Free and Cheap Halloween Activities in Nashville, TN

Love Halloween festivities but don't want to spend your Christmas fund on celebrating? There are plenty of things to do on a tight budget for fright night fun. Nashville, TN celebrates Halloween with a variety of fun bashes and activities for all ages. Check out these free and cheap (under 20 bucks) Halloween events in and around Nashville.

Halloween parties: Grown up fun at kiddy prices! Make plans to wear your favorite costume for a night of mischief and mayhem at any of these great Halloween parties.

The Fifth annual Yazoo Halloweast Pub Crawl: Dress your best on Halloween night for this fun and head out to Nashville's Five Points for a ghoulishly fun filled evening. For the 21 and up crowd only. Barhop to each of the participating locations to enjoy delightful drink specials and fun events including costume contests and prize give a ways. Visit all five participating locations to qualify for the drawing to win an autographed guitar by the Old Crow Medicine Show. Locations include: The Alley Cat Lounge, Three Crow bar, Beyond the Edge, Batter'd and Fried Boston Seafood House and Red Door East. Event lasts from 7 to midnight. Admission to the event is free, but bring money for refreshments. All the clubs in this years event are within walking distance of each other. The Five Points is located between Woodland St. and 11th Street in East Nashville.

The End: Celebrate Halloween at this rock out festival at The End featuring performers Spider Virus, Dharmakaya and Tennessee Trash. For the 18 and up crowd, admission is only $5 per person for the entire night. Show starts at 9 pm on Halloween night, costumes are encouraged for everyone's amusement. The End is located at 2219 Elliston Place in Nashville, TN. Call 615-321-4457 for more details and directions.

Nightmare in Music City at The Mercy Lounge and Cannery Ballroom: One of Nashville's most popular grown up events, the Nightmare in Music City Halloween party kicks off at 9 pm on Halloween night. For the 20's and 30's something crowd, this years event is a massive blowout spilling out into the streets with two heated tents with full bars and DJ's! Tickets start at just $15 or $50 for those of you who want to go all out for the VIP passes to the Mercy Lounge. The party is 21 and up only. Located at 1 Cannery Row in downtown Nashville just off 8th Ave. Call 615-251-3020 for more details and directions. Dress up and enjoy Halloween adult style.

Halloween Bash at the Wild Horse Saloon: Featuring popular cover band Guilty Pleasures with special guests the Devonshire's. For 21 and up, the evening starts at 6 pm. Wear your favorite costume to compete in the costume contests an win prizes. Tickets are $16 at the door. Located at 120 Second Ave. North, The Wild Horse Saloon is one of Nashville's favorite country and rock hangouts.

Music City Mayhem Halloween Bash at the Rutledge: Featuring live performances from Shadows of Light, Sedent, Brood X and Voodoo Prophet, the Rutledge brings Indie, Rock, Punk and Metal fans together in one place for a night of hard core rock out grown up fun. The show starts at 9 pm, doors open at 8. For the 21 and up crowd only. Costumes are encouraged and the event promises to be a bash to remember. No cover charge, bring money for drinks and snacks. The Rutledge is located at 410 Fourth Ave. North in Downtown Nashville. Call 615-782-6858 for more details.

Ghost Tours: Enjoy a fun filled ghostly and goulish evening of frights and delights while traveling through time at any of these tours that feature the darker side of Southern Hospitality.

Haunted Taverns Tour: Runs from April 2 through Dec. 23. Tour tickets are $15 each for the 21 and up crowd only. The tour starts at 6 pm sharp with a 5:45 check in time and runs daily. Visit some of Nashville's most infamous haunted taverns and bars. Enjoy a round of drinks while listening to the tales of spooks and specters along the tour with a special drink discount for tour participants at each locale. Drinking is not required but tour takers will need a valid photo I.D. to participate. Call 888-844-3999 or 615-884-3999 for tour details and tickets.

Haunted Downtown Nashville Walking Tour: A comfortably paced 90 minute evening walking tour of some of the most famous, and haunted places in downtown historical Nashville. Tickets are just $15 for adults and $8 for children ages 7-11. Children under 6 can come for free. A ghoulishly fun family outing, the tour starts at 8 pm sharp meeting outside at the corner of 6th Ave. North and Union St. Wednesday through Monday. Reservations are required in advance and cameras are allowed. Call 888-844-3999 or 615-884-3999 for tickets and other information. Tour runs from April 3 through November 30. Group rates and private tours are also available.

Franklin on Foot Ghosts and Gore Tour: Step back in time for this 90 minute walking tour of downtown historical Franklin, TN. Ghost stories and tales of crime and horror abound during this tour chalk full of interesting historical tidbits and legend. The tour covers about 6 city blocks and is mostly wheelchair accessible. Tickets are $15 each for 14 and up only due to sensitive content. The tour includes a look at the historical battle of Franklin and its bloody aftermath. Reservations are required. Call 615-400-3808 for more information. Tour runs from May 27 through November 10 Monday through Sunday starting at 8 pm sharp weather permitting.

