Alabama’s Top Halloween Events Feature Hayrides And BBQ
Alabama’s Halloween season transforms ordinary parks and venues into spooky wonderlands where southern hospitality meets hair-raising thrills.
When autumn leaves begin to fall across the Heart of Dixie, locals and visitors alike can enjoy a unique blend of traditional scares, family fun, and mouth-watering barbecue.
These events showcase the best of Alabama’s Halloween spirit, combining the state’s love for good food with seasonal entertainment that’ll have you coming back year after year.
1. Haunted Hayrides, Tannehill Ironworks Historical State Park
Where history and horror collide perfectly, the Tannehill hayrides aren’t for the faint of heart. Brave souls board wooden wagons that creak through darkened woods past the park’s historic iron furnaces, now transformed into nightmare fuel with strategic lighting and fog machines.
Tannehill’s historical significance adds an authentic layer of creepiness as costumed specters emerge from actual 19th-century structures.
Between screams, visitors can warm themselves by fire pits where park staff slow-smoke pulled pork sandwiches and ribs, proving that good BBQ is the perfect recovery from a good scare.
2. Monster Mash Bash, Montgomery Botanical Gardens
Did you know plants could party? Montgomery Botanical Gardens proves they can during their annual Monster Mash Bash.
Garden pathways transform with spooky lighting schemes that highlight already bizarre-looking plants in ways that make them seem almost sentient. Montgomery’s gardeners showcase their creative sides with plant-monster hybrids and botanical oddities arranged throughout the grounds.
Local BBQ masters set up between the exotic plant collections, creating a sensory overload where the sweet smell of flowers mingles with hickory smoke. Live music and dancing under the stars make this a sophisticated Halloween option.
3. Creepy Crawlers Cookout, BBQ And Bugs In Tuscaloosa
Get ready for a culinary adventure with a twist at the Creepy Crawlers Cookout in Tuscaloosa. While the grill sizzles with BBQ favorites, kids can enjoy dressing up in creepy-crawly costumes.
The event combines the delight of tasting smoky BBQ with the fun of Halloween-themed games and activities. It’s a treat for both the taste buds and the imagination. A family-friendly event that encourages creativity and culinary delight.
4. OWA’s Town Of Terror
OWA’s Town of Terror is a chilling Halloween extravaganza that transforms the amusement park into a spine-tingling haunted village. Guests wander through dimly lit streets filled with fog, flickering lanterns, and elaborately themed scare zones featuring ghouls, zombies, and creepy clowns lurking around every corner.
Interactive experiences, including haunted houses and live performances, keep adrenaline levels high, while seasonal treats and themed concessions offer a brief respite from the thrills.
From eerie soundscapes to carefully crafted sets, Town of Terror immerses visitors in a fully realized horror playground, making it a must-visit destination for thrill-seekers and Halloween fans in Alabama.
5. Haunted Forest Trail, Gulf Shores
At Gulf Shores, the Haunted Forest Trail delivers spine-tingling thrills amid swaying oaks and shadowy paths. Lanterns and eerie lights guide visitors through winding trails where each turn reveals spooky scenes, from ghostly figures to animatronic creatures that jump out from the underbrush.
Sounds of creaking branches, distant howls, and mysterious whispers immerse guests in a haunted woodland experience. Along the trail, themed stations offer seasonal treats like caramel apples, hot cider, and roasted marshmallows, while costumed performers engage visitors with interactive scares.
Families and thrill-seekers alike navigate the forest, combining suspense, storytelling, and the natural beauty of Gulf Shores for an unforgettable Halloween adventure.
6. Zombie 5K Run, Birmingham
Where else can you legitimately run for your life through downtown Birmingham? This unique race features participants choosing to be either survivors (wearing flag football belts) or zombies (in full undead makeup). The course winds through city parks and streets where zombie volunteers attempt to snatch flags while runners navigate obstacles. Birmingham’s theatrical community shines with professional-grade zombie makeup stations transforming participants into convincing undead.
The post-race party features awards for fastest survivors and most successful zombies. Local BBQ joints serve “protein recovery stations” where exhausted runners refuel on pulled pork and smoked chicken while hayrides shuttle tired participants back to their cars.
7. Boo At The Zoo, Birmingham Zoo
This family-friendly Halloween extravaganza transforms the Birmingham Zoo into a not-so-scary wonderland for little ghouls and boys. Kids can trick-or-treat along decorated trails while encountering friendly costumed characters rather than real-life lions and tigers.
The Birmingham Zoo adds their own wild twist with animal-themed activities, including spooky (but educational) encounters with some of the zoo’s ambassador animals. Hayrides circle the outer exhibits while BBQ vendors offer smoky treats that’ll have parents just as excited as their candy-collecting kiddos.
