Now that it's October and the temperatures are falling, it's time to get into the Halloween spirit. The Fear Farm in Clayton opened for its first night of the 2012 season last Friday, Oct. 5, for a huge crowd. The farm has plenty of scary venues, including the Slaughterhouse, the Haunted Cotton Maze and a Haunted Hay Ride. Although we didn't test out any of the attractions (the screams from inside led us to conclude they were, in fact, scary), we spent our time at the Fear Farm trying to figure out just why people enjoy being scared.

Clayton Fear Farm is off Highway 70 about 30 minutes from Raleigh. An all-inclusive ticket is $25, and gives you access to all the attractions. A single attraction ticket costs $12. Fear Farm is open Friday-Sunday from 7-11 p.m. The week leading up to Halloween, Fear Farm opens Thursday, Oct. 25, through Wednesday, Oct. 31. The Boyettes don't recommend bringing children under 12 to Fear Farm. For younger guests, they offer daytime activities including a pumpkin patch and hayrides.

Do you enjoy getting scared? Or are you like me, and want to spend Halloween in a brightly-lit house eating candy? Let us know your favorite spooky attractions!