Haints and Hoodoos, Superstitions of the Old South at the Traveler's Rest Plantation and Museum: October 30 and 31st. Costumed characters and professional story tellers bring to life the Old South on this fun filled Halloween themed special event tour. Follow along and tour historic houses by candlelight, enjoy some campfire creepy tales and witness the highlight event with an interactive presentation of "the Hoodoo Story". Tickets run $10 for adults and $5.50 for children under 16. Tour lasts from 7 pm to 10 pm Thursday and Friday night only. The Traveler's Rest Plantation and Museum is located at 636 Farrell Parkway in Nashville, TN.

Fun for the whole family: kid's wanna have fun too!

Rippavilla's Cosmic Corn Maze and Plantation: Located 5700 Main Street in Springhill, TN about a half hours drive from downtown Nashville, Rippavilla's Corn Maze is designed to inspire universal interest in space exploration. Wander through more than 3 miles of paths cut through the corn designed to demonstrate the path of the solar system and our planets. Kids will get a scientific fun filled experience while enjoying the fresh outdoors. Visitors can learn about constellations, galaxies, space travel and more at the Rippavilla Plantation center as well as exploring ancient farming techniques based on the night skies. The corn maze is open from September 16th through November 2. Local astronomers volunteer to help visitors view and understand the constellations in the night sky on Sept. 25 and 26, Oct. 2 and 3 and Oct. 30 and 31. Stargazing lasts from 7:45 pm to 10. Tickets are $7 for 13 and up, $5 for children 6-12 and children under 6 get in free. The maze and center are open on Thursdays and Fridays 3 pm to 10, Sat 10 am to 10 pm and Sundays 12 pm to 6 pm. Picnic tables are available and cooler weather brings with it bonfires. Concessions are sold on site. The site also features an authentic fully restored 1850's mansion available for guided tours Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 5 pm and on Sundays from 1 pm to 5 pm. Special tour dates and times are available for groups and school outings. Call 931- 486-9037 for more details and info.

Honeysuckle Hill Farm: Open every weekend from Sept. 27 through Nov. 1, tickets run $8 per person with a 1$ discount for active duty military and children under 2 admitted free. Located at 175 Martin Chapel Road in Springfield, TN, this action packed adventure farm is about a half hour drive from Nashville. A fun filled day of events includes hayrides, pumpkins, mazes, hillbilly piggy races, a petting farm, a picnic and play area, a huge playground complete with a wooden fort and gigantic slides, and an apple orchard. Check out Scream Creek in the same location for some after hours more grownup Halloween fun.

The Legend of Sleepy Hallow performed at the Nashville Public Library: Performed in the children's theatre at the main branch of the Nashville Public Library located at 615 Church Street this adaptation combines story telling and shadow puppet imagery to create a fun filled afternoon for audiences of all ages. Younger children can also enjoy the Fun Fall Fest at the same time located in the arts and crafts room. Admission is free for all age groups. The show runs from October 24 to November 1, Fridays and Saturdays at 4 pm. A special performance interpreted in ASL will run on Thursday October 30th at 12:15 pm. The show runs about 40 minutes.

The Haunted Bookstore: Davis - Kidd bookseller located at 2121 Green Hills Village Drive, Suite 281 Nashville, TN will host a fun filled day long event including dressing up, face painting, snacks and decorations. Children under 12 who come in costume will receive a 10% discount towards purchases. No purchase is required to attend and the events are free, starting at 9 am. Call 615-385-2645 for directions.

Halloween with the Circle Players: enjoy this live presentation of Oliver Twist by Nashville's theatre troop the Circle Players. The Halloween day performance will be at the Looby branch of the Nashville Public Library in the Z. Alexander Looby Theatre. There will be a costume contest during intermission so come dressed for the occasion. The show starts at 8 pm. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students with a donation of a canned good item for the Second Harvest Food Bank. Kids under 6 get in for free. For those who do not wish to donate tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors aged 60 and up and students with children under 6 free.

Other going ons around town:

What would Halloween be without The Rocky Horror Picture Show Experience? Playing at the Belcourt Theatre this years event will include a live costumed presentation playing along with the film by the theatre troop Little Morals as well as a full bar and concessions being available. Audience participation is encouraged. This is an 18 and up only show folks! Tickets are $10. Showings will be Friday and Saturday Halloween weekend at midnight. The Belcourt Theatre is located at 2102 Belcourt Ave. Nashville, TN. call 615-3832-9140 for more details.

