If you haven’t been to a 4th Friday lately, this month is a great time to change that. Shops, restaurants and galleries kick things in to high gear, but October’s 4th Friday on Oct. 25, has several extra activities that many people will find interesting.

We’ve all heard talk of the Zombie Apocalypse. Well, check out downtown around 8 p.m., as the Third Annual Zombie Walk Invasion lurches and creeps its way through the festivities. All interested zombies are invited to meet at the Headquarters Library in full apocalypse attire at 7 p.m. Following the walk, the Climbing Place will host Cirque du Zombie, complete with flying bodies. The show is free and starts at 9 p.m.

In the spirit of all things creepy and macabre, The Arts Council Fayetteville/Cumberland County is set to open a new exhibit called A Sense of Horror.

“It’s in keeping with the time of year,” said Mary Kinney, art director at The Arts Council. “People may be surprised to find that the exhibit is more about the gasp than it is the scream. It is not about guts and gore, it is about making the hair standup on the back of your neck. This is a show that captures horror but only the sense of it. It is like watching a Hitchcock movie and having those goose bumps and knowing what is happening in the scene without having to see it.”

The Arts Council is encouraging people to buy the art at the exhibit.

“It is the perfect opportunity to buy something unique,” said Kinney. “It’s a way to support local artists, too.”

Another exhibit that must not be missed is the Cape Fear Studios 2013 Annual Member Artists Holiday Season Exhibit featuring guest artist Laura Cardwell. The holiday show offers original and unique pieces of art perfect for holiday gift giving or a treat for yourself. Cape Fear Studios offers 2-D and 3-D art including paintings, printed cards, jewelry, pottery, glass, wood and more.

Laura Cardwell is from Asheville, N.C., and was a Niche Award finalist and a BMAC Merit Award winner. Her current work includes fusing, forging, raising and stone setting in Argentium silver, sterling silver, gold plated and vermeil pieces and copper.

Historic Hauntings is a hayride that makes several stops through out Fayetteville and explores the spooky and often overlooked history of Fayetteville. The Fayetteville Area Transportation and Local History Museum is one of the stops on the Historic Hauntings route and will have plenty going on this 4th Friday.

Fascinate-U children’s museum has had a face-lift recently. Moms and Dads may want to stop by and see the new farm exhibit and new carpet while the kids make a creepy-crawly spider craft with pipe cleaners. The museum is open from 7-9 p.m. and admission and the craft project are free.

4th Friday runs from 7-9 p.m. While the event is free and there are many free activities, shops and restaurants are open and offer some great deals and discounts. Find out more about all the exciting events going on downtown this 4th Friday at www.theartscouncil.com and at www.faydta.org.

Photo: Revelers at last year’s Zombie Walk.