4-D Experience, a laser light show set to Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon.
Also included at Growl at the Moon are: a fortuneteller; music; delicious food and craft beer.
Guests can also head up to the Boeing Observatory for some spooky night sky observing and take home their very own custom beer growlers.
New to Growl at the Moon this year are Sub-Zero Science Bites. Guests will experience frosty treats like flavored popcorn, cereal puffs and cheese balls, prepared with liquid nitrogen. Spooky museum ghost tours will be given throughout the night, where guests will hear legends, folk tales and chilling ghost stories from Columbia and frightening experiences in our own haunted museum.
The Wizard of Oz 4-D Experience will play at times throughout the evening and there will be 3-D special effects including wind, lightning and many more surprises.
Costumes are highly encouraged. Tickets include food from Doc’s Barbecue, South Carolina craft beer, wine and drinks, admission to planetarium and 4-D shows and a personal souvenir beer growler to take home.
Growl at the Moon tickets are $35 for general public and $28 for members in advance and $40 at the door. This event is 21 years of age or up. Tickets can be purchased online at scmuseum.org.
Wooden Dead/Walking Dead attraction
The Wooden Dead, that mimics The Walking Dead from the AMC TV series, are on display at 1705 Redbird Lane in West Columbia.
Artist Jeff Matthews has sketched and cutout dozens of Walking Dead characters and they are bathed in eerie light. Carloads have already started showing up to see the scary display.
Written by Terry Ward. Full Article can be found at: http://westmetronews.net/west-columbia-multiple-halloween-fall-fun-opportunities/
