Four Fall Events We Love Around Auburn and Opelika

Fall events in Auburn and Opelika give us plenty to enjoy beyond football season. October brings family-friendly fun, outdoor movies, local traditions and a few experiences designed for people who actually enjoy being scared.

The Eerie Express may have already rolled through Monkey Park this year, but there is still plenty of fall fun ahead. Here are four local events worth adding to your October calendar.

Tour de Fright in Opelika

Friday, October 9 | 6:00–8:00 p.m.
Opelika SportsPlex Outdoor Walking Track
Free admission

Tour de Fright turns the walking trail behind the Opelika SportsPlex into a family-friendly haunted ride.

Bring your bicycles, tricycles, scooters or strollers and make your way around the decorated trail. The event is open to all ages, so it is a fun choice for families who want a little Halloween excitement without committing to a full haunted attraction.

Participants should meet in the rear parking lot behind the SportsPlex.

View the official Tour de Fright details.

Pope’s Haunted Farm in Salem

October 9–10, 16–17, 23–24 and 30–31
6:30–10:00 p.m. Central Time
Salem, Alabama

If your idea of fall fun involves darkness, chainsaws and questioning every decision that led you into the woods, Pope’s Haunted Farm is for you.

The 2026 season features three separate attractions: the Haunted Barn, Haunted Forest and Haunted Hayride. Visitors can purchase admission to one, two or all three attractions.

General admission is $20 for one attraction, $35 for two or $50 for all three. Friday visits are a good option for shorter lines and discounted three-attraction admission. The farm recommends arriving early, especially as Halloween gets closer.

This is the genuinely scary option on our list, so save it for the older kids and adults who enjoy a good adrenaline rush.

See the 2026 schedule and purchase tickets from Pope’s Haunted Farm.

Fright Night Movies in Auburn

Friday, October 16 | Beginning at 6:45 p.m.
Lake Wilmore Park Athletic Fields
Free admission

Bring a blanket or lawn chair for a Halloween double feature under the stars at Lake Wilmore Park.

The evening begins with the family-friendly movie Casper at 6:45 p.m., followed by The Ring at 8:30 p.m. Complimentary popcorn will be available, with additional food offered for purchase.

Pets are not permitted, and the event will be held rain or shine. If the weather does not cooperate, the movies and activities will move inside the Lake Wilmore Park Recreation Center gymnasium.

This is an easy option for families who want a relaxed evening outdoors—and anyone who would rather watch the scary stuff from the safety of a lawn chair.

Find the official Fright Night Movies information.

Syrup Sopping Day in Loachapoka

Saturday, October 31 | 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Pioneer Park, 6500 Stage Road, Loachapoka
Free admission

Syrup Sopping Day has been a Lee County tradition for more than 50 years, welcoming thousands of visitors to Pioneer Park each fall.

Guests can watch sugar cane being ground and cooked into syrup using traditional methods while exploring historic buildings and demonstrations such as blacksmithing, quilting and other pioneer crafts.

The festival also includes live music, more than 100 arts, crafts and food vendors, and plenty to eat. Early arrivals can try the famous sweet potato and sausage biscuits with fresh syrup before they sell out.

It is local, a little old-fashioned and exactly the kind of tradition that makes fall in Lee County feel special.

Learn more about Syrup Sopping Day from the Lee County Historical Society.

Fall Is Better Close to Home

One of our favorite things about living in the Auburn–Opelika area is that there is always something happening nearby. Our communities give us plenty of ways to spend time together, support local organizations and build traditions that make this area feel like home.