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NATCHEZ — Downtown Natchez is full of haunting and fun this fall with a “Haunted Library” during the monthly game day at the Judge George W. Armstrong Library and other events to mark the season of thrills and chills.

During each month’s game day event, children who might not otherwise go to the library are enticed to go with Xbox, PS5, Wii, Pokémon games as well as card and board games, comics and graphic novels.

The next game day is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 28, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The October game day also includes a Haunted Library experience happening at the same time as the game day on Friday, Oct. 25, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the upstairs part of the library, said library director Michael Strawberry.

“We have ghost tours happening all throughout Natchez, but we really don’t have a haunted house,” Strawberry said. “So, my program director and I got together and decided to trade our annual trunk or treat for a haunted house — or rather, a haunted library.”

The Haunted Library is sponsored by the Friends of the Library organization. Tours of the Haunted Library cost $2 for adults and $1 for children to support this and future library activities. However, no child will be turned away from touring the haunted library because they can’t pay, Strawberry said, adding any donations made to cover the event for those children are appreciated.

Tours are for anyone in pre-k on up to adulthood, though the scary will be toned down a bit on Saturday morning for the little ones, he said. Area high school students will be dressed up like Jason, Freddy Krueger, and other popular thriller characters.

The library is also sponsoring weekly story time in the Natchez Pumpkin Patch, located in the courtyard of the Natchez Inc. building at the corner of Main and Pearl streets. Area children are invited to storytime beginning each Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. on October 15, 22, and 29.

“We are opening the pumpkin patch a week early this year. Because there is something going on every weekend in October and we want to utilize that extra time,” said Downtown Natchez Alliance President Jo Ann Brumfield.

The patch opens on Oct. 10 and will remain open through Halloween night, where visitors can purchase pumpkins or take free pictures in the patch.

DNA is seeking local volunteers and businesses to sell pumpkins and read stories in the patch. Area merchants are encouraged to get into the fall spirit with a storefront decorating contest and a “Battle of the Businesses” pumpkin sales competition.

That’s where a business takes a two-hour time slot and the pumpkin patch and we see who can sell the most within that two-hour slot. For more information, visit natchezdna.org or contact DNA Director Kevin Miers at 601-392-6915 or email kevin@natchezdna.org.

Below is a quick look at a few other fall activities happening in downtown Natchez.

Natchez Balloon Festival

Now celebrating its 39th year, the Natchez Balloon Festival will bring hot air balloons to Miss Lou skies as well as festival food, fun carnival rides and music to the ears of festival goers on the grounds of Rosalie. The festival lasts from Oct. 18 through 19. Friday-only passes start at $20. Saturday-only advance passes are $35 or $40 the day of. Weekend passes are $40 in advance or $50 the day. VIP passes for the weekend are $325 in advance or $375 the day of. Saturday-only VIP passes are $130 in advance or $155 the day of.

Tickets and merchandise are on sale now at natchezballoonfestival.com or at the Historic Natchez Foundation.

Duck Hunt

The Halloween Rubber Duck Scavenger Hunt lasts from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 26 and 27.

To participate in the Duck Hunt, children of all ages are invited to pick up a worksheet at Arts Natchez at 425 Main Street or download one at natchezdna.org. Then they venture downtown to look for all the rubber ducks listed and write down where they found them.

Then they can bring the completed worksheet back to ArtsNatchez and exchange it for their own rubber duck to take home.

For more information, contact Robin Person at 662-515-0490.

Pet Parade

On Oct. 17 is the HOWL-oween Pet Parade, where pets can show off their Halloween costumes, to benefit the Natchez-Adams County Humane Society.

The entry fee is $5 with a bag of cat or dog food. Dress up your pet in their Halloween and meet up at the downtown Pumpkin Patch. The parade will cover two blocks of downtown Natchez.

The Witches Ride

DNA will host a Witches Ride on Oct. 24, where participants can dress their bets and hop on their brooms, bikes or even wagons and strollers to benefit the Natchez Stewpot.

Like the pet parade, the ride covers two blocks in Downtown Natchez.

Trick or Treat for Little Feet

The highlight of Halloween is, of course, Trick or Treat. During Trick or Treat for Little Feet, downtown merchants join in handing out candy and sweets for safe, spooky trick-or-treating fun. The festivities last from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 31.

The event is sponsored by the Downtown Natchez Alliance and the Natchez-Adams County Chamber of Commerce.

Learn more about these events and others at visitnatchez.org/events