With the influx of the cooler, crisper eastern North Carolina weather, residents and tourists alike are gearing up for several events, some of which have put Little Washington on the map in regard to destinations.

Not only are there a number of Halloween-oriented activities going on around the area like Raised in a Barn Farm’s Six Nights of Fright, there are also a few annual events that will provide music, food, entertainment and Beaufort County fellowship at its finest. The Six Nights of Fright event will feature a haunted hayride and trail, full of gruesome, scary thrills and chills. While the event is geared toward an older audience, i.e. children 13 and up, a less frightening gathering — Lil’ House of Boos — for younger kids will take place in a barn on the Raised in a Barn property. Both events will be going on each Friday and Saturday until Nov. 1.

Tonight, the Beaufort County Arts Council will kick off its 50^th annual Fine Arts Show with an opening reception and all show entries will be available for the public to view Thursday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. This weekend, a string of events will bring Beaufort County residents and visitors out to historic downtown Washington. Friday evening, a Pig Parade will kick off the last Music in the Streets of the year as well as the annual Smoke on the Water barbecue competition.

Each of these events will compliment the others. Those who plan on visiting Washington for one of the events will most likely add the others to their agendas, meaning more tourism dollars for Washington. It also might mean that those who visit may enjoy one or more of the events so much that it keeps them coming back to the area for future events. This, ultimately, means Washington is well on its way to becoming a growing destination among tourists. Events such as the ones slated for this week and lasting into the weekend put a huge target on Washington’s back for visitors looking for entertainment, food and fun.