Weekend full of haunts, crafts, syrup and football

Just because Auburn doesn’t have a home football game this weekend doesn’t mean area residents will be short on activities. This is one of the most entertaining, busy weekends of the fall, loaded with family-oriented opportunities.

The spooky tour of the Penn Young House and the haunted grounds at Spring Villa Park is an annual favorite among residents. It’s the city of Opelika’s only sponsored Halloween-oriented haunted house, complete with its own “Trail of Terror and Haunted Hayride.” Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for those 10 and younger.

Haunts at Spring Villa begin at dark with tickets no longer for sale at 10:30 p.m.

One of the largest annual haunted events in the Southeast is the annual scary scene at Pope’s Farm on Lee Road 724 in Salem. Pope’s offers a number of live “actors” and multi-media screens. The event is open from 6:30 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday with tickets selling from $12 to $28 for adults to $10 to $25 for children 12 and under, depending on the number of attractions purchased.

Events at Spring Villa and Pope’s conclude on Oct. 31.

If high school football is in your blood, Friday night offers a marquee match-up when Class 6A No. 1 Auburn (8-0) plays at long-time rival Opelika (6-2).

Kickoff at Bulldog Stadium is 7 p.m.

One of the area’s most storied traditions, the Syrup Sopping Day at Loachapoka, begins at 7 a.m. Saturday at Loachapoka Park and lasts until folks decide it’s over. The 37th annual event offers a number of old-fashioned treats including mule rides, pony rides, crafts and live music.

While in Loachapoka, don’t forget about the Lee County Historical Society’s 38th annual Historical Fair. The event, which lasts Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Lee County Historical Society Museum, features folk-life demonstrators, basket-making, spinning, weaving, and country cooking to the tune of “sweet tater biscuits and fritters.” Admission fee is $3 and free for children with an adult.

The second Fight Hunger food drive is from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at Wal-Mart in Opelika. Last year, the event collected more than 9,000 pounds for the Food Bank of East Alabama. Food collected will go toward the pound total for the Beat Bama Food Drive.

Why not make the most of these community-oriented opportunities?