Friday Night Frights & Football Too!
High Country celebrates Halloween Mountaineer style

By Jeff Eason

Some holidays are just meant to be celebrated on certain days of the week. When the Fourth of July falls on Monday it just feels right to watch fireworks at the end of the three-day weekend. Every now and then Christmas falls on Sunday and the whole country stops what it is doing to celebrate the holiday season with family and friends.

Such it is with Halloween and Friday. Friday has plenty of supernatural events attached to it such as Friday the 13th and Disney’s Freaky Friday movies. As the first night of the weekend, Friday is traditionally when adults blow off a little steam and shake off the drudgery of the work week.

With Halloween falling on a Friday this year, you should see a larger than average number of costumed revelers celebrating the holiday. Plus, we’ve got one of the biggest sporting events of the year in Boone that very night. So no matter what kind of spook-tacular fun you are looking for, you should be able to find it this Friday. Here’s a sampling of what to expect on Halloween in the High Country:

ASU vs. Wofford

The ASU Mountaineer football squad is on the hunt for an unprecedented fourth straight NCAA Football Championship Series this fall. Their next obstacle in that quest is a talented Wofford Terrier team that will take to the gridiron on Friday, October 31 at 8 p.m. This special Friday night college match-up will be featured on television on ESPN-2, but to truly experience this unique Halloween game, you have to see it in person at Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone.

Both Wofford and ASU are ranked in the top five of the national FCS poll and have similar records. Wofford is 6-1 overall and 4-0 in Southern Conference play while ASU is 6-2 overall, 4-0 in the SoCon. With only two remaining undefeated teams in conference play, the winner of Friday night’s game will have the decided edge in winning the SoCon championship, and with it the automatic berth in the 16-team national tournament.

The game also features the return of Wofford freshman running back Eric Breitenstein, the all-world athlete who broke just about every offensive school record while playing for the Watauga Pioneers. Despite his freshman status, Breitenstein has earned considerable playing time and has scored two touchdowns this year for the powerful Terrier offense.

While all the football action will be on the field, there will also be plenty of entertainment in the stands as Mountaineer and Terrier fans arrive in costume for this special Halloween game.

Before the game, kids are encouraged to participate in the Halloween fun by visiting the tailgate parties in the Stadium, Justice and Duncan parking lots for some good old fashioned “trunk or treating.” Tailgaters will be bringing treats for the youngsters at the ASU Family Fun Zone.

Tickets are available by calling (828) 262-2079.

Halloween at Twigs

Few establishments in the High Country have a Halloween tradition like Twigs in Blowing Rock. The evening will feature the ASU-Wofford game on TV, followed by live music with Nautical Wheeler with Chet Palmer. Twigs also will host its annual pumpkin carving contest and costume contest for cash and prizes. For more information, call (828) 295-5050.

Nick’s Halloween Party

Nick’s Restaurant and Pub at the Shoppes of Tynecastle in Banner Elk will host its annual Halloween Party on Friday. The event will feature live music, a costume contest, dinner specials and much more. The event is for folks 21 and older with proper ID and there is no cover charge. For more information, call (828) 898-9613.

Bafoodus at Boone Saloon

If you like your monster mashes to be musical, the Boone Saloon is the place for you. Friday night will feature the ASU-Wofford game on TV, a costume contest, and one of the area’s premiere jazz-funk-rock bands, Bafoodus, tearing it up on stage. Bafoodus, starring Andy Page on guitars, Runyon on keyboards, Scott Haynes on bass and Ryan Lassiter on drums, has quickly earned a reputation as a powerful live band from its wide array of originals and cover tunes. The music starts at 10 p.m. For more information, call (828) 264-1811.
WSNB at Canyons

Western North Carolina blues and heavy rock and roll band WSNB hosts the annual Halloween party at Canyons of the Blue Ridge in Blowing Rock. The event is free and the music starts at 10 p.m. The Halloween party will also feature drink specials and a costume contest. For more information, call Canyons at (828) 295-7661.

Lazybirds at Dragonfly Theatre

On Friday, Americana, swing and blues band The Lazybirds return for a super Halloween Show at the Dragonfly Theatre and Pub in Boone. The music starts at 10 p.m. If a Halloween movie is more your speed, be sure to come to Dragonfly on Thursday, October 30 for a special screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show (9:30 p.m. and midnight). Both events are $5 per person. For more information, call (828) 262-3244.

Murphy’s Costume Contest

One of the rowdiest costume contests in the history of mankind is the one held at Murphy’s Restaurant and Pub. That’s because you get to vote for your favorite costume by yelling and clapping! With party favors, drink specials and live music, the annual Halloween Party at Murphy’s is not to be missed. The Solos Unit, a hip-hop, soul and funk band from Winston-Salem, will be on hand to lend some smooth grooves and danceable rhythms to the party. For more information, call Murphy’s at (828) 264-5117.