Hop on board for the 23rd spooktacular season of Tweetsie Railroad's Ghost Train Halloween Festival Friday and Saturday night through Oct. 27.

Daytime visitors can still enjoy all of Tweetsie's Wild West adventures, rides and attractions; but when the sun goes down, a horde of fun and creepy Halloween characters will emerge.

"Join Ghost Train engineer Casey Bones and his macabre crew for a scary journey on a train inescapably haunted by its past," says a spokesman. "The tracks lead into the darkness of a railroading era filled with terror and tragedy. Guests will experience chills and thrills as ghosts and ghouls from the old railways pursue the Ghost Train's passengers around every bend, and through every eerie forest."

Visit The Boneyard and venture into the 3-D Maze and the disorienting Black Hole. Enjoy a spooky stroll through the Freaky Forest, and encounter scream-worthy surprises along a dark and desolate woodland pathway of terror. Brave visitors can also tour the spine-chilling Haunted House and discover 13 spooky rooms, each one guaranteed to startle and challenge the imagination.

Although some attractions are recommended for adults and older children, there are plenty of shows and activities for the youngest guests too.

Kids can enjoy traditional trick-or-treating throughout the park. At The Haunted Palace Saloon, visitors of all ages will be enchanted by the exciting black light show. Families can take a spin on a variety of amusement rides at the Creepy Carnival.

Boogie down at the Tweetsie Main Street Halloween celebration with The Spice Ghouls and emcee Darkus Knight.

The gates open at 7:30 p.m. Due to the popularity of this annual event, a limited number of tickets are available for each evening. Many nights often sell out, so ordering advance tickets online is strongly recommended.

Admission is $28 for adults and children, while kids ages 2 and under are admitted free. Convenient print-at-home tickets are available at Tweetsie.com.

Tweetsie Railroad is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 28. The park's daytime hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. during the Ghost Train Halloween Festival.

Tweetsie Railroad is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains on U.S. 321 between Boone and Blowing Rock.

For more information and Ghost Train Halloween Festival ticket purchases, visit Tweetsie.com or call 877.TWEETSIE (877.893.3874). Find Tweetsie on Facebook or follow Tweetsie on Twitter @TweetsieRR.