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• Thrills and Chills at Cary's Howlin' Good Halloween
• Plan Before a Fire
• Veterans Day Events
• Game On!
• Be Safe: Close Your Garage
• Cary It Green
• Cultural Connection
• Fall Litter Sweep

Thrills and Chills at Cary’s Howlin’ Good Halloween 

Bring your ghoulish guys and gals to take part in all the hair-raising fun October 27-31. From ghostly walks to  pumpkin carvings, plus zombies, witches and goblins, there is something for everyone at locations throughout Cary. Unless otherwise noted, activities are free and open to the public:

Bring your carved pumpkin to the Pumpkin Flotilla at the Fred G. Bond Metro Park Boathouse  from 4-7 p.m. October 27.  Watch it set sail across Bond Lake at twilight, and enjoy a discounted boat rental, too. Cousins Maine Lobster and Stuft food trucks will be on site with Justin Runyon performing.

The Cary Teen Council will take you on a spooky walk through their house of horrors at Herbert’s Haunted House from 7-9 p.m. October 27-28 at the Herb Young Community Center. All ages are welcome but parental discretion is advised. $2 per person. 

We’re excited to bring the 2nd  annual Zombiepalooza to The Cary Theater on October 27 at 7 p.m. It will feature local filmmakers’ own zombie films, cosplay zombies, and classic films to scare the pants right off you!  

Dress up in your favorite costume creation for our Costume Dance Party from 1-2:30 p.m. October 28 at the Cary Arts Center. Party includes light refreshments, an art activity, dancing, and costume awards. Ages K5-12 must be accompanied by an adult. $1 per person. 

Spooky stories and ghostly legends are sure to send chills up your spine at the Ghost Walk in Downtown Cary. The walk, dramatized by Cary Players, will begin at the Page-Walker Arts & History Center at 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m., and 7:30 p.m. October 28. Ages 10 and up. $15 per person.

Join us for Cary’s Great Pumpkin Carve! All ages are welcome to stop by the Pumpkin Patch at Downtown Park from 2-8 p.m. October 28 to pick out the perfect pumpkin to carve at one of the carving stations, or bring your own. Pumpkins will be lit for display and judged in a variety of categories. Stay for family-friendly Halloween specials shown outdoors, including “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”! Pumpkins are for sale at low cost; all other activities are free. 

Calling all goblins, ghosts, princesses, superheroes, and everything in between to the Halloween Mall Crawl! Dress in your best Halloween costume and join us at Cary Towne Center from 4-5:30 p.m. October 28 for an afternoon of trick-or-treating, storytelling, and a magic show.

“Eye of newt, and toe of frog, wool of bat, and tongue of dog!” Join us for the Witches Tea from 2-4 p.m. October 31 at the Cary Senior Center. Costumes are welcome but not required! To reserve your spot, register by October 24. Ages 55 and up. $10 per person. 

“Halloween” at www.townofcary.org or (919) 469-4061

Plan Before a Fire

If a fire started in your home, you may have as little as three minutes to escape. To be sure you and your family members get out quickly and safely, start planning and practicing your escape now! 

Begin with a simple map of your home to plan two ways out of each room. Don’t forget to identify a meeting place outside in front of your home. Next, practice your plan with a home fire drill. Push the test button on a smoke alarm and have everyone exit to your meeting place. School-age children should be encouraged to escape unaided in the event you can’t help them. Finally, talk about how your drill went. Identify ways to improve and make a goal to have at least two a year, including one at night.

“Fire Education” at www.townofcary.org

Veterans Day Events

Join us as we honor all veterans during the Annual Veterans Day Luncheon from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. November 9 at the Herb Young Community Center. A patriotic program, catered lunch, and entertainment await you. The program is free; donations are welcome. Please register by October 26. 

Then, on November 11  from 11 a.m.-noon, join us at the Veterans Freedom Park as we continue our remembrance with patriotic music and speakers.

“Veterans Day” at www.townofcary.org

Game On!

Boys ages 4-9, grab your mom and join us for the Mother & Son Sports Spectacular from 1:30-3 p.m. November 4 at Bond Park Community Center. We begin the day playing fun and crazy sports games and then end with ice cream sundaes and awards. Please register early!

WakeMed Soccer Park hosts the UNC Women’s and Men’s Soccer teams as they face off against Notre Dame. The women play 6-8 p.m. October 26; the men play 7-9 p.m. October 27.

WakeMed Soccer Park hosts the following showcases this November: NCFC Youth NSS Girls Junior Showcase Soccer Tournament November 4-5; NCFC Youth NSS Boys Junior Showcase Soccer Tournament November 11-12; and NCFC Youth NSS Girls Showcase Soccer Tournament November 17-19.

www.townofcary.org/soccer or (919) 858-0464

Join us for the WWTA Harvest NTRP Adult Tennis Tournament at 5:30 p.m. October 27-29 at Cary Tennis Park. This USTA-sanctioned adult tournament provides singles, doubles, and mixed play opportunities for men and women. 

