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owntown Columbus is going to be a very spooky place Saturday. Goblins, witches and ghouls will be roaming the streets along with fairy tale characters and comic book superheroes. The kicks off from noon-5 p.m. with Columbus on My Mind Day in the parking lot of Dillingham Place next to the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts' parking garage. Local and area attractions, including Callaway Gardens, BabyLand General, Wild Animal Safari and Oxbow Meadows Environmental Learning Center, will set up booths. The Spooktacular began when April Ducote-Hopson was scrambling for a Halloween event. "I had just been hired by the Business Improvement District (BID) and had two weeks to start my marketing," she said. "I love Halloween and knew that it was a win-win situation." Ducote-Hopson figured if there was candy, kids would come and because of them, parents would come. "The first year, in 2002, I had about 35 kids," she said. "The second year, we had 500. Last year, we had at least 2,500 because I ran out of bags. This year, we're expecting 3,000-4,000." Now, "this monster" event of hers, is a collaboration between the downtown merchants and civic organizations. For just $1, every child will receive a wristband, a bag of goodies and entrance to the carnival and a hay ride. The hay ride will go from the RiverCenter to Heritage Park on Broadway, where there will be more activities, including fortune tellers. Between 5-7 p.m., the carnival will open on the sidewalks surrounding the RiverCenter. There will be more than 30 activities, including ring-tossing, pumpkin bowling, mask making and a cakewalk. These activity booths will be manned by Columbus State University Student Government Association as well as local organizations like the Girl Scouts. The RiverCenter will have two jumping balloons, a dunking booth, popcorn machine and candy, story telling in the Studio Theatre and a miniature golf course. The United States Army will have a tank on display. And the Springer Opera House Theater Academy students will walk on stilts and juggle. From 7-8 p.m. kids can trick-or-treat on Broadway. Downtown merchants buy the candy that they hand out to the kids every year. "They really make it happen," Ducote-Hopson said. "The stores that are open really participate." Something new is a tent for parents to sit and wait for their children. Besides all the activities on Broadway, there are a few other things happening this weekend. The National Civil War Naval Museum at Port Columbus, 1002 Victory Drive, will present the second installment of the from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The museum's costumed docents will take visitors down the ghost-filled Chattahoochee River. It's not suitable for children 6 and younger. Tickets are $5. Call (706) 327-9798 or go to www.portcolumbus.org . The is 6 p.m.-midnight Friday, 10 a.m.-2 a.m. Saturday and noon-6 p.m. Sunday at the Coca-Cola Space Science Center, 701 Front Ave. There will be video games, card games, miniature games, rockets, game demos, sci-fi horror films, guest speakers, tournaments, vendors, collectibles and exhibits. Food vendors will be outside. Sun telescopes as well as star telescopes are available. Aaron Allston, who has written "Star Wars" books as well as comics and computer gaming programs, will be signing autographs and hanging out with folks from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and noon-4 p.m. Sunday. He's also producing his first horror movie. Chris Noles will be bringing remote controlled, night-flying helicopters. There's a generic sci-fi costume contest at 2 p.m. Saturday and a trivia contest at 1 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $5 daily or a three-day pass for $10 on Friday. At 7:30 p.m., ! will perform in the Bill Heard Theatre inside the RiverCenter. Kevin and Cindy Spencer return with even more mystery and magic. Tickets are $10-$15; $5 for children ages 3-12; free for children ages 2 and younger sharing the same seat with an adult. Call (706) 256-3612. This year's at the Columbus Museum, 1251 Wynnton Road, opens at 7 p.m. with movies starting at dark. The movies will be "Frankenstein Meets the Wolfman" and "Bride of Frankenstein." Wear your costumes; there will be a costume contest before the movies start. Coolers and picnic baskets are permitted. Candy and popcorn will be provided. Bring a blanket and lawn chairs. Tickets are $10; $8 for Columbus Film Society members. Call (706) 748-2562. 7-10:30 tonight and Monday and 7-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday. Phenix City Moose Lodge, 1809 Opelika Road. $6; $4 for children ages 5-11; free for ages 4 and younger with paid adult. Call (334) 297-9759. Dark (around 8 p.m.) until midnight, Friday-Saturday. 1712 Opelika Road, Phenix City. $8; $4 for children ages 10 and younger. (706) 332-9238. 18 miles west of Columbus, off U.S. 80 in Lee County. 7:30-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday and 7:30-10 p.m. Sunday-Monday. $10, $8 for children 12 and younger for either event; $18, $15 for children for both. Call (706) 566-7766. Rylander Theatre, 310 West Lamar St., Americus. 3:45-6 p.m. Sunday. Features house organist Fred Boska. $15 for trolley tour; $10 for walking tour; $5 for children. Call (229) 931-0001. This is cache, read story here
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