Downtown Fayetteville is full of exciting opportunities. There is something for every member of the family from art to history to great food. And on 4th Friday, it is all on display. Live performances in the streets keep things interactive. Restaurants, shops and galleries stay open late to offer up their finest selections to the crowds. Enjoy the cool evenings of the coming fall in the cultural epicenter and heart of the city, Downtown Fayetteville. This month, the event falls on Oct. 23. There are plenty of spooktacular events to make the evening unforgettable.

For families with children, Fascinate-U Children’s Museum is a can’t miss. The museum is specifically designed to teach children about the world through fun and engaging exhibits that mimic real life situations. These exhibits are interactive, designed to be touched and played with making learning a fun and natural process. For 4th Friday’s the museum is open late and admission is free. There is also a free craft for kids to take home. Fascinate-U is located at 116 Green St. and will be open from 7-9 p.m.  For more information, visit www.theartscouncil.com/fourthmain/. 

The Arts Council’s new exhibit, Recycle: The Art of Transformation opens Oct. 23 during  4th Friday. The exhibit is composed of pieces created by local artists from recycled and reused materials. It highlights the large amounts of waste carelessly produced and demonstrates how, with a little creativity, waste can transform into new and beautiful things. The exhibit runs until Dec. 12. The Arts Council is located at 301 Hay St. and will be open on 4th Friday from 7-9 p.m.  Admission is free. For more information, visit www.theartscoucil.com.

This 4th Friday, downtown falls in step with the Fayetteville Dogwood Festival’s Fall Festival. From 6:30-10 p.m., Bands and Brews takes place in Festival Park, located at 225 Ray Ave. For $5 a pint, sample the10 craft beers and two domestic beers offered at the event. In addition to the cold beer, don’t miss the live music from performers such as Radio Box and Beat Your Boots.  For more information, visit www.faydogwoodfestival.com. 

Braver souls will want to check out the annual Lafayette Insane Asylum outdoor haunted maze, which runs from 6:30–11p.m. The haunted maze is located on the back side of Festival Park located at 225 Ray Ave. Tickets are $8 or $7 with a canned good donation to benefit the Dream Center. Proceeds of this maze benefit Fishing to Fight Cancer hosted by Swampboys. The canned goods received will benefit a local food bank. 

From 6:30–10 p.m., narrated hayrides through downtown Fayetteville and Cross Creek Cemetery offer a peek into Fayetteville’s unique history. Other than the ride through the cemetery the hayride is not intended to be scary. Tickets are $5 and pick up is at Festival Park. Tickets and more information are available at www.faydogwoodfestival. The rest of the weekend will be full of Dogwood Festival activities as well. 

From 7-9 p.m., Headquarters Library presents: How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse and Other Disasters featuring The Zombie Squad of Southeast North Carolina. Learn how to survive natural disasters and zombies, too!  Staff will be on hand to help Zombie Walk participants with makeup and costumes. The Zombie Walk is from Headquarters Library to the Rock Shop.

Fans of Aerial Acrobatics won’t want to miss the Air Born Aerials Zombie Aerial Circus at 8 p.m. at Crossfit 910, 116 E Russell St.