Seasonal Fun

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SEASONAL FUN A (Socially Distanced) Fall Activity Guide

From patches to scenic paths

BY ANDY SMITH

The Great Elizabeth Pumpkin Wall Returns

Come see the jack-o’-lanterns again—but keep it movin’

THE 60-FOOT HALLOWEEN DECORATION in Elizabeth returns for its 16th birthday. Each year, residents line a towering shelf with gourds and typically add a positive, illuminated phrase like “Love” or “Earth.” Especially this year, organizers say, people need seasonal cheer.

“(We) feel like as an entirely outdoor event it gives us a chance to safely pull o an event for our community that everyone can look forward to,” says John Short, coorganizer of Elizabeth Community Association and occasional Charlotte magazine contributor. “Plus, the rst one was during an election year, so we want to uphold that tradition.”

The wall debuted in 2004 as a private e ort at 537 Lamar Ave., with the word “Kerry” lit to show support for that year’s Democratic Presidential nominee. In 2005, then-N.C. Senator and future Mayor Dan Clodfelter hosted the decoration in his front yard. Since the neighborhood association took over in 2013, the wall’s become less overtly partisan—although it can be fun to see the messages and faces that adorn the hundreds of jack o’lanterns that line the shelves.

This year’s word or phrase? Undetermined, but here’s a suggestion with a double meaning for Halloween 2020: “Mask Up.”

(Above) Your Mom’s Doughnuts partners with Wise Acres to create a doughnut using the farm’s pumpkins (right).

It’s Pickin’ Time

A pumpkin patch guide for Charlotteans

WITH EVER-CHANGING RESTRICTIONS over the summer, area farms adopted “U-Pick” programs to let visitors who like to get their hands dirty stay safe. Below, we’ve rounded up sites that will stay open this season and intend to be your pumpkin providers:

HODGES FAMILY FARM

3900 Rocky River Rd. E hodgesfarmnc.com

TIP: Reedy Creek Park is a 5-minute drive from the farm. On a gorgeous fall day, both spots are enchanting.

MILLSTONE CREEKS ORCHARD

506 Parks Crossroad Church Rd., Ramseur millstonecreekorchards.com

TIP: As you can tell by the name, this farm is also known for its apple elds. Fuel your pumpkin-pickin’ with Millstone’s beloved cider. BUSH-N-VINE FARM

1650 Filbert Hwy., York, S.C. bushnvinefarm.com

TIP: If you don’t want to risk bumping into a crowd, you can order ahead to get your pumpkins and still support the local farm.

HUNTER FARM

13624 Providence Rd., Weddington thehunterfarm.com

TIP: A er mid-November, Hunter swaps out its pumpkins for Christmas trees. WISE ACRES ORGANIC FARM

4701 Hartis Rd., Indian Trail, N.C. wiseacresorganic.com

TIP: The Wise Pie Wood-Fired Oven Pizza is worth the usual lines; just take it to a properly distanced bench before returning to the pickin’.

Scenic Drives Near Charlotte

You don’t need to venture far to see seasonal splendor

CROWDERS MOUNTAIN DRIVE

Length: 8 miles Distance from Charlotte: 28.7 miles Crowders Mountain State Park is a hotspot for climbers and hikers, and it’s impressive from the winding road that snakes through its peaks. The 5,210-acre state park is also worth its own visit, with more than 10 trails of varying degrees of di culty.

Looking out from the summit of Crowders Mountain in Crowders Mountain State Park at the top of the Backside trail, accessed from the Linwood Road Access.

Campbell’s Covered Bridge is located about 3.5 miles off of SW Hwy. 11 in Landrum, South Carolina. It’s the only covered bridge remaining in the state.

Town Creek Indian Mound offers a glimpse of pre-Columbian life in the North Carolina Piedmont. CHEROKEE FOOTHILLS SCENIC HIGHWAY

Length: 119.8 miles Distance from Charlotte: 54.2 miles Parks and orchards line S.C. Highway 11, also known as the Cherokee Foothills Scenic Highway. As one might guess from the name, the road was once used by the Cherokee—as well as French and English fur traders, hundreds of years ago.

INDIAN HERITAGE TRAIL

Length: 18 miles Distance from Charlotte: 56.9 miles Aside from its charming fruit stands and small towns, this trail also leads to Indigenous archaeological and historical sites. The Town Creek Indian Mound in particular o ers a window into the Pee Dee people who built it more than 400 years ago.

Carolina BalloonFest Changes Direction

No crowds this year, but balloons will ascend again

FOR ITS 47TH YEAR, the Statesville festival eliminated public attendance, from technicians and pilots to the thousands who arrive to watch them soar each year. The nonpro t behind the festival, National Balloon Rally Charities, still plans to work with local pilots to make sure balloons ascend above Iredell County in October for a tribute event.

Details will be posted on the event’s social pages, so just keep looking up.

Low-Cost Costumes

Halloween won’t be as lively this year, but you can still dress up for the ’gram. Here are three regionally focused and affordable ideas. Remember to use the hashtag #scarelocal.

BRAD PANOVICH

WCNC’s beloved chief meteorologist is an ideal choice if you can’t commit too much time to costuming. First, hit up Amazon for a bald cap if you’re the kind of jerk who still has a full head of hair. Pair that with your Sunday’s best and an umbrella, and you’ve got yourself a weatherman. SOUTH END HEARTS WALL

Evelyn Henson’s 40-foot mural at South End’s Design Center has its own hashtag (#confettiheartswall) and is our own Selfie Mecca. To pay tribute to the now-iconic work, grab some white tights and color in some hearts across your arms and legs. Then, cut out a heart in poster board, stencil “BE KIND,” and spray-paint it red. ‘NO PUBLIC PARKING’ SIGN

Truly, one of Charlotte’s most dastardly villains these days is the omnipresent “No Parking Sign.” Some poster board, markers, adhesive, and makeshift straps should do the trick for this one. It rises only to a medium level of difficulty because you’ll need some neat handwriting to render this frightening phrase. Before the evening arrives, stand in random parking lots to get into character.