Come out November 11 and 12 to the Cary Fall Futures Junior Tennis Tournament, where juniors of all ages will be out enjoying the game of tennis!

www.townofcary.org/tennis or (919) 462-2061

Be Safe: Close Your Garage

As part of Operation Hello Neighbor, we’re advising residents to close their garages at night to protect their personal property. Leaving your door open makes it very easy for criminals to steal valuable things from your garage like tools, sporting equipment, and even your car. It is also very easy for criminals to walk right into your house if your garage door is open.  In addition to securing your garage, we also suggest that you remove valuables from your vehicles and make sure they are secure. 

“Crime Safety Tips” at www.townofcary.org or (919) 460-4903

Cary It Green

Holiday Collection 

Town offices are closed November 23-24 for Thanksgiving. Garbage, recycling, and yard waste collection for Thursday customers will move to Friday. There are no changes for Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday collections. The Citizen’s Convenience Center is closed November 23. 

“Holiday Schedule” at www.townofcary.org

Rebalancing 

Our rebalanced solid waste collection routes go into effect the week of November 6. Households with curbside collection changes can find reminder information in their annual mailer delivered in early October as a follow up to their September notice. A reminder notice will also be placed on the trash cart of those households one week prior to the change. 

“Route Rebalance” at www.townofcary.org or (919) 469-4090

Creepy Contaminants 

Candy bags and wrappers are all creepy contaminants in our recycling stream. Treat your cart right and only recycle accepted items. Refer to the list on the back of your recycling calendar mailed in early October.   

“Recycling” at www.townofcary.org

Cary Parkway/High House Road Improvements 

New turn lanes at the intersection of Cary Parkway and High House Road are still on the way although construction isn’t expected to begin until next spring. The work was postponed after only one construction bid came in and it was over budget. The Town Council voted to reject the offer in order to rebid the project. 

"Cary Parkway/High House Road Improvements” at www.townofcary.org

Loose Leaves

Starting November 6, we’ll collect loose leaves from your street twice before Christmas at no charge according to the schedule mailed in early October. Place leaves along the curb by 7 a.m. on the first day of collection for your area. Piles should be out of the street, away from mailboxes and fire hydrants, and off storm drains to prevent clogging or impacting water quality. As always, you can place leaves curbside in reusable containers or brown paper bags for weekly yard waste collection. Or,  if you shred leaves for mulch, be sure to spread a thin layer instead of mounding it into mulch volcanoes.

“Loose Leaf Collection” at www.townofcary.org or (919) 469-4090

America Recycles Day Shred 

Celebrate America Recycles Day by participating in our free paper shred on November 18 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Bring up to three boxes of paper to 400 James Jackson Ave. No commercial interests, please. Proof of Cary residency is required.  

“America Recycles Day” at www.townofcary.org or (919) 469-4090

Cultural Connection

Cary Town Band presents “Spooky Music,” Oct. 27, 7:30 p.m., Cary Arts Center, www.carytownband.org or (919) 469-4069

Marvelous Music Series presents Donald Sinta Quartet, Nov. 3, 7:30 p.m., Cary Arts Center, “Marvelous Music” at www.townofcary.org or (919) 462-2055

Marvelous Music Family Series, The Story Ship presents Diggery Diggers’ Dino Show, Nov. 4, 10 a.m., Cary Arts Center, “Marvelous Music Family” at www.townofcary.org or (919) 462-2055

Town of Cary and Clayton Piano Festival present “From Russia with Love,” Nov. 4, 7:30 p.m., Cary Arts Center, www.claytonpianofestival.org or (919) 462-2055

Annual Craft Show, Nov. 18, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m., Cary Senior Center, (919) 469-4081

SALON: An Evening of Broadway Magic, Nov. 17, 7-9 p.m., Page-Walker Arts & History Center, purchase tickets through eTix, (919) 460-4963

Triangle Wind Ensemble presents Wonderful Winds, Nov. 18, 7:30 p.m., Cary Arts Center, www.trianglewind.org or (919) 462-2055

Visit www.townofcary.org or twitter.com/toc_fun for more.

Fall Litter Sweep

Take your community pride outside on November 11 by participating in our annual Fall Litter Sweep. Citizens throughout Cary will mobilize that day to remove tons of litter from our streets, parks, greenways, trails, and neighborhoods! Be a part of cleaning up our community by joining us at an existing site or by gathering a group of friends and suggesting one of your own. Either way, we provide all the tools and supplies, including garbage collection service at the end of the event. 

Volunteers under the age of 15 must be accompanied by an adult and registration closes at 5 p.m. on November 9.  Please register online by visiting “Spruce” at www.townofcary.org. There are multiple shifts available between 7 a.m. and noon.

“Spruce” at www.townofcary.org