WHEN: Through Thursday, Oct. 21
WHERE: Augusta Exchange Club Fairgrounds
WHAT: The annual county fair, with rides, games, exhibits and food.
COST: $6 general admission, 5 and under $2; unlimited rides $17, individual tickets $1 each
LEARN MORE: georgiacarolina statefair.com
Western Carolina State Fair
WHEN: Oct. 21-30
WHERE: Aiken Fairgrounds, 14566 Columbia Highway N.
WHAT: The fair features rides, games, food, a demolition derby, music and a sea lion exhibit.
COST: $6, $5 in advance, general admission; mega passes are $20 and must be purchased by Oct. 20.
LEARN MORE: westerncarolinastatefair.com
Trick or Trot Halloween Carnival
WHEN: 1 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Augusta Common
WHAT: Games, activities, live entertainment and children's costumes take center stage at this downtown festival. Participants in the 2010 Augusta Half Marathon can pick up registration packets at the event.
COST: Free
LEARN MORE: augustaga.gov
Jack O'Lanterns on Journal
WHEN: Saturday
WHERE: Downtown Thomson
WHAT: This festival features a costume contest, live entertainment and games. Visitors can also see entries in the city's second Fall Crow Contest, in which local businesses decorate scarecrows to represent them and line them up on main street.
COST: Free
LEARN MORE: Thomson-mcduffie.com
Spirits of Hallowed Eve
WHEN: 6-9 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Living History Park, 299 W. Spring Grove Ave., North Augusta
WHAT: Guided tours through the park, where ghoulish re-enactors tell ghost stories by candlelight.
COST: Free, but a $1 per person or $5 per family reservation fee is required. The fee will be refunded at the gate.
LEARN MORE: colonialtimes.us
Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat
WHEN: 5:30-8:30 p.m. Oct. 28
WHERE: Patriots Park Gym, 5445 Columbia Road, Columbia County
WHAT: This festival is a food drive to help needy families while giving little ghouls and goblins a place to trick or treat at local businesses. The first 500 children will receive a free reusable Halloween bag.
COST: Donation of a can of food
LEARN MORE: columbiacountyga.gov
Jack O'Lantern Jubilee
WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 30
WHERE: Georgia Avenue, North Augusta
WHAT: This annual fall festival features live music, arts and crafts vendors, children's rides and festival food, all in the middle of downtown North Augusta.
COST: Free
LEARN MORE: (803) 441-4300
Columbia County Fair
WHEN: Nov. 4-13
WHERE: Columbia County Fairgrounds, 5462 Columbia Road
WHAT: Columbia County's annual fair feature rides, games, food and exhibits.
Learn More: columbiacountyfair.net
Fall Fest 2010 and Haunted Forest
When: Weekends through Oct. 31; 7:30-10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 1-10 p.m. Sunday
WHERE: Graystone Ranch Wildlife Education Center, 1017 McManus Road, Hephzibah
COST: $10 for the weekend
WHAT: Access to 500 acres of hiking trails, animal tours, a pumpkin patch, hay maze, hay and boat rides, food, photo opportunities with a scarecrow, trike and pony rides and fishing.
LEARN MORE: graystoneranch.com
