Jessica Forrester

5Halloween Recipes Fangtastic

BY JESSICA FORRESTER

As a kid, my favorite holiday was Halloween. (And, it still is! Candy ... what’s not to love?) My mom’s best friend, whom I call my second mom, always went a few steps further than just giving out candy. Each year, her kitchen table was filled with themed snacks, punch and goodie bags, and I looked forward to stopping at her house most.

Naturally, when we bought our first house in Towne Lake in 2020, I was excited to give out candy to trick-or-treaters in our subdivision. The pandemic had different plans, but, thanks to my second mom, I knew just how to celebrate. We moved to Canton last year — not in a subdivision, so we probably won’t have any trick-or-treaters this year either — but I will be continuing my spooky spreads tradition.

If you’re like me, you started seeing Halloween treat ideas on Pinterest in August. But, if you haven’t been inspired yet, search for spooky charcuterie boards. That’s a trend so beautiful and fun, I hope it’s here to stay. Whether you’re planning a night in, a Halloween party or looking for activities to do with your kids, check out these Halloween-themed recipes (and jokes … that may haunt you). You’ll be goblin up this eeriesistible spread of goodies in no time.

Mummy Dogs

What is a ghost’s favorite street food? Haunt dogs. Ingredients

• 1 can croissant dough • 1 package hot dogs • mustard or ketchup

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Using one section of dough for each, wrap hot dogs to look like mummies, leaving an opening for the eyes. Place on a baking sheet. Bake for 12 minutes, or until light golden brown. Place dots of mustard or ketchup for the eyes.

Note: Make mini mummy dogs by cutting the dough and hot dogs into smaller pieces.

Creepy Hands

What did the bucket of popcorn dress up as on Halloween?A kernel. Ingredients

• 8 cups popped popcorn • candy corn • 6 clear food handler’s gloves • ribbon or twist ties • 6 plastic spider rings

Directions

Place candy corn inside the end of each glove finger. Pack gloves with popcorn. Close gloves tightly at wrist and tie with ribbon. Place rings on one finger on each hand. Makes six bags.

Note: These are great Halloween party favors. If you’re distributing to trick-or-treaters, fill gloves with individually wrapped candies instead.

Trick or Treat Punch

What did the orange say when the costume contest was canceled? All zest up; no place to go. Ingredients

• 46 ounces pineapple juice • 1 can frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed • 6 ounces orange gelatin • 2 liters ginger ale (or two bottles of champagne) • 1 plastic, food-grade glove • 2½ cups Hawaiian Punch Green Berry Rush • 3 cups water

Directions

At least one day ahead, fill a glove with Hawaiian Punch. Tightly secure the top of the glove with a twist tie or rubber band. Cover a baking sheet with paper towels. Place the glove on the baking sheet and use a bag of frozen veggies (or anything else you have in your freezer) to elevate the tied end of the glove to prevent leaking. Freeze overnight.

When ready to serve, bring the water and gelatin to a boil in a large saucepan. Stir in pineapple juice and orange juice concentrate. Pour into punch bowl and add ginger ale. Cut the glove away from the ice and float the frozen hand in the punch.

Witch’s Brew

What is a witch’s favorite dessert?Ice scream. Ingredients

• 2 cups apple cider • 1½ cups vanilla ice cream • 2 tablespoons honey • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions

Add cider, ice cream, honey and cinnamon to a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into glasses and sprinkle with more cinnamon, if desired.

Spider Web Dip

What do ghosts order at Mexican restaurants? A boo-rito. Ingredients

• 1 package cream cheese, softened • 8 ounces salsa • ½ cup guacamole • 2 tablespoons sour cream • blue corn tortilla chips

Directions

Place cream cheese and salsa in a blender or food processor; blend until almost smooth. Spread mixture into a round serving dish or pie plate. Smooth guacamole over top, leaving a ½-inch border around the edge. Place sour cream in a resealable bag. Cut off a tiny corner of the bag and pipe sour cream in 3 circles (with one additional dot in the middle). Run a tip of a butter knife or a toothpick through sour cream to make a “spider web.” Serve with blue corn tortilla chips.

