It’s that time of year again, for those of you who are brave and daring, to celebrate the spirit and spookiness of Halloween in Newport. The Haunted Shipyard and Fortress of Nightmares will both be taking place this weekend and Halloween weekend. 
The Haunted Shipyard is officially open for some seriously scary business. The Newport Yachting Center invites guests to meet the tortured soles of Pier 23 on an interactive, theatre-style tour of the once productive shipyard. A former dockhand will guide groups as he grudgingly tells the horrid history of how the shipyard turned evil. For the little ones (and me), “The Spooky Wharf” offers plenty of G-rated activities that will not cause nightmares. This lights-on tent includes family fun recommended for children under 10. Grab a bite to eat at the Creepy Canteen or quench your thirst with a calming cocktail or soda at the Boo Bar. Kids can also decorate a monster mask or search for buried treasure, while older adventurers can save the world from a zombie attack in the paintball shooting range.
If you’re not spooked yet, head over to Historic Fort Adams for the Fortress of Nightmares. Enter the Tunnels of Terror (at your own risk) where you will be guided through a dark maze of tunnels that will bring you face-to-face with the lost souls of Fort Adams. Afterwards, join the Rhode Island Paranormal Research Group, the oldest continuously operating paranormal research group in New England, on a guided Ghost Hunt where you will be able to search for the paranormal using specialized instruments.
I think I’ll stick to pumpkin carving…