Octubafest at the Blair School of Music: Featuring the Blair tuba ensemble, faculty, staff and guest players performing tuba and euphonium solos, the free concert begins at 7 pm on Halloween night. visitors are encouraged to wear their costumes and snacks will be provided. The Blair School of Music is located at 2400 Blakemore Ave. Nashville, TN. The entrance to the school is located on Children's Way and parking for the event is at the South Garage. The performance is being held in the Steve and Judy Turner Hall.

Hallowine: Enjoy an evening of wine tasting, costume contests, haunted vineyards and other Halloween fun at this free event held at the Arrington Vineyards and Winery. Located at 6211 Patton Road in Arrington, TN about a half hour ride from downtown Nashville. No reservations are required and tables are available on a first come first serve basis. Guests are invited to bring their own blankets and dinner to enjoy a picnic on the lawn and costumed visitors are welcomed. The evenings events will begin last from 7 pm to 9 pm. The event is open to all ages.

Events for Halloween week: Get into the Halloween spirit with these fun activities leading up to Halloween day.

Tennessee Fairgrounds monthly Flea Market: Octobers flea market will be held the weekend of the 24-26. Admission is free plus $4 for parking on site. Come shop and browse for some of the biggest bargains around! Located at 625 Smith Ave. in Nashville, TN the Fairgrounds Flea Market is one of the largest in the state. Other events at the fairgrounds for Halloween week include NWA wrestling on the 28th at the sports arena. Admission is $8 for a ringside ticket and $7.50 for general admission. Doors open at 6 pm and the event starts at 7:45 pm.

History buffs might enjoy a trip to the Tennessee State Museum where they have an ongoing presentation of many exhibits displaying the history of Tennessee such as The First Tennesseans, The Frontier, The Age of Jackson, The Civil War and Reconstruction, The New South and Antebellum. Displays range from the dinosaurs to the civil war era. Admission to the museum and most exhibits is free though a donation is suggested. Special exhibits may require a small fee of 2 or 3 dollars. The museum is located at 505 Deadrick Street in downtown Nashville and is open Tue - Sat from 10 am to 5 pm and on Sundays from 1 pm to 5 pm. On Sat. Oct. 25th the museum will hold it's annual Halloween Haunted Museum festival. The free event includes fun family activities, ghosts stories, games and prizes, arts and crafts, refreshments and a ghost tour. The fun starts at 1 pm and winds up at 4 pm.

Music lovers can head over to the Station Inn for the Sunday night Bluegrass Jam session. Admission is free, but bring money for drinks and snacks. The Station Inn is a 21 and up establishment located at 402 12th Ave. South in Nashville. The show starts at 8:30 pm. Jazz enthusiasts can catch Terry Reid, one of Nashville's favorite piano vocalists live in concert every Tuesday at F. Scott's Restaurant and Jazz Bar located at 2210 Crestmoor Rd. in Nashville. Admission is free and the show starts at 7 pm.

Sports fans luck out this week with free admission to various games. Libscomb Universities Men's soccer team the Bison's play the Florida Gulf Coast University Eagles on Sunday the 26th at the Libscomb University Soccer complex located at Shacklefield Road and Belmont Blvd. in Nashville, TN. Game starts at 2:30 pm. Check out the Lipscomb University website for a schedule of other free sports games and events. Middle Tennessee State Universities Women's Volleyball team the Blue Raiders play the New Orleans Lady Privateers on Sunday the 26th at 2 pm. The game will be held at the MTSU campus at the Alumni Memorial Gym located at 1301 East Main Street in Murfreesboro, TN about a 20 minute drive from downtown Nashville.

Poker fans can participate in a real life game of Texas Hold 'Em at the Nashville Palace. Admission is free on October 27th. The game lasts from 6:30 pm to 9 pm and there is no buy in fee to join. The Nashville Palace is a 21 and up establishment located at 2611 McGavock Pike in Nashville, TN. Visitors can also enjoy live music nightly, good eats and great drinks as well as a chance at spotting some of the most famous names in town at this popular local hang out. The Nashville Palace will also hold its annual Halloween Party on Halloween night with free admission, costume contests, food and drink specials and lots of great prizes.

Historic downtown Franklin kicks off its 22nd annual Pumpkinfest on Oct. 25th. No charge to attend this day long activity packed event for all ages. Events include: costume contests, pumpkin carving displays, activities for children, trick or treating, live entertainment throughout the day, hayrides, arts and crafts, the People's Church Kids Zone and lots more. There will be concessions and the Franklin Tomorrow chili cook off will be offering tastes to the public starting at 11 am. To participate in the cook off tasting, trays are $6 each which include a 2 oz serving from each contestant. The festival starts around 10 am and winds down around 8 pm. It will be located between Main Street, Second and Fifth Avenues in Franklin, TN, about a half hour ride or so from downtown Nashville.