Spooky season hits high gear with 10 Days of Community Thrills

The countdown to Halloween in the Golden Strip is officially on, and you won’t have to wait until October 31 to break out the costumes. Over the next ten days, Mauldin, Simpsonville, and Fountain Inn are packing the calendar with open-air movie nights, high-octane trunk-or-treats, daytime farm adventures, and high-energy after-dark bashes for grown-ups.

Grab your lawn chairs, map out your candy routes, and check out what’s happening across the Strip between now and Halloween night.

Thursday, Oct. 22: High Fashion & Harvest Moons

Grown-ups get first dibs on the festivities with two distinct evening outings:

• Sip, Paint & Conjure at The Mill at Fountain Inn (6:00 – 8:00 PM): Tap into your creative side at 100 Ellison Street. Guests will paint a watercolor witch soaring past a glowing harvest moon, guided step-by-step. The $30 registration covers canvas, paints, and supplies. Space is limited; reserve a seat directly at the bar, via text at (518) 421-9885, or on The Mill’s Facebook page.

• Inaugural Masquerade Ball at BridgeWay Station (6:00 – 8:30 PM): Ava Laurènne Bride debuts an evening of elegance featuring a couture bridal runway showcase, live musical performances, and masked mystery in the heart of BridgeWay Station.

Friday, Oct. 23: Mauldin’s Big Night Under the Stars

• Friday Night Frights at the Mauldin Outdoor Amphitheater: Mauldin’s signature family fall tradition returns to the Cultural Center grounds.

  • 5:30 – 7:30 PM: Trick-or-treat through rows of themed merchant tents hosted by local businesses and city departments.

  • 7:30 PM: Settle into the lawn with blankets for a free outdoor screening of Pixar’s Monsters, Inc.

  • Good to know: Food trucks will be rolling all evening. Admission and parking are free, and leashed pups are welcome to join the fun.

Saturday, Oct. 24: Jeeps on Main & Farmyard Magic

• “Jeepers Creepers” Trunk-or-Treat (6:00 – 9:00 PM): Fountain Inn’s beloved motorized tradition takes over Main Street. Dozens of local Jeep owners pull out all the stops—decking out rigs with skeletons, spiderwebs, light kits, and fog machines—for a candy-packed block party with downtown dining and music. (Jeep owners can still sign up to participate at mainstreetfountaininn.com).

• Fall Harvest Days at Hidden Pasture Unicorn Farm (Oct. 24–25): Looking for daytime fun? Head out to Fountain Inn for pony and unicorn rides, a pumpkin patch, petting enclosures, and seasonal yard games. Admission is $12 for ages 3 and up (ages 2 and under enter free).

Sunday, Oct. 25: The Golden Strip Trunk-or-Treat Circuit

Sunday afternoon turns into a candy caravan across the corridor. Plot your stops:

• 2:00 – 5:00 PM: Mauldin High School Community Trunk-or-Treat

• 4:00 PM: Advent United Methodist Church (Simpsonville) & Messiah Lutheran Church (Mauldin)

• 5:00 PM: Bible Baptist Church Fall Festival (Simpsonville)

• 5:30 PM: Holland Park Church Trunk-or-Treat (Simpsonville)

Midweek: Monday, Oct. 26 & Wednesday, Oct. 28

• Spooktacular Storytime at the Library (10:00 AM): A sweet, sensory-friendly option for the littlest ghosts and goblins (ages 5 and under). Catch it Monday at the Mauldin Library (W. Jack Greer branch) or Wednesday at Fountain Inn’s Kerry Ann Younts Culp Library (311 N. Main St.).

• Simpsonville Post-Acute Trunk-or-Treat (Wednesday, 4:00 PM): Swing by early to brighten residents’ day and gather some treats.

• Halloween at Heritage Park (Wednesday, 5:00 – 8:00 PM): Simpsonville’s heavyweight community bash arrives at Heritage Park. Presented by Ray Thompson’s Upstate Karate alongside the Simpsonville Chamber and Parks & Rec, this free evening features massive inflatables, touch-a-truck rigs, face painting, and dozens of candy stations hosted by local businesses.

Friday, Oct. 30: High-Voltage Rock & Costume Showdowns

• Back N Black at the Younts Center (7:30 PM): Kick off your holiday weekend with thunderous riffs. The premier AC/DC tribute act takes the stage at the Younts Center for Performing Arts (315 N. Main St., Fountain Inn). Come in costume—the night features pre-show games and a costume contest with cash prizes on the line.

Saturday, Oct. 31: Halloween Day to Midnight

• Cars & Coffee Trunk-or-Treat at BridgeWay Station (8:00 AM): Kick the morning off with horsepower, caffeine, and early treats.

• Candicorn Weekend at Hidden Pasture Farm (11:00 AM): Fountain Inn’s unicorn farm keeps the magic going with a spooky scavenger hunt and treat bags for every child.

• Downtown Fountain Inn Trick-or-Treating: Merchants along North Main Street open their doors to trick-or-treaters for traditional storefront visits.

• Annual Halloween Bash at The Station (10:00 PM – Late): Adults looking to wrap up the season can head to 1205 NE Main St. in Simpsonville. Dance to sets from Spooky DJ B and bring your best ensemble for the midnight costume contest boasting a $200 cash prize.

The Viral Stop: “The House That Isn’t On Fire”

Before heading home any night this week, take a slow roll past 512 N. Main Street in Fountain Inn. From 7:00 to 10:00 PM nightly, an ingenious rig of industrial fog blowers, fans, and flickering amber floodlights transforms the home into a dramatic scene that looks convincingly engulfed in flames. Rest assured, the fire is purely theatrical wizardry—though it certainly stops traffic!

(Note: Weather can occasionally alter outdoor setups and inflatables, so checking organizer pages before heading out is always recommended.)