How you can scare up some fun on Friday the 13th

Why fear Friday the 13th when you can have fun with it? And if getting a fright is your idea of fun, better yet.

Some suggestions on making the most of Friday the 13th:

▪ Join in the Twitter trend #SurviveAHorrorMovieIn5Words, where tweeters are sharing concise advice. Among the words of wisdom are “Call everything threatening ‘fake news.’ ” “Take away Stephen King’s pen.” “Be the highest-paid actor.” “Never say, ‘Let’s split up.’ ” “Read Bates Motel’s Yelp reviews.” “Never accept gifts from clowns.”

▪ Share some Friday the 13th trivia. xxxxxxxxxx

▪ Go see the horror movie “Happy Death Day,” which opens in theaters today. In the PG-13 flick, a college student repeatedly meets a gruesome fate on her birthday in a mash-up of a slasher film and “Groundhog Day.” On Rotten Tomatoes, the critics’ score is 66 percent and the audience score 70 percent. Tribune News Service critic Rick Bentley likes the the movie, writing, “If all you want out of a horror film is blood and guts, ‘Happy Death Day’ isn’t the right movie for you. Anyone looking to enjoy some scares while trying to figure out a very clever mystery should plan on seeing ‘Happy Death Day’… should plan on seeing ‘Happy Death Day’… should plan on seeing ‘Happy Death Day’…”

▪ Share some Friday the 13th trivia with friends. USA Today shares that according to Otis elevators, up to 85 percent of elevator panels omit the number 13. Hotels and other tall buildings really can’t leave out a 13th floor. “Hotels are simply labeling the floor differently in the few places where these businesses label the levels,” the news site says.

The International Business Times shares that “Part of the reason 13 got a bad rap is because it comes after 12, which is a number of “completeness.” For example: 12 months in a year, 12 hours in a clock, 12 God of Olympus, 12 Zodiac signs, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 days of Christmas, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 Apostles of Jesus and 12 eggs in a dozen.”

And Huffpost offers these and other tidbits: In a traditional hangman’s noose, there are 13 twists of the rope and 13 steps to the gallows. There is no 13th Avenue in San Francisco, instead Funston Avenue is between 12th and 14th avenues.

▪ Check out a local haunt or Halloween attraction.

This is the opening night of the Higbee Horror Haunt at 2936 Veneman Ave., Modesto, inside the Halloween Guys store. This walk-through haunted house has real-life characters designed to make your heart race and to put a little jump in your step. Hours are 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $13 adults, $8 children 12 and under. higbeehorrorhaunt.com.

Dell’Osso Family Farm in Lathrop has a large, elaborate corn maze, pumpkins, zip lines, a mystery tour ride, giant pumpkin balls, a haunted castle, pumpkin blasters, a petting zoo, pig races and more. Attractions are open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily at 26 W. Stewart Road. Admission is $17.95 Friday. See pumpkinmaze.com.

Fantozzi Farms in Patterson has corn mazes with over 5 miles of paths; within each are 12 hidden checkpoints to seek out. A separate haunted maze is open Friday and Saturday nights from 7 p.m. until closing (take a flashlight). Other attractions include a zombie shooting range, corn cannons, cow train rides, a petting zoo, hayrides, a corn seed pit, hay pyramids, pedal carts, a picnic area and pig races. Hours Friday are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Access to the pumpkin patch is free; attraction tickets are $3-$12. 2665 Sperry Ave. fantozzifarms.com.

R.A.M. Farms in Turlock has a 20-acre corn maze. Friday night is Freaky Flashlight Night through the mazes (take your own flashlight) beginning at dusk. Also on site are a hay maze, scary shed, sandbox and tractor corral. There are more than 60 varieties of pumpkins and gourds on site, and wandering the patch is free. Attraction tickets are $7-$11. Hours Friday are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays. 716 N. Daubenberger Road. ramfarms.com.

Dutch Hollow Farms has a new corn maze with an agriculture theme, covering 10 acres. There also are a large pumpkin patch, hay ride, covered picnic area, kids play area, farm animals, mini corn maze and more. Admission to the patch is free with $5 admission to the farm area with activities; $6 for the corn maze; $8 for a combo pass to activities and maze. Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. 5101 Oakdale Road, Modesto. dutchhollowfarms.com.

▪ Throw an impromptu party to watch a bunch of the “Friday the 13th” installments or other scary movies of your choice. The Internet Movie Database (IMDb.com) rates all the “Friday the 13th” flicks from best to worst.

USA Today recommends 13 movies to watch on Friday the 13th. Among them are “The Babadook,” “Get Out,” “It,” “Oculus” and “The Witch.” Allow me to include some personal favorites: “The Cabin in the Woods,” “An American Werewolf in London,” “Zombieland,” “Fright Night” (the 1985 original with Roddy McDowall and Chris Sarandon) and “Re-Animator” (also 1985 – good year for horror).

This story was originally published October 13, 2017 at 10:13 AM with the headline "How you can scare up some fun on Friday the 13th."