Do you believe unlucky things will happen to you on Friday the 13th? If so, you may suffer from friggatriskaidekaphobia, a known psychological condition — or you may just be mildly superstitious.
The date’s reputation for unlucky incidents has also evolved into a belief that supernatural events are more likely to happen on this day.
Yet according to TimeAndDate.com, some cultures regard the day as very lucky indeed, and people have even won millions of dollars in lotteries entered on this day.
With this in mind, we’ve put together a list of 13 “lucky” things to do this Friday the 13th.
ALSO: Krispy Kreme offers a dozen donuts for just 13-cents this Friday the 13th, with purchase of another dozen!
One thing’s for sure:
Friday the 13th doesn’t come around often.
Upcoming dates include:
* Friday, September 13, 2024
* Friday, December 13, 2024
* Friday, June 13, 2025
Fun Fact: For a month to have a Friday the 13th, the first day must be a Sunday.
13 lucky things to do this Friday the 13th
Don’t let a fear of bad luck keep you at home on Friday, September 13, 2024!
And if you happen to already be booked for the 13th, you’re in luck, because we also have a list of the best things to do in September in Atlanta, covering the whole rest of the month!
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.
Visit the Carlos Museum website
2. Explore Titanic: An Immersive Voyage
The passengers of the Titanic had one of the most unlucky experiences ever — going down on the ship that was said to be unsinkable. But now you’re lucky to be able to experience the ship’s final dramatic moments quite safely, from your own lifeboat, in a virtual reality experience.
This NEW immersive exhibit just landed at the Exhibition Hub Art Center, on Buford Highway at I-285. It allows you to virtually hop aboard the Titanic and walk through life-sized recreations of parts of the infamous ship.
Get more info + get tickets for Titanic: An Immersive Voyage
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 when you go!
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 article from TV Guide 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) for years of companionship
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!
BONUS: You’re in luck, because LifeLine is offering FREE pet adoptions thru September 10, 2024!
6. Get a discount for 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 your visit.
Thanks to this Groupon deal, the price is just $24.99 per pass, with no added fees.
The Pumpkin Festival opens on Sept. 14, 2024, but you can buy your discounted voucher in advance!
More info here
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.
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?
9. Visit a celebrity memorial at 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.
But all of us in metro Atlanta are very lucky indeed, that this historic cemetery is always free to visit!
Other well-known people laid to rest in Oakland Cemetery include golf legend Bobby Jones, country music star Kenny Rogers, Atlanta mayor Maynard Jackson, and many others.
10. Get a tattoo or piercing with special deal
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.
Here are a local tattoo parlors offering special deals on September 13, 2024. Click thru the links for details. And consider giving your favorite tattoo artist a call to see what specials they’re offering.
- Royal Ink Studio in Marietta
- Gate City Tattoo in Atlanta
- Steele Ink Studio in Lawrenceville
- Good Clean Fun Tattoo Studio in Snellville
- Black Water Tattoo in Kennesaw
11. Walk on the Doll’s Head Trail at Constitution Lakes Park
This one is just a wee bit spooky! But The Doll’s Head Trail is an Atlanta Bucket List item, so why not cross it off your list this Friday the 13th?
The trail makes for 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!
12. Book a local ghost tour
A ghost tour is a great way to spend a Friday evening! Unlike a haunted house, which is designed to scare your pants off, ghost tours are most 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 September 13, 2024 (and other dates):
13. Go vampire hunting in Mystic Falls
We’re so lucky to have a thriving film industry right here in metro Atlanta!
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 through the fall.
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.
Here’s what else is happening on Friday, September 13th:
