13 lucky — and spooky — things to do this Friday the 13th

Bonus item: On Friday the 13th, get a dozen Krispy Kreme Original Glazed for 13 cents when you buy any other dozen!
Details here

1. Visit the mummies at the Michael C. Carlos Museum

The Carlos Museum houses the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts in the Southeast. To the ancient Egyptians, the number 13 was lucky. It represented the 13th stage of life — as in a glorious, eternal afterlife. The dead were buried with lucky talismans that would help them navigate a dangerous underworld journey to gain entry into the afterlife.

an egyptian mummy sarcophagus at the Carlos Museum in Atlanta

Egyptian sarcophagus at the Carlos Museum. Image: Deposit Photos

2. Explore Tutankhamun’s tomb

A new immersive exhibit, Tutankhamun: His Tomb and Treasures, lets you step right into the most famous archaeological discovery site of the 20th century. The artifacts on display are replicas, for an experience that’s more staged and theatrical than you’ll get a museum. The exhibit is running now at the Exhibition Hub Atlanta Art Center — and it’s a bit of a splurge.

3. Take a hike at Hard Labor Creek State Park

Movie trivia time! Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives was filmed in metro Atlanta, and the scenes at Camp Crystal Lake were shot at Hard Labor Creek State Park. While it looks creepy on the screen, it’s a wonderful state park and a pleasant day trip out to Morgan County. Pack a picnic meal and enjoy the drive — maybe you’ll get lucky and have beautiful fall weather.

4. Stream one of the Friday the 13th movies

You’ll need a streaming subscription or free trial, because we were not lucky enough to find these horror classics on any of the totally FREE streaming platforms — although there are plenty of other shudder-inducing flicks available for free. Check out this guide on HowToGeek on where to rent or stream every Friday the 13th film in the series. You could even have a movie marathon!

Better yet, visit VideoDrome, Atlanta’s last remaining video-rental store, and get a 1-week rental for $5. We checked, and they have several of the Friday the 13th movies in stock!

5. Adopt a black cat (or other pet)

Visit LifeLine Animal Project and you may get lucky and find your new best friend! We have checked with staff, and there are indeed several black cats in need of loving homes. Did you know that black cats often linger in shelters the longest, before they are adopted? Black cats have suffered from superstitious stereotyping over the years — but were once symbols of good luck to some people. The ancient Egyptians valued all felines and believed them to be magical creatures that brought good luck to a household. So forget about all those silly superstitions and think like an Egyptian!

Monti was a little black kitten we fostered thru LifeLine until he was big enough to find his adoptive home.

6. Head to the Pumpkin Festival at Stone Mountain Park

Light shows aren’t just for Christmas any more! The Pumpkin Festival is an after-dark delight that runs for six weeks each fall. The attraction features thousands of lights and glowing vignettes. And you’re in luck, because you can get passes for 40% OFF right now, when you book a visit for Friday the 13th. Thanks to this Groupon deal, the price is just $24.99 per pass, with no added fees.

Immersive storybook scene at Stone Mountain’s Pumpkin Festival Glow by Night attraction. Image courtesy of Stone Mountain Park via media kit.

7. Walk with ghosts at Kennesaw Mountain Battlefield

The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain was a lucky break for the Confederacy, although those who lost their lives there were not so lucky. Today, the site is known as the most haunted batttlefield in Georgia. People have reported hearing cannons, smelling gunpowder, and even seeing restless apparitions of soldiers. Others have said they walked through unexpected cold spots while hiking the trails. If you feel up to investigating these claims, take a drive out to Kennesaw Mountain National Park.

A Civil War era cannon overlooks Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield park. Credit: Deposit Photos

8. Take a selfie on the Jackson Street Bridge

In The Walking Dead, a handful of characters were lucky enough to survive the misfortune of a lifetime — a zombie apocalypse. This famous scene from the TV series made the Jackson Street Bridge the most famous selfie spot in Atlanta — it’s practically a Bucket List item for Atlantans. Have you posted your selfie on social media yet?

This scene made the Jackson Street Bridge the most popular selfie spot in Atlanta.

9. Visit Oakland Cemetery

This is another Atlanta attraction that is said by some to be haunted. Its most famous residents have certainly met a wide variety of fates, both lucky and unlucky. Take, for example, Margaret Mitchell — possessing the talent and good fortune to receive the Pulitzer for Gone With the Wind, but unlucky enough to be killed by a car while crossing the street.

grave of margaret mitchell at oakland cemetery in atlanta

Margaret Mitchell is one of several famous residents at Oakland Cemetery. Photo: H. Brucker

10. Get a tattoo or piercing

Did you know that tattoo parlors often celebrate Friday the 13th with special deals? Back in the good old days, you could get a small tattoo for $13. But in this economy, it’s more likely to be a $13 piercing or $13 OFF a more elaborate tattoo. Some tattoo parlors are keeping the tradition by offering $31 tattoo specials. Give your local tattoo artist a call to see what deals they’re planning. Royal Ink Studio in Marietta is one of the tattoo parlors offering a Friday the 13th deal.

11. Walk on the Doll’s Head Trail at Constitution Lakes Park

This is an Atlanta Bucket List item, so why not cross it off your list this Friday the 13th? The Doll’s Head Trail is a quirky and entertaining experience and an easy walk. Some may say the folk art displays — made from trashed dolls and other toys — are creepy, but we find them charming!

A doll’s head wedged in a tree stump at Constitution Lakes Park. Image: Deposit Photos

12. Book a local ghost tour

A ghost tour is a great way to spend a Friday evening in October! Unlike a haunted house, which is designed to scare your pants off, ghost tours are often storytelling events. You’ll learn more about local history and folklore, including tales of hauntings at a particular location. You can be a tourist in your own backyard, and see certain destinations after dark. Ghost tours are generally priced very affordably!

Here a few ghost tours happening on October 13, 2023 (and other dates in October):

13. Go vampire hunting in Mystic Falls

The Vampire Diaries is set in the fictional town of Mystic Falls — but in reality was filmed right here in Covington. You can visit all the iconic locations from the TV series on the Vampire Stalkers Tour, which includes riding on a tram and a moderate amount of walking. The tours are a bit of a splurge at $55 per person, and they sell out so you should plan to book well in advance.

14. Visit a local corn maze, haunted forest, or pumpkin patch

This is a bonus item, just for good luck! Have some farm fun on Friday the 13th — get lost in a corn maze, tour a haunted forest by flashlight, and choose the perfect pumpkin right from the field. We have a huge list of venues that offer these kinds of spooky — but not too spooky — experiences all October long.

Photo courtesy of Buford Corn Maze

15. Step inside a Van Gogh painting

Another bonus item!
Some would say that Vincent Van Gogh was unlucky in life and love. He was challenged with mental illness, and he never sold a piece of artwork in his life — which makes it ironic that he is now essentially immortalized through his art. But now, you have the good luck to attend Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience, an amazing interactive exhibit at Exhibition Hub Atlanta Art Center. Words don’t describe this mystical experience of stepping inside a Van Gogh painting through 360-degree projections, and taking a virtual reality trip through his world.

Image: Deposit Photos