Ghosts, ghouls and goblins will be out in force Saturday night, as Bladen County celebrates Halloween one night early.

In addition to trick or treating in area towns, a number of groups are sponsoring harvest festivals and haunted houses throughout the county.

In Elizabethtown, trick or treating may take place until 9:30 p.m. All children under nine must be accompanied by a parent or adult, and only children under 12 are permitted to solicit treats. A curfew will be in effect for all children between 13 and adult from 10:30 p.m. to 6 a.m.

In White Lake, children 12 or under may go door to door until 9:30 p.m. A curfew will be in effect for all youth 13-18 from 10:30 p.m. until 6 a.m., unless accompanied by an adult.

Clarkton will allow trick or treating in town from 6-8:30 p.m. for children under 12.

In Bladenboro, trick or treating will be permitted from 6-8:30 p.m. for children 12 and under. All children must be chaperoned by an adult, and children under nine must be accompanied to the door.

A curfew be in place for Bladenboro from 10:30 p.m-6 a.m. for ages 13 to adult, and all children under 13 must be in by 9:30 p.m.

East Arcadia and Tar Heel will follow the county's suggested guidelines.

Bladen County Sheriff Steve Bunn said residents of rural areas are encouraged to limit trick or treating to children 12 and under. Children may solicit treats through 9:30 p.m.

Church groups and UNICEF collectors will be exempted from the rules in all areas, officials said, but these groups must be supervised by an adult.

A number of groups are holding private and public events around the county. Several area schools and churches are also holding "harvest festivals" for families trying to avoid the scary aspects of Halloween.

At Jones Lake State Park, a Halloween Hay Ride will start at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

Participants will get to enjoy a three-mile ride through the state forest, stopping along the way to visit with spooky characters. The journey will end at Salter's Lake with a bonfire, storytelling and treats.

Reservations are required, and an adult must accompany every two children under 12. The program is free. Call the park office at 588-4550 to make a reservation.

Some area schools are sponsoring events before the weekend.

Booker T. Washington School near Clarkton will hold a Fall Festival Friday (Oct. 29) from 6-8 p.m. Food, games, and entertainment will be available. The event is free.

Waccamaw Academy in Whiteville will also be holding a Halloween Carnival Thursday from 5:30-9 p.m. Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for children.

The event will feature food, games and prizes for the kids, a haunted house, a cake walk, and other events. The event is open to the public.

Harmony Hall in White Oak will sponsor a Ghost Walk Saturday night from 7 p.m.-midnight.

Volunteers and reenactors will share stories of odd things they've noticed around the historic site, and visitors may even get to hear a few things that go bump in the night.

A donation of $2 per person will be charged, with children under 12 free. All proceeds go to Harmony Hall.

Clarkton Dixie Youth Baseball is also sponsoring its popular Haunted House, will all proceeds going to the youth league. The house is located on Railroad Street beside the rescue building.

The event started Friday, and continues tonight (Tuesday) through Saturday. The DYB Haunted House is billed as one of the largest and scariest Halloween events in the county.

Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children under 13. Discount tickets good for $12 off are available at both county high schools, Clarkton School of Discovery, and Clarkton Drug.

A number of other events are taking place throughout the area, and will be found in today's and Friday's editions of the Bladen Journal.

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