PINE MOUNTAIN — Add a little scare to your October as Halloween approaches.

Attendees can bring their detective skills and appetite to Callaway Gardens on Oct. 31 for a murder mystery dinner theater. This year’s dinner features a “Murder on the Mountain.”

In this year’s mystery, for the residents of pastoral Oak Mountain, nestled deep in the southernmost foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, life can chill one’s spine. In Oak Mountain, the source of that unsettling feeling can be traced to one Dr. Jackal and his companion Vampella.

No one can say with any certainty what the socially inept Dr. Jackal does in his mansion on Lonely Top Road. There are rumors that Dr. Jackal roams the village streets nightly as the obnoxiously sarcastic Mr. Snide while Vampella is responsible for the disappearance of some villagers.

All is merely village gossip, of course, but there’s enough gossip to cause the nervous Dr. Jackal to open his house to the villagers for a dinner to put the rumors to rest. However, some may not make it out alive.

The murder mystery dinner theater includes a little detective work while attendees dine on food from the Callaway Gardens culinary team led by Executive Chef Michael Gonzalez. The mystery will include opportunities for guests to interact with the cast.

Guests selected just before the show will receive reading parts and will be cued to deliver them. Expect a few surprises and activities to add to the fun; plus, solving the mystery comes with token prizes for the winning team. Guests also are invited to dress up to match the evening’s theme.

Those interested may reserve an overnight package at 1-800-463-6990 starting at $149.50 in the Mountain Creek Inn, packages include reception, dinner, mystery theater, lodging and admission to the Callaway Gardens and its attractions for each day of stay and day of departure. Registration is limited. Dinner theater-only reservations are $89 per person and are based on availability.