OUTSIDE CHEROKEE

Through Oct. 30

Pumpkin Fest includes unlimited access to the corn maze, hay ride, petting zoo, scarecrow building and more at Pettit Creek Farms in Cartersville. Admission is $15 for adults and $12 for ages 2-12. https://pettitcreekfarms.com/ pumpkin-fest-2. Oct. 1-2

Georgia Marble Festival is back at Lee Newton Park in Jasper, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. There will be live entertainment, a parade, kids zone, arts and crafts, quarry tours, chainsaw carving and more. www.georgiamarblefestival.com. Oct. 8-9

Chalktoberfest, a chalk and beer festival on Marietta Square, is free and open to the public, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. www.chalktoberfest.com. Oct. 8-9, 15-16

The Georgia Apple Festival begins at 9 a.m. each day at the Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds. Admission is $10; children 12 and younger are admitted free. Visitors can expect more than 300 vendors with handmade items, a parade and an antique car show. www.georgiaapplefestival.org. Oct. 15-16

The Gold Rush Days Festival is held annually in Dahlonega to celebrate the 1828 discovery of gold in the city. More than 200 art and craft exhibitors and vendors will gather around the square and historic district for this two-day festival. https://goldrushdaysfestival.com/gold-rush-days.

IN CHEROKEE

Through Oct. 2

Celebrate WDSTKtoberfest in downtown Woodstock. Participating restaurants will offer Bavarian food and drink specials during the event. On Oct. 1, there will be a pub crawl, 2-6 p.m. visitwoodstockga.com/wdstktoberfest. Oct. 1

Autumn Fest is 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Barrett Park in Holly Springs. The festival features more than 80 arts and crafts vendors, a kids zone with free games and activities, and food vendors. www.hollyspringsga.us/autumnfest. Oct. 8

Tailgate With a Firefighter, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. at The Mill on Etowah in Canton, will feature face painting, games, fire trucks, dress like a firefighter contest, food in a souvenir fire helmet and more. Tickets for games are $1. Presented by Cherokee County Fire & Emergency Services and Safe Kids; all proceeds help fund fire safety education. www.etowahmill.com/events. Oct. 15

The Taste and Brews Fall Festival is back from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. in Etowah River Park in Canton. Taste, sample and enjoy the flavors of Georgia, and listen to live music by regional acts. Admission is free, and there will be a variety of children’s activities. www.tasteandbrews.com. Oct. 21

Screen on the Green: “Hocus Pocus 2,” begins at 8 p.m. at The Mill on Etowah in Canton. A meet and greet with the Sanderson sisters will be at 7 p.m. www.etowahmill.com/events. Oct. 21-23, 28-30

“A Party to Murder,” directed by Jeannie and Wally Hinds, will be at the Canton Theatre. Performances are at 8 p.m. FridaysSaturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Come dressed in your costumes for a contest during intermission. www.cherokeetheatre.org.

“A Part to Murder” cast, from left: John Clark as Willie (with his face in the soup), Christine Fitzgerald as Valerie, Darrell Blaylock as Charles, Sarah Fetchter as Henri, Richard O'Mark as Elwood and Lauren Nohl as McKenzie. Photo by Sarah Nation.

The Great Pumpkin Fest, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., will have a DJ, craft and food vendors, hayrides, ax throwing, archery, a costume contest and more, at Cherokee Veterans Park in Canton. Wear your costumes and trick-or-treat with vendors. Admission is free. www.playcherokee.org. Wear your Halloween costumes, and join the inaugural No Tricks, Just Treats Walk, noon-6 p.m., along Main Street in Canton. www.cantonga.gov. Oct. 26

Scavenger Hunt: Halloween Hike is 6:30 p.m. at Lewis Park in Woodstock. Wear your costumes, and have flashlights ready. Cost is $10 per participant. All ages are welcome; minors must be accompanied by an adult. Registration ends 5 p.m. Oct. 24. www.playcherokee.org/178/Outdoor-Recreation. Oct. 28-29

