October is upon us which means one thing — it’s spooky season. From haunted houses and trails to horror movies and scary speakeasies, there’s no shortage of spooky fun to be had in and around the Queen City. We’ve rounded up a list of some of the best activities to do this month that are sure to get you in the Halloween spirit.
The 13th Acre
3718 Plyler Mill Rd, Monroe, NC
Haunting Hours: Fridays — Saturdays, Dusk — 11PM, Sundays, Dusk — 10PM & Halloween Dusk — 10PM.
The Spooky Scoop: Prepare to be scared as you experience this devilishly haunted attraction in Monroe, NC. The 13th Acre features three terrifying haunts — Coffin Creek, The Forbidden Acre, and Reapers Row — all of which are either a variation of haunted trail, house, or maze. All attractions are interactive with live scare actors that are sure to leave you screaming.
Camp North End Crossroads Cinema
300 Camp Rd, Charlotte, NC
Haunting Hours: Oct. 12th & Oct. 26th, starting at 8PM.
The Spooky Scoop: In the month of October, Camp North End’s Crossroads Cinema is showing some Halloween-inspired films at their outdoor movie series that are fun for the whole family. Bring your own chair or blanket, grab some snacks, and settle in for a movie night. On Oct. 12th, they’ll be showing Nightmare Before Christmas, and on Oct. 26th they’ll be screening Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Great Elizabeth Pumpkin Wall
2023 Greenway Ave, Charlotte, NC
Haunting Hours: Oct. 29th — Oct. 31st.
The Spooky Scoop: The Great Elizabeth Pumpkin Wall is a beautiful Halloween sight. Witness hundreds of carved pumpkins light up in the dark night in the Elizabeth neighborhood of Charlotte. This year, the lighting ceremony will take place on Oct. 29th at 6:45PM, and the wall will be up to view for a few days after.
Haunted by Black Lagoon at BackStage
2433 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC
Haunting Hours: Oct. 4th — Oct. 31st, 5PM — 12AM. Closed Sundays & Mondays.
The Spooky Scoop: Enjoy Halloween themed cocktails and spooky decorations in an intimate speakeasy setting. The BackStage Lounge is a speakeasy located behind SouthBound restaurant, but you’ve surely never seen the space like this before. This spookeasy doesn’t take reservations, so be sure to arrive early to experience the fright.
Matthews Playhouse Haunted Trail
Haunting Hours: Oct. 27th — Oct. 29st, 5:30PM — 6:30PM, 7PM — 9PM on Oct. 27th & Oct. 29th, & 7PM — 10PM on Oct. 28th.
The Spooky Scoop: Matthews Playhouse presents the fifth anniversary of the haunted trail this year. This is a Halloween event fit for everyone, as it has a “Not So Spooky” daytime session from 5:30PM — 6:30PM, then a full fright experience each night. After experiencing the haunted trail, enjoy the on-site food trucks!
Morehead Haunted Tavern
300 East Morehead Street, Charlotte, NC
Haunting Hours: Thursdays — Saturdays in October & Halloween, 6PM — Close.
The Spooky Scoop: Morehead Tavern is getting spooky in the month of October. Take a trip through the haunted home, complete with masked murderers, gravestones, bats, spiderwebs, coffins, zombies, and more. After your adventure, take the edge off with a drink in the tavern. At Morehead’s Haunted Tavern you can enjoy boos and booze!
Scarowinds
14523 Carowinds Blvd, Charlotte, NC
Haunting Hours: Fridays — Sundays at dusk, through Oct. 29th.
The Spooky Scoop: Experience Carowinds after dark in their haunting Halloween theme park experience. Scarowinds features six scare zones and five haunted mazes with themes like Bloodyard, Slaughterhouse, and Paranormal Inc. Plus, there are shows, parades, and over 300 scare actors wandering around the park to spook you. If you want to experience Scarowinds but don’t like to be scared, you can opt for the “No Boo” necklace to indicate you’d like to be left alone by the actors.
Ayrsley Retro Horror Cinema
9110 Kings Parade Blvd, Charlotte, NC
Haunting Hours: Sept. 29th — Nov. 2nd, screenings at 7PM & 9PM.
The Spooky Scoop: If you’re a lover of classic horror films, you can’t miss the Retro Horror Series at Ayrsley Cinema. Tickets are only $5 to view your favorite scary movies, including American Psycho, Halloween, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and more inside this iconic retro themed cinema.
Hickory Grove Haunted Trail
4064 Mountain View St, Gastonia, NC
Haunting Hours: Fridays — Saturdays, Dusk — 12AM & Oct. 8, 12, 15, 19, 22, 25, 26, 29, 30, 31, Dusk — 10PM.
The Spooky Scoop: The team at Hickory Grove Haunted Trail is dedicated to giving their guests a thrilling experience like no other. Guides will lead you through the wooded haunted trail that’s full of surprises and spooks. But don’t be fooled, this haunted trail doesn’t feature Hollywood aliens or make believe monsters — all the frights are real!
Ghosts of Davidson Tour
19 S. Main St, Davidson, NC
Haunting Hours: Tuesdays, Fridays, & Saturdays, through Nov. 25th.
The Spooky Scoop: Have you ever wondered about the spooky history surrounding the Charlotte area? If the answer is yes, then the Ghost Tour of Davidson is for you! Join your guide and wander through the historic town of Davidson, listening to local legends and of course, ghost stories.
Forbidden Forest Horror Trail
14210 Old Beatty Ford Rd, Rockwell, NC
Haunting Hours: Oct. 27th & Oct. 28th, 7PM — 12AM.
The Spooky Scoop: Don’t miss one of only two nights at the Forbidden Forest Horror Trail. As you make your journey through this haunted forest, you’re sure to encounter ghouls, goblins, and ghosts that will leave you screaming. Tickets can not be pre-purchased at this time, so be sure to call before you go to ensure there’s availability in the forest.
Tweetsie Railroad Ghost Train
300 Tweetsie Railroad Ln, Blowing Rock, NC
Haunting Hours: Fridays & Saturdays in October, 7:30PM — 10:30PM.
The Spooky Scoop: Every Friday and Saturday night in October, the Tweetsie Railroad turns from a Wild West ride to a Ghost Train! This spooky train ride is fun for the entire family. Plus, their typical daytime country fair transforms into a creepy carnival by night, and staff become trained monster hunters! This is a Halloween experience you won’t want to miss.
Author’s Note: This article was written by Alex Maloney. You can find more of her Charlotte-related content on Instagram, @slicesandsushi.