Denim Fest, a fall festival and ode to history, will be 4-10 p.m. Friday and noon-10 p.m. Saturday at The Mill on Etowah in Canton. There will be trick-or-treating, barbecue tasting, a kid’s costume contest, an adult denim jacket contest, live music and more. www.etowahmill.com/event/denimfest. Eagle Watch presents Carnevil, a haunted carnival with hayrides, concessions, games and more at 3045 Clubhouse Drive, Woodstock. There will be a “safe scare” for kids at 6 p.m. Activities for all from 7-10 p.m. Cost is $10 per five activity tickets. Eagle Watch residents get five tickets per amenities ID. Oct. 29

Cherokee County Veteran Organizations’ BBQ features live bands, a craft fair, raffles, trick-or-treating, a costume contest and more, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. at the American Legion Post 45, 160 McClure St., in Canton. Georgia Barbecue Association members and amateurs will compete for prizes and awards. Barbecue plates will be available for purchase, benefiting Veteran Suicide Awareness and the Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program. For more information, email jlindenmayer80@gmail.com or john_b1966@comcast.net. Oct. 31

Halloween Trail of Tricks and Treats will be 5-9 p.m. at Rubes Creek Trail, across from Fire Station 14 in Woodstock. There will be activities for all ages. Bring flashlights and collect treats from vendors along the 1.4-mile trail. https://woodstock.recdesk.com.

SCHOOL FESTIVALS

Oct. 14

Bascomb Elementary, 6-8 p.m., 1335 Wyngate Parkway, Woodstock, 770-721-6630. There will be games, candy, face painting, an obstacle course, food trucks, Kona Ice, a DJ and more. Oct. 28

Free Home Elementary, 6-9 p.m., 12525 Cumming Highway, Canton, 770-721-5960. There will be food trucks, vendors, games, raffles, a chili cook off and more. Nov. 4

TRUNK OR TREAT

Oct. 8

Timothy Lutheran Church, 5:30-7 p.m., 556 Arnold Mill Road, Woodstock, 770-928-2812. Oct. 26

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 6-8 p.m., 1208 Rose Creek Drive, Woodstock, https://gslutheran.org.

Hickory Flat United Methodist

Church, 5:30-7:30 p.m., 4056 E. Cherokee Drive, Canton, www.hickoryflat.org. Oct. 29

Bascomb United Methodist Church, 5-7 p.m., 2295 Bascomb Carmel Road, Woodstock, 770-926-9755. Activities include a haunted hut, costume contest, hayrides and more. Oct. 30

Hopewell Baptist Church, 6-9 p.m., 78 Ridge Road, Canton, 770-213-1690.

GHOST TOURS Acworth Ghost Tours

Stroll down sidewalks in historic Acworth while listening to tour guides tell stories based on documented sightings, firsthand experiences, research and history. Tours are Friday and Saturday evenings (weather permitting) in October. www.jimmagus.com. Ghosts of Marietta

Tour guides will excite you with tales of departed spirits and mysterious residents as you walk through Marietta’s historic streets, and, if you’re lucky, you will experience them, as well. Visit www. toursofmarietta.com/ghost-tours to book a tour, Fridays through Sundays year-round. Roswell Ghost Tour

Follow experienced paranormal investigators on a 2.5-hour walking tour, operating year-round. Learn about paranormal phenomena experienced by residents, businesses and tour-goers on a hunt for haunts. View the tour schedule at http:// roswellghosttour.com. Dahlonega Walking Tours Dive into the rich and fascinating history of Dahlonega with the Historic Ghost Tour, a 1.5-mile guided tour with approximately 15 stops. Or, for ages 21 and older, Grapes and Ghosts Wine Tour takes guests on a .6-mile guided tour. Sample local wines while listening to stories about the town’s history. Check the calendar for tour dates www.dahlonegawalkingtours.com/